6 THE WORLD OF HOSPITALITY
ROSEWOOD
“It’s something classic that can become match. “It took years to prepare and weather
something modern and fun,” says Chu, who also them,” she admits.
chose the patterned marble floor because she
wanted something “strongly graphic” to make an
impact.
The natural second stop for visitors is the
Sky Lobby on level seven, which is a relaxing
multi-functional space that backs on to the main
reception area. “The design for the Sky Lobby
was inspired by the owners’ family history of
collecting art,” says Chu. Indeed, it seems that
every aspect of the room is a work of art in itself
– the wall panels, for example, are made with
‘scales’ of glass overlaid with gold leaf. “They are
the same shape as the roof tiles of the Grand
Palace, which I love, but I wanted to transform
them in an architectural way so that people
would take more notice of them,” says Chu. The
incredible bespoke glass chandelier is made in
the shape of Thai dancing fans, inspired by the
traditional skill that young Thai girls master as
young girls.
One of the most striking of the public rooms is
the Lakron, the all day dining restaurant and bar
which is used breakfast to afternoon tea. The
curved panels that create an intimate seating
zone within the larger space are a stylised
interpretation of the floral pattern on an antique
musical box that was brought as a gift from the
travels of the owners’ parents. And a closer look
at the metallic mesh window screening reveals
another iconic Thai motif – the screen is made
from the fake nails worn by traditional Thai
dancers. “It’s the combination of something very
traditional and very open - like Bangkok itself,”
says Chu.
The traditional arts also inspire Chu’s design
for the Pavilion banqueting space on level five:
“This chapter of the book is about celebration
and dancing at weddings, and I captured the
movement of the dancing in the curving shape of
the chandeliers and the swirl of the carpet.”
The neighbouring reception has contemporary While it is Thai martial arts that was behind the
art from local artists alongside a reception desk design used in the fitness centre: “Thai boxing
that has been a labour of love. Chu found one is world famous and I used the design of the
original antique, hand-carved wooden panel, traditional wrapping on the boxers’ hands as a
then commissioned the other three panels to design element on the walls.”