Architectkidd | Floating Hotel

in Concept & Competition by editor — 1:12 pm | July 10, 20120 comments

Architectkidd has been commissioned to design a floating hotel on the Kwai river. The hotel is a contemporary interpretation of traditional river dwellings in Western Thailand. With its mountainous terrain and forests, the province of Kanchanaburi in Thailand is a popular destination for visitors.

The rivers in particular play an important role not only for visitors but also local inhabitants’ livelihoods. Activities along the rivers reflect how people have lived with water and the changing seasons, especially during rains from June to October, when rivers swell from flood waters.

The client’s brief was to consider the nature of the surroundings while providing amenities for visitors and contemporary design approach. The design builds on the traditional Thai houses that are built on bamboo rafts and placed on the rivers and canals. These dwellings combine flexibility and mobility along with minimizing the use of building materials. In addition to the guest rooms, a floating garden and spa are interconnected within the entire resort.