Second Time Around

Prolific Bangkok-based architect and interior designer Bill Bensley is at it again. This time, he’s going full steam ahead with a railway-themed resort that will see abandoned train carriages upcycled into luxury suites. François Oosthuizen speaks to the mastermind behind the unique project currently under construction in Khao Yai, Thailand.

- Francois Oosthuizen

With more than 200 hotels in his portfolio – including iconic properties like The Siam on the banks of the Chao Phraya River and the recently opened, opera-themed Capella Hanoi – Bill Bensley has earned a reputation for his genius, unconventional style. Generous doses of extravagance, eclecticism and storytelling are always deeply entwined in his design narrative. He’s also reputed to be very sensitive towards local communities and maintains a profound commitment to minimise the environmental footprint of the projects he works on.

Just over two hours from Bangkok and slated for an opening towards the end of the year, InterContinental Khao Yai National Park, Thailand is set on a 40ha site blessed with 50,000 trees and views over seven lakes. Among the 61-key resort’s inventory will be 16 suites, each 80 sq m, which have been repurposed from salvaged train cars – the first time in Asia that an international hospitality brand is involved in an upcycling project of this nature.

For Bensley, it’s a dream project, especially since the owner, Rena Udomkunnatum, is a previous client and close friend; the pair having worked together on her Rosewood Luang Prabang resort. Prestige gets the inside story from the designer himself.

How did this project come about?

My client Rena was working on a project in Khao Yai and asked me to come aboard. It is a beautiful part of the country with mountains and cooler weather – a novelty for Thais who travel there, many from Bangkok, hoping to get their annual dose of greenery, a chance to wear a sweater and be transported elsewhere for a while. As with all of our projects, this needed to have a really unique story that would make this a destination in and of itself.