Down to Earth

Anantara Resort And Spa Samui and Koh Samui Hotel Articles

The name Samui conjures up many island images; first and foremost there are soft, white sands and palm-fringed beaches. But the island itself has evolved over the years, from a coconut palm paradise frequented by backpackers to a hip and trendy retreat with a distinctive chill-out ambience.

In keeping with this trend, well-known architect Bill Bensley has designed The Anantara Samui's gardens, spa and Italian restaurant as sharp and minimalist, while still maintaining the integrity of the surrounding natural environment. "The Anantara attempts to marry the design of the building with the area around it," explains Christopher Stafford, resort vice president and general manager. The construction makes use of balconies and terraces that open onto the outside garden. Water features have also been highly utilized. Anantara means water without borders, says Stafford, which is why water plays such an important part as a design feature, from the torch-lit waterway that that runs the length of the gardens, to the canal each guest must cross on a bridge that spans the entranceway.

Each Anantara resort takes on elements unique to its particular region. Yet there are certain overlying features that draw them all together. "Colourwise, orange ties the Anantara brand together," Stafford says. "Rust is very much what we're about. Fine China … we're not into that." Stafford says the use of earth tones give the resort a warm, earthy feel, as well as providing it with a bit of an edge. "Anantara is a brand we're going to put on to the global stage, one that brings in localized design, localized landscape and local people," Stafford says. "We've used those three elements to create a successful formula."

The impact of arrival is important to GM Christopher Stafford, who claims the guarded entranceway with its spectacular hanging lantern and torch-lined wooden bridge is his favourite design feature. "We try to conjure up a sense of magic as you come across the driveway," he says.

Simple yet refined, the resort's central waterway is dramatic enough to capture guests at the lobby and direct their gaze toward the resort's centrepiece, the Full Moon Italian restaurant. The use of monkey figures and Hanuman (half monkey, half man) tie the resort to its placement in the south of Thailand while alms bowls like these help to add a sense of meaning and imagery, down to the smallest detail.

The restaurant is dominated by the globe of a full moon that hangs suspended from the ceiling. While its open layout is minimalist, decorative touches come into play through polished concrete beams with copper edgings. "It's a ‘wow' factor," notes Stafford. Set on three interlocking terraces, the restaurant is cantilevered over the edge of a 30-metre infinity-edge swimming pool (top) that overlooks the beach, giving diners the sense of hovering between the luminescent gardens and the deep blue sea.

The Bentley-designed Anantara Spa is set in its own walled courtyard. Each of the three private treatment suites is encased in glass and comes complete with its own alfresco shower and made-for-two terrazzo bath. Unique design features, such as the fighting fish placed in each room, try to bring local knowledge and traditions into the layout. The resort even has its own Fish Department that cares for the upkeep of these creatures.

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