Issue 45

A Thai architect has transformed his traditional family home into a charming boutique hotel in the historic Rattanakosin island area of Bangkok.

Step into Baan Noppawong and you immediately feel the welcoming ambience of the colonial wooden house. With only seven rooms for guests, you are treated as if you are a member of its extended family.

“Thai hospitality is charming,” says Kantasom Noppawong Na Ayudhaya, president and CEO of Siam Hotel Maker and the mastermind behind the renovation of Baan Noppawong. “In other countries, service is very systematic; however, the Thai way of service comes from the heart.”

Turning your family home into a boutique hotel was something unheard of five years ago.

“When I was considering how to renovate the house, some suggested turning it into a restaurant or museum, but the location is in one of the most important areas of Bangkok, right around the corner from Wat Phra Keaw,” he says. “Not many local people understood the concept of a boutique hotel at that time.”

With his training as an architect, Noppawong Na Ayudhaya was determined to preserve the original house as much as possible, while integrating the modern functionality of a hotel. He says that international guests enjoy the experience at Baan Noppawong as the hotel is comparable to a four-star hotel located in an historic area.

Baan Noppawong retains its original characteristics, such as the old-fashioned teak floor, teak doors and windows while each room is specially designed to follow Thailand's nine precious stones concept (Manee-Noppakao) to create a unique living experience. Noppawong Na Ayudhaya adds that he decorated the rooms with antique furniture.

Another nice touch is that guests can relax on a wooden terrace at the rear of the house while enjoying English afternoon tea.

Since its opening four years ago, most guests at Baan Noppawong come from Holland, Norway and France, and other European countries, according to Noppawong Na Ayudhaya.

The architect and entrepreneur has turned his other business, Siam Hotel Maker, into a one-stop consultancy service for boutique hotels – from renovation to design and management – as he sees great potential for the boutique hotel industry.

Moreover, he believes that boutique hotels can give back to the local community.

“Boutique hotels have a great opportunity in engaging the surrounding community,” he says. “For instance, Baan Noppawong serves guests congee from local restaurants and brings in massage therapists from a nearby spa instead of having an in-house facility. We can give guests a taste of Thai culture and guests can experience Thainess in their own way.”

Baan Noppawong
112-114 Soi Damnoen Klang Tai, Ratchadamnoen Klang Rd.,
Bowon Niwet, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200 Thailand
Tel. +66 2 224 1047
www.baannoppawong.com

Words by Pimsirinuch Borsub