THAILAND

LAND OF OPPORTUNITY
Bangkok resident David Andrews profiles one of Thailands top landscape practices, Plandscape, which has recently taken on many exciting projects
WORDS: David Andrews PHOTOS: Plandscape hailand is a heady mix of lush verdant landscapes, stunning beaches, high-rise apartments, breathtaking architecture and endless traffic. Its an assault on the senses, yet captivating and unforgettable. The landscaping profession in Thailand is still in its infancy a search for landscape architects on the internet shows a limited list of practitioners and even fewer garden designers. Yet speak to any of the designers attached to these companies and they will tell you business is booming. For design companies in Thailand, the market stretches across Asia, India and to the Middle East and one company working in these areas is Plandscape, a landscape architecture practice based in central Bangkok. Wannaporn Pui Phornprapha , the charismatic managing director of Plandscape, tells me that she began her career in garden design, where she first discovered her love of working with the outside world. Initially taking on projects for friends and families in grounds surrounding small apartments, Wannaporn studied Architecture at Chulalongkorn University before attaining a Masters in Landscape Architecture from Harvard University. She also worked for Belt Collins Bangkok, a branch office of Belt Collins USA, the international planning, design and consulting agency. Later choosing to continue on her own path, Wannaporn took on personal projects and soon after establishing herself as a registered company in 1997, began to take on larger scale projects in city parks. By 2000, nine full-time people were working for Plandscape and their first international project beckoned from Delhi. Twelve years on there are now 80 staff working in projects spanning Asia.

The hospitality and resort industry is a major sector in Asia, and provides Plandscape with 90% of their work. They have become known for creating beautiful outdoor spaces for relaxation such as The Paresa Resort and the Six Senses Spa (pictured), both in Phuket. The Phulay Bay complex in southern Thailand is also one of their key projects. The Grand Hyatt, Mandarin and Hilton are all clients and the team have projects underway in India, China, Hong Kong, Thailand and the Middle East as well as recently finishing schemes in Fiji and the Maldives.

A growing profession

The current demand for professional landscape architects in Asia is far outstripping the supply. But this gold rush it is not without its challenges. As a new profession, little is understood by most clients about the processes involved. Wannaporn believes that clear lines of communication are vital, especially when using labour and sourcing materials from foreign speaking countries. Not forgetting her roots and confessing to a love of working on private gardens, Wannaporn has recently set up a sister company by the name of Wabi Sabi that will focus solely on private gardens. A new venture, she hopes to provide the professionalism and developed design services that are lacking in many garden design agencies in Bangkok. There is also the task of maintaining the local heritage and cultural aspects of a country, and reflecting this in a design that has to be generic for multiple purposes. There is a huge minimalist trend in Asia with eco-awareness also trickling in the challenge that companies like Plandscape face is how to make that eco-awareness reflect their own brand.

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In keeping with the Six Senses corporations (now owned by Starwood Luxury) brand of sustainable tourism, the Naka Island Phuket project develops the concept of living with nature by incorporating environmentally sound practices and design decisions. The idea of an edible garden runs throughout the project with the selection of plants considered not just for aesthetic purposes, but also for their environmental credentials and their use in cuisine and spa treatments. The use of chemical treatments and pesticides was also eradicated, while the hard landscaping reflects the philosophy of reduce, recycle, and reuse, to encourage the protection, enhancement, and rejuvenation of the natural environment.

Six Senses Spa

The idea of an edible garden runs throughout the project with the selection of plants considered not just for aesthetic purposes

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The vision for Paresa Resort in Phuket was to create a heavenly and dream-like atmosphere by taking inspiration from the surrounding exotic and tropical realm. Surreal living landscapes were created through changing reflections and patterns of the natural environs on to the still waters of infinity edge pools that seamlessly connect to the horizon. While most of the property reflects the native environment through the preservation of slopes and existing trees, the swimming pool creates a crisp and modern contrast. The location of the pool was selected owing to the situation of a beautiful mature banyan tree that anchors the location and offers a striking view to the Andaman Sea. Sleek, contemporary walls provide a strong statement while retaining the existing soil. Many of the mature trees and plants on the resort grounds were preserved as focal points to showcase and enhance their extraordinary beauty as they come through open deck areas and around villas that have each been customised to aid preservation of the natural landscape.

Paresa Resort

Many of the mature trees and plants on the resort grounds were preserved as focal points to showcase and enhance their extraordinary beauty

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Phulay Bay

Phulay Bay is a Ritz Carlton-managed five-star luxury resort in Krabi, Southern Thailand. Its location next to the Andaman Sea, with limestone karsts rising to create stunning architectural statements, meant borrowed scenery of the landscape was always going to be important. However, within the individual spaces, the design strives to enhance the connection between the guest and the landscape by drawing attention to the careful management of water resources and cultural site influences. The design was developed through gradual manipulations of topography. Each villa unit was placed strategically to capitalise on the magnificent views. In contrast to the soft undulating landscape, much of the hard landscaping is defined by strong lines. The concept of creating a surrealist landscape was realised through indigenous tropical flowers, bold colours and striking textures from a palette of largely native species. Artistic and natural phenomenon such as light, shadows, the horizon and vibrant colours of the setting sun infuse a sense of the ephemeral and fleeting into the overall experience.

Wannaporn Pui Phornprapha

Wannaporn studied at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University and then Architecture at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. After a stint at agency Belt Collins Bangkok, she began taking on personal commissions, before establishing Plandscape in 1997.

Light, shadows, the horizon and vibrant colours of the setting sun infuse a sense of the ephemeral into the overall experience

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