Naturally, it's Alila

Don’t plunge in! This is the reflecting pool where sunlight shines into the path below.

Duangrit Bunnag says there is no longer one, single trend in the design world. The world has become so big that there is no one particular target group. But to complete a contemporary building, architect Duangrit thinks beyond context, design and uniqueness; he looks at the ecology.

"Ecology is no longer just an option," says the managing director of Duangrit Bunnag Architects. This concern for the environment is reflected in his Alila Cha-am Hotel. He started the design four years ago, just before environmental issues really began to rock the world.

Although Duangrit doesn't brand his designs as sustainable projects, Alila does make a point - the resort's green credentials go way beyond a sensitivity to the local environment .

Apart from using a simple heat-insulation process, Duangrit designed recessed windows that stay shaded from the heat of the sun's rays. And about 10 per cent of the water used in the property is reused in the garden.

"A building is an extended version of myself," Duangrit says.

But before he began blending his personality into small-scale projects, Duangrit was an employee at architects A49 during the boom in mega high-rise projects in the heart of Bangkok. Where such gigantic structures fail is in bringing a homelier, human scale to life.

Urbanites dwarfed by their surroundings all week long often want something different for the weekend. That means enjoying the grounding atmosphere of an intimate destination. "Everybody is living in a high-speed world and gets exhausted. If a hotel can slow down the pace, that's great," says Duangrit.

The 79 rooms at Alila could easily be doubled in number, given the space available at the hotel. But that would squeeze out the natural feel furnished by the space and green surroundings. "Everyone wants small, chic places as hideaways," Duangrit says.

At Alila, guests are encouraged to enjoy the unique design, serenity and privacy. The sea breeze embraces you as you walk up the broad, white steps leading to the entrance.

Most hotels worry about controlling the temperature of their lobby. But the moment you step into Alila's lobby, Duangrit says, you can appreciate the natural atmosphere, which he terms, "a sense of arriving at the seaside".

From then on, except for the breeze, the long walk to the spa is a new experience. The walk takes you under the reflecting pool - often mistaken as a long swimming pool in pictures.

It's a unique experience to step through the soft light that shines from the skylights, the architect says. Guests don't have to worry about peeping eyes when they're in the pool, as it's surrounded by walls. Rooms, too, have their privacy, with a distance of more than 20 metres separating each one.

Dining at the loft-style restaurant is an unmatched experience, though Duangrit says the area is very simple. The restaurant uses slanting columns running in different directions, a reminder of Duangrit's famous "Dance Table" design.

It's interesting to wonder what design cues Alila has taken from its location, Cha-am. Duangrit says the Cha-am context has already been overtranslated by other architects and designers before. "There's nothing unique left to work on."

Unlike his other recent project at Kui Buri, 24 rooms in X2, Alila offers a more natural ambience.

Architecture these days is no longer a matter of simply designing buildings; its practitioners now need to integrate design, function and environmental concerns. It's easy to create beauty, Duangrit says. "But it's difficult to make the beauty a success for the client."

As ecology is an unavoidable aspect, his new projects focus more on the environment. Design with elements to fight global warming may cost 20 to 30 per cent more, he says. But in the long-term, lower operational costs will lead to money savings.