Phi Phi Island Village Resort finalises £3.7m refurbishment

650 388 Daniel Fountain
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Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort is set to re-launch in November, following the final phase of its £3.7 million (THB160 million) refurbishment.

The overall vision for the renovations follows a “Chao Lay Southern Thai design concept” offering guests a rare combination of natural simplicity and comfort in one of Thailand’s most inspiring destinations.

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RELATED: Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort announces £3.5m renovation project
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To strike a balance between authentic Thai architecture and a more modern tropical style resort, Thailand-based design firm Last Word Studio has created stylish interiors for the revamped bungalows while drawing on southern Thai architectural traditions. Spacious, airy, comfortable living spaces have long been a signature of Phi Phi Island Beach Resort. By building with local materials and focusing on air circulation, the properties blend with the tropical surroundings and are kept cool all year-round.

Phi Phi Village Island Resort

“Although the main aim is to upgrade our rooms and facilities to keep pace with the demands of visitors from around the world, we have also been very careful not to lose the essence of Thai culture and tradition that people expect when they visit our country,” said Mr. Chao Treenawong, General Manager, Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort. “The contemporary Thai design is still a major attraction, even on a remote island like Koh Phi Phi, but it must also evolve with the times.”

Reflecting this approach, the new bungalows are raised slightly from the ground on sturdy pillars and boast tall, pointed roofs which catch the sea breezes and funnel fresh air through the interiors. Air-conditioning units have been also installed, even though they are not always required; thanks to a sensitive, smart design scheme that dates back hundreds of years.

Phi Phi Island Village Resort

“Through the décor and design our new rooms offer a local Thai village feel, but they also come with all the added amenities of modern lifestyle. By staying true to the region’s architectural roots, we have also remained sensitive to the island environment – physically, and in terms of sustainability,” said Mr. Treenawong.

In addition to these newly designed rooms, Phi Phi Island Village Resort recently completed their new-look restaurant Api, as well as a stylish al fresco coffee club called bean/Co. To accompany these new additions a new menu has been created, called The Beach House. All of the new amenities complement the elegant architecture and ambiance of the resort’s Ruan Thai restaurant, Phi Phi Island’s only authentic Thai dining experience.

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RELATED: Phi Phi Island Village Resort committed to sustainability
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Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort is constantly evolving and innovating in terms of eco-sustainability. The resort recently installed a reverse osmosis (RO) plant which provides 20,000 litres of clean per hour, whilst managing a coral reef rehabilitation nursery off the shores of the property. In addition, a 5-acre plot near the resort grounds has been dedicated to the planting and nurturing of new mangroves. Resort guests will have the opportunity to join staff and community leaders in bi-annual mangrove planting events, with up to 700 mangrove trees to be placed in the on-site plantation, as well in the coral restoration project.

Daniel Fountain / 20.10.2016

Editor, Hotel Designs

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