The original Dusit Thani Bangkok, closed and demolished in 2019, has been reborn as the centerpiece of Dusit Central Park, a mixed-use development set to add luxury residences, offices, retail, and a public roof park by 2025.
André Fu Studio led the redesign, tasked with honoring the 1970 landmark’s legacy while elevating it to meet today’s luxury standards.
“We started with a vision to create a hotel that seeks to celebrate Thai culture on the global stage,” said André. “And together with Dusit’s creative team, we dug deep into the history and heritage of the original property that opened in 1970 to define its spirit and determine how we could translate this into a contemporary new skyscraper with my personal language of ‘relaxed luxury.’ To me, this project captures a turning point for Thai hospitality.”
Fu, known for projects like Claridge’s London and The Upper House Hong Kong, uses oak, antique bronze, and Thai-inspired forms to merge nostalgia with a modern identity.
The triple-height lobby, inspired by traditional pavilions, pairs restored elements such as a waterfall garden and preserved trees with new features, including a jade green marble bar and hand-forged bronze screens.
Two antique pillars salvaged from the original Benjarong restaurant serve as visual anchors opposite the lobby bar. Guest rooms start at 50 square meters, each featuring five-meter-wide cantilevered windows with uninterrupted views of Lumpini Park.
“The expansive five-meter-wide window bay in a singular glass sheet is the most distinctive feature of the guest rooms,” said André. Designed to evoke Thai salas, each bay incorporates full-length day beds, creating a signature experience for high-end travelers seeking cultural connection. Interiors layer sage, celadon, champagne, and gold tones with oak paneling and locally crafted latticework, reinforcing the property’s premium positioning.
—Edited by Miguel R. Camus
