Stellar Architect Features – Bill Bensley and Celia Chu

Shinta Mahni Wild by Bill Bensley & Jirachai Rendtong

At the confluence of southwestern Cambodia’s Kirirom, Bokor and Cardamom National Parks is a bold eco-tourism endeavour: a luxury tented camp in an 350 hectare private nature sanctuary saved from a dire destiny as a hardwood logging site by the Shinta Mahni Foundation founders, accoladed architect duo – Bill Bensley and Jirachai Rendtong.

The neverland style ultra luxury camp can be reached by private car from Phnom Penh or Sihanoukville, and afterward a 20-minute bumpy Jeep ride across rugged red-rock track. The intrepid guests can choose to arrive Indiana Jones-style via a 1,050ft zipline over the canopy and rushing Tmor Rung river before giddily gliding into the Landing Zone Bar, built overlooking a waterfall, where a Khmer G&T and the dedicated staff await.

Even those already familiar with Bill Bensley’s whimsicality are in for a surprise as this camp, theatrically inspired by King Sihanouk and the high profile yet personal visit by Jackie Kennedy in 1967, is one of Bensley’s earnest yet most over-the-top projects to date. It’s characteristically eccentric, a mishmash of tattered travel trunks, Asian antiques and reclaimed furniture upholstered in patterned textiles, all pulled together with licks of patinated brass and timeworn leather. Given the density of the jungle, it is almost hard to believe that the stilted tents have been built without felling a single tree. Shinta Mani wild exemplifies coexistence of luxury and preservation of local wildlife, it is the edgy mission and the tender wish of the Bensleys.

Bill Bensley@billbensley

“One of my big pushes now is to learn more about Cambodia, as it is a country mostly known for Angkor Wat and we want to change that through Shinta Mani Foundation and the eponymous hotels. Since the 90s, we have witnessed how Cambodians rebuild and reconcile from the heartbreaking past, the genocide in 70s. And it is a country rapidly being deforested, that is all the more reason to have high yield low impact tourism reach those hard to get to pockets of wilderness that are still standing. Those with power need to understand that conservation is a viable alternative to traditional extraction, and minimal impact tourism.”, fondly says Bill Bensley about the vision and the stories behind the eco-centering Shinta Mani Wild.

Rosewood Bangkok by Celia Chu

Rosewood hotels are an adult affair – marble, wood, leather, plaid or arabesque, and exceptional contemporary art are the veneer. Located in the prime downtown area, Rosewood Bangkok is acclaimed for the residential discretion and urban oasis tranquility that exemplify the Manor ambience in a more comprehensible way compared to the posh and gentry Rosewood Hong Kong, in which guests can be awed than acclimated. Despite the Thai wai inspired, ostentatious exterior, the towering Rosewood Bangkok exudes a very residential feel and with just 158 rooms and suites, feels more boutique than a branded hotel has any right to be.

The rooms and suites located between the 11th and 29th floor are spacious and come with floor-to-ceiling windows offering fantastic views of the city skyline. Bathrooms are all white marble, rain showers and mirrors. For sheer luxury, the three Houses escalate the competition – huge suites fit for a state visit, sumptuously laid out in grey, white and brown tones that come with dressing rooms, kitchenettes, large bathrooms with unhindered vista of Bangkok skylines and outdoor small plunge pool on each patio.

“Rosewood Bangkok is an ode to modern Thai culture conjuring from the sensitivity, subtlety and passion for the tradition. I am much inspired by Thai court dance and royal residences, such as the fingernail ornaments or opulent decorations.” says Celia Chu, the renown Taiwanese architect. “I will never want my designs to be only impressive in photos; I want people to be deeply immersed in the space through their senses, and hope that they like to visit it time after time.”