Set in Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, The Bamboo Bar has been sensitively redesigned in homage to its rich history.
February 10th, 2015
The Bamboo Bar dates back to 1953 when it opened its doors in a tiny room within Oriental Hotel Bangkok’s renowned Authors Wing.
In 1972, it moved to its current location in the hotel’s River Wing where it has since been frequented by the world’s rich and famous and Thailand’s high society. Patrons include Ray Charles, Sean Connery, Louis Armstrong, Audrey Hepburn and Mick Jagger, to name just a few.
The original Bamboo Bar (archival photo)
Recently, the bar has undergone yet another major refurbishment inspired by its rich past. Thai studio P49 DEESIGN have paid homage to the establishment’s namesake with their extensive use of bamboo; the material has been used on the bar, chairs, and as finishes on the wall. Thai silk cushions with bamboo prints also grace the sofas. Above, the ceiling is a contemporary design featuring vintage mirrors framed in black bamboo, and stands in contrast to the colonial-style, rattan ceiling fans.
“Our objective was to weave the past and the future,” says the hotel’s General Manager, Amanda Hyndman. “Old friends will recognise pieces throughout the space that create a real sense of place.”
Some of the bar’s original black rattan armchairs have been restored, while replicas of rattan seating shown in early 20th century photos have been recreated, and stand alongside an aged leather Chesterfield-style banquette and colonial-style wingback chairs. Additionally, the designers have managed to retain some of the original tiger skin prints on the bar stools and chairs.
The walls serve as yet another visual tribute to The Bamboo Bar’s legacy: it’s lined with historical images of the hotel and bar, and photos of many of the establishment’s former patrons. Other artefacts include jazz instruments and explorer memorabilia.
“The overall mood is one of a nostalgic explorer’s den, like before. It is a marriage between the colonial era and contemporary design,” says Hyndman.
While paying homage to the establishment’s past, the newly refurbished interior also meets the changing needs and preferences of the bar’s current clientele with more intimate seating areas that flow seamlessly into an alfresco area and the adjacent Cigar Divan.
P49 DEESIGN
p49deesign.com
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Channelling the enchanting ambience of the Caffè Greco in Rome, Budapest’s historic Gerbeaud, and Grossi Florentino in Melbourne, Ross Didier’s new collection evokes the designer’s affinity for café experience, while delivering refined seating for contemporary hospitality interiors.
Savage Design’s approach to understanding the relationship between design concepts and user experience, particularly with metalwork, transcends traditional boundaries, blending timeless craftsmanship with digital innovation to create enduring elegance in objects, furnishings, and door furniture.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
An entry by MuseLAB, in The Retail Space in the 2024 INDE.Awards, takes shoppers to another planet where diamonds and great interior design make a lasting impression.
In the pursuit of an uplifting synergy between the inner world and the surrounding environment, internationally acclaimed Interior Architect and Designer Lorena Gaxiola transform the vibration of the auspicious number ‘8’ into mesmerising artistry alongside the Feltex design team, brought to you by GH Commercial.