an architect and his muse
DESCRIPTION
Asia Dreams Magazine, Feb/March 2013TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: An architect and his muse](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022073123/568bda331a28ab2034a9e18b/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
ASIADREAMS ASIADREAMS66 67
Throughout history, artists including writers,
painters, filmmakers and sculptors often note
a specific muse to whom they owe creative
gratitude – Picasso had Marie-Therese, his
inspiration for ‘Nude, Green Leaves and Bust’, a painting
which recently sold for US $106.5-million.
Like art, many of the most brilliant architectural
projects can be attributed to a muse – the homeowner
who dreamed of a specific concept, finally finding the
right architect to realize her dream. Or the plot itself, a
sea-, mountain- or landscape that is so dramatic that a
building is created to blend in with the environment;
AN ARCHITECT AND HIS MUSEnever competing to overwhelm the perfection Mother
Nature has already created.
This is the concept behind the work of Lao native,
Sakpaseuth Phanrajsavong, an award-winning
architect who is often seen padding around his family’s
hotels in a modest t-shirt and shorts. Raised in and
around his father’s successful design and construction
business, Phanrajsavong decided at a young age
to pursue architecture in order to complement the
ambitious family tree. After graduating from top
universities in Australia and Thailand, he pursued an
independent career until his mother decided it was
time for the family to create their own awe-
inspiring buildings, something they had been
doing for everyone else for decades. A prime
plot of commercial land next to the city’s
largest park was purchased in downtown
Vientiane, the historic capital of Laos, and
the Green Park Hotel was thoughtfully
designed and built. Now one of the city’s
most popular luxury accommodations,
Phanrajsavong’s fusion of traditional Lao
design with modern amenities captures the
essence of an aristocratic Laotian residence.
Common areas are appointed with traditional
silver Kong tables and handcrafted cabinetry
showcasing Laotian antiquities. Sterling Hill
Tribe necklaces are carefully sourced and
beautifully framed; adorning the walls of the
common areas as well as each hotel suite.
“We had acquired a generous plot and
originally planned to build a large hotel,
similar to the big chain hotels in the city
– of course with a lot more style. At the
last minute, I had a change of heart,” he
reminisces. “My intuition told me to preserve
Lao culture as much as possible, so important
in the midst of all the rapid change we’re
seeing in the country today.”
With traditional culture as his muse, he
incorporated the small details that define
Laos’ architectural style, including semi-open
outdoor corridors that are very wide, roof
tiles that are still individually handmade from
brick, and custom wooden doors that include
two vertical wooden pieces positioned down
each door lengthwise. Green Park feels like
a well-organized personal estate instead of
a hotel, but with a modern day spa onsite,
as well as the stunning courtyard swimming
pool and contemporary, international dining
venues, all the comforts of a luxury hotel are
in place. Seven years after opening Vientiane,
the family fell in love with an awe-inspiring
riverfront parcel three hours north of the city.
In mythology, the muses were nIne goddesses who symbolIzed the arts and scIences. today, a muse can be defIned loosely as a person, place or thIng that serves as an artIst’s InspIratIon.
Referred to as a ‘backpacker’s paradise’ over
the last decade, Vang Vieng is not the sort of
place luxury hotel developers flocked to in
the past. Situated halfway along the nine-
hour drive between Vientiane and the former
royal capital of Luang Prabang, Phanrajsavong
and his family saw the opportunity to provide
upscale accommodations to well heeled
families who sought the adventure of driving
to Luang Prabang instead of flying.
“Up until now, there was no place to stay in
Vang Vieng, at least nowhere guests who
need a little comfort would stay,” he says.
“My friends said I was foolish, taking a risk by
building the area’s first luxury hotel. To our
surprise, just one year after opening, the new
hotel is seeing even better numbers than
Vientiane.”
‘Stunning’ is hardly bold enough to describe
the views from the Riverside Resort. At
an altitude of about 300-meters, and a
cooler climate that attracts city dwellers to
make their weekend escapes, Vang Vieng
capture the very best of Laos’ natural beauty.
Dynamic rock and limestone mountains soar
majestically over the clear waters of the lazy
Nam Song River – not an easy landscape with
which to compete.
“We decided to keep the design simple,
letting Mother Nature maintain her center
stage position. We utilized as many natural
materials as we could source, including
hardwoods and stone, and arranged the
buildings to capture the view whenever,
however possible,” he remembers. “I find
myself coming up with excuses to drive up
from Vientiane at least once a month – not
only to check in on the business details, but
to soak in the views for a couple of days
before heading back down to the city.”
www.greenparkvientiane.com
Form follows function – that has been misunderstood. Form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union. - Frank Lloyd Wright
ASIA ARCHITECTURE