yinjispace

INTERIOR
Sixseven Studio
PHOTOGRAPHY
Thanapol Jongsiripipat
EDITOR
Gina
Collection

Nestled behind the energetic Cultural Road of Bangkok, within the historic enclave of Yaowarat, a new spa concept quietly revives the ancient art of Thai healing through space, material, and atmosphere. Rooted in the traditions of Rue Si Dad Ton and Sen Pratarn Sib, a centuries old Thai massage techniques, the design seeks to immerse guests in a sensory journey that honors this cultural legacy while thoughtfully embracing the present.

Occupying a site of approximately 1,000 square meters, the project stitches together three existing low-rise buildings, each with its own character. Rather than replace or overshadow the historical structures, the design respects the existing bones, adapting and integrating them into a seamless circulation experience that balances discovery with flow.

Facing the main street, the four-story main building acts as the entry threshold. On the ground floor, the spa’s lobby welcomes guests with understated elegance, a layering of dark brown timber, hand-finished white walls, and bronze archways that hint at nobility without ostentation. Wrought iron details on the ceiling reinterpret the ambiance of a traditional Thai tai thun (open-air basement), offering a grounded contrast to the refined interior palette. This floor also houses a retail boutique, showcasing locally made wellness products, and a quiet waiting area designed to slow the pace.

Ascending through the building, the second to fourth floors accommodate 25 private treatment rooms, each a cocoon of calm. The layout prioritizes acoustical privacy and spatial serenity. Design inspiration is drawn from Thai royal court massage rituals and the sacred architecture of temples, such as the pho tree enclosures and boundary stones (sema). These references are distilled into the architecture through curved forms, symbolic geometries, and transitional thresholds that subtly guide guests from one experience to the next.

Materiality plays a key role in evoking a sense of origin. Handmade charcoal-fired ceramic tiles from Chiang Mai lend a raw tactility underfoot, while soft light bounces off limewashed walls to create a meditative glow. The use of subdued, natural tones evokes the aesthetics of Thai heritage without veering into pastiche.

Tucked between structures, the two-story courtyard building offers a moment of openness and vertical connection. At its heart is an airy courtyard crowned with a skylight, casting soft daylight across the interior. The ground floor doubles as a lounge and activity space, where guests can engage in DIY Thai herbal workshops. The workshop is an opportunity to understand and interact with the ingredients and philosophies behind traditional wellness practices.

On the upper level, the program shifts toward foot massage treatments. The atmosphere here is lighter and more casual, complementing the functions of Klai Café, a quiet hideaway for post-treatment refreshments. Earthy textures, potted greenery, and rattan accents foster a laid-back ambiance, subtly referencing the relaxed informality of traditional Thai village courtyards.

Set furthest from the street, the third structure, known as the Thai Herbal House, focuses on elemental treatments. This includes wet areas for Thai body scrubs, aromatherapy, and the signature Soom-Kai steam ritual, a deeply rooted herbal steaming practice believed to detoxify and recalibrate the body.

Here, the design leans into sensory contrast, moist heat, filtered light, and the earthy scent of Thai herbs envelop the guest in a full-body experience. The material palette shifts accordingly, rough stone, polished concrete, and natural clay tiles create a tactile dialogue between hot and cold, smooth and textured, tradition and tactility.

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