The Standard Bangkok

The Sky Roof Terrace of the Standard Bangkok is the Place to be and Play in Bangkok and has jaw dropping views over the city.

The hotel is located in the futuristic Mahanakhon Tower and has jaw-dropping views over the city. The interiors were designed by Standard International's Verena Haller in collaboration with Spanish artist Jaime Hayon, who wanted guests to experience something new each time they walked through the hotel. The colourful interiors contrast with the building's stark exterior to create a sense of wonder The sensory overload of sights, sounds, and aromas are a testament to Bangkok's vivacity.

While looking for a place to stay for a recent trip to Bangkok, I was prompted to reflect on my first visit four decades ago.

Back then, I was an adventurous backpacker on a shoestring budget and spent my first day in Asia in a dollar-a-night hostel precariously perched above the Chao Phraya River: I have been to Bangkok many times since. When I lived in Hong Kong, and had a few more dollars in my pocket, it was an casy and frequent weekend getaway. I remember strolling through the chaotic yet captivating streets. The sensory overload of sights, sounds and aromas were a testament to the vivacity of Bangkok's neighbourhoods. On each visit, it felt like I was journeying through a living history book. With their unique stories and designs, many of the buildings offered a glimpse into the city's past and present, prompting me to ponder the lives intertwined with these architectural marvels.

Hotels have always struck me as intriguing, sparking many questions. Who designed them, why, what's inside, and how do they make me feel? Beyond just a place to rest for the night, the best hotels provoke a sense of joy and wonder that can at times transcend mere functionality. Just as all kinds of stories pierce our daily lives, the architecture of what we see and experience surely speaks to us in emotional terms.

A talented architect is able to construct and sustain narratives that turn their projects into worthy landmarks that shape the surrounding landscape. This is the case with The Standard Hotel in the city:

Verena Haller, chief design officer of Standard International says, 'The location is always our main inspiration. We study it deeply and in detail to understand what is needed, what is disruptive, and what will draw people in and keep them captivated. The impressive design and architecture of the Mahanakhon Tower, seen from anywhere in the city, was a huge draw.' The hotel found its place is in this iconic tower, designed by German architect Ole Scheeren. It's a striking cuboid skyscraper with a pixelated ribbon circling its full height as if portions of the structure are incomplete. Projecting glass sky boxes reveal the inner life of the building through indoor/outdoor spaces, allowing light and air to travel easily: Scheeren designs buildings that aspire to joyfully generate life and community through human interaction. He promotes 'form follows fiction' instead of the much-lauded architectural adage 'form follows function'. When I design a building, I consider the things that can happen not only inside the building but around it, as well as the role it plays in the story of the city and the memory it will leave behind.' Haller echoes this sentiment in all of the Standard Hotel interiors she oversees. 'T want to create a journey evoking different senses, allowing guests to meander through the property and discover something new each time as they travel through the colourful interior; which is contrary to the stark exterior. Bringing a sense of humour but never forgetting the elegance. It always comes down to creating somewhere people feel they belong and want to linger.' To achieve this, Haller and the award-winning Standard design team turned to the visionary artist and designer Jaime Hayon, who tells me,

'Having spent many years immersing myself in the country's culture, cuisine and vibrant energy, I have a deep connection to Thailand and its people. I focused on creating a unified, harmonious design that reflects both the local culture and its craftsmanship.'

The entrance lobby is a joyous respite from the urban chaos outside and a peck of what's to come. 'We brought green to the building to create an urban sanctuary.' Hayon's biophilic theme resonates throughout the hotel and from its external terraces to Hayon's oasis-like flowing social area on the fourth floor. It's a soothing antidote to Bangkok's bustling energy, seamlessly integrating nature into its very fabric.

The sunny-yellow, art-filled lobby glides effortlessly into the leafy, day-to-night, inside-outside restaurant, Parlor; which is the beating heart of the hotel. The interiors are an exciting, dvnamic, boldly saturated modern take on a 70s vibe that is playful, inviting and surprisingly comfortable. There are six venues to choose from, all equally inviting. Highlights include Tease, a dramatic and intimate tea room that serves a 'Not Your Traditional Afternoon Tea' with boozy brews, while Ojo shimmers with retro-glam just beneath the pinnacle of the tower. Sky Beach is not for the faint-hearted, situated 78 floors above the ground, and creates an epic stage for world-famous DJs and the party-minded.

Considered alongside its cultural programming of pop-up partics, tastemaker talks and studio sessions, the hotel arguably lives up to its hedonistic hashtag, #AnythingButStandard.

At The Standard it feels like you've popped up, not down, the rabbit hole.

Would I return? In a heartbeat.

@anjiconnell_acidplus @thestandardbangkok