The time capsule

COUNTRY FOCUS: THAILAND
Cabochon Hotel • Bangkok
COUNTRY FOCUS: THAILAND
Cabochon Hotel • Bangkok
Above Cabochon Hotel is housed inside an off-white, low-rise twin-tower structure
Left Distinctive antiques form the décor at the Joy Luck Club
The time capsule
Text: Teresa Chow Photography: Courtesy of Cabochon Hotel
Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok’s
busy streets, an elegant Walpole building at the end
of a quiet, tree-lined street exudes sweet nostalgia
A peek into the Thai Lao Yeh restaurant
32 | perspective
E
xuding an air of the Roaring Twenties, the
intimate Cabochon Hotel — housed in a
Walpole building — was dreamed up by
respected designer Eugene Yeh, who was intent
on recreating the Shanghai chic of the 1920s.
Located at the end of Soi 45, Sukhumvit Road,
Cabochon has just four suites and four studios spread
over four storeys — guaranteeing enormous privacy for
its guests.
Yeh made his name in Bangkok when he designed
The Eugenia Hotel, a late 19th century colonial-style hotel
filled with an old world charm from a bygone era. At
Cabochon, he has interpreted the same timeless elegance
once again, eschewing fancy new materials and
technology as much as possible in order to keep the hotel
as classic as possible.
“If you see me in person, you’ll understand that I am
nothing special — because my lifestyle is just like that: I
was staying in a tiny, ancient flat in Paris early this summer
and then parked myself in a 1906-built apartment in NYC
to end the holidays,” Yeh says. “I wanted to feel the same
way for the rest of my days, regardless whether of I’m
working in my Bangkok or Taipei homes.”
perspective | 33
COUNTRY FOCUS: THAILAND
Cabochon Hotel • Bangkok
COUNTRY FOCUS: THAILAND
Cabochon Hotel • Bangkok
Above Cabochon Hotel is housed inside an off-white, low-rise twin-tower structure
Left Distinctive antiques form the décor at the Joy Luck Club
The time capsule
Text: Teresa Chow Photography: Courtesy of Cabochon Hotel
Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok’s
busy streets, an elegant Walpole building at the end
of a quiet, tree-lined street exudes sweet nostalgia
A peek into the Thai Lao Yeh restaurant
32 | perspective
E
xuding an air of the Roaring Twenties, the
intimate Cabochon Hotel — housed in a
Walpole building — was dreamed up by
respected designer Eugene Yeh, who was intent
on recreating the Shanghai chic of the 1920s.
Located at the end of Soi 45, Sukhumvit Road,
Cabochon has just four suites and four studios spread
over four storeys — guaranteeing enormous privacy for
its guests.
Yeh made his name in Bangkok when he designed
The Eugenia Hotel, a late 19th century colonial-style hotel
filled with an old world charm from a bygone era. At
Cabochon, he has interpreted the same timeless elegance
once again, eschewing fancy new materials and
technology as much as possible in order to keep the hotel
as classic as possible.
“If you see me in person, you’ll understand that I am
nothing special — because my lifestyle is just like that: I
was staying in a tiny, ancient flat in Paris early this summer
and then parked myself in a 1906-built apartment in NYC
to end the holidays,” Yeh says. “I wanted to feel the same
way for the rest of my days, regardless whether of I’m
working in my Bangkok or Taipei homes.”
perspective | 33
COUNTRY FOCUS: THAILAND
Cabochon Hotel • Bangkok
10
Architecturally, the Walpole building is
blanketed by a clean white façade,
punctuated by ivory coloured window
frames. The balconies and elegant columns
are festooned with artistic patterns and
motifs distinct from its immediate
environs — a revelation of modernity and
aesthetics modelled after the Parisian and
Viennese styles.
A harkening back to the golden days of
yesteryear are apparent throughout. For
example, across the lobby is the Thai Lao
Yeh restaurant, where the wall panels are
crafted from 100-year-old timber salvaged
from a Thai village and painstakingly
COUNTRY FOCUS: THAILAND
Cabochon Hotel • Bangkok
upcycled. On the other side is the Joy Luck
Club, a library filled with fascinating
collections of antiques from Paris,
Amsterdam, Bangkok and Shanghai.
“Originally it should be a bit darker in
tone inside, but since we are in tropical
Bangkok, I made the colours brighter
instead,” explains Yeh. His motivations at
Cabochon also salute memories of his
family, in particular a close friend of his
father’s who greatly influenced Yeh’s own
sense of taste.
“What is most notable about this design
is the story behind it... It was with me all the
time until the end of the design process.”
Minutes with
Eugene Yeh
A VOTE FOR
TIMELESSNESS
At what age did design become an
interesting subject for you to explore?
Since I was very young, about five years
old; and when I took on my first trip
abroad at 11, I realised that architectural
design is one of my passions.
I always like to begin with a
theme, a soul or a story. I have
been following my own design
philosophy for years and it makes
my work different from others
The logo of the hotel is emblazoned onto the mosaic floor
Who is your biggest design influence?
Travelling gave me a big hit as I
observed the beauty of the world. But if
you’re asking about an icon, then I
would say Ralph Lauren, who has never
been trained as a fashion designer but
he has achieved a lot.
Bathrooms feature retro bath-tubs rather than modern shower cubicles
What is your design philosophy?
I always like to begin with a theme, a
soul or a story. I have been following my
own design philosophy for years and it
makes my work different from others.
When I design a factory, I will do it as
clean as a hospital; a hospital as
comfortable as a hotel; a hotel as warm
as a home; a home just like a resort; a
resort as carefree as heaven and
heaven... well, let’s leave that job to God!
What do you think about the latest Thai
design trends?
Never follow trends — if I may say so —
especially in architecture and interior
design. We can’t change our home every
season or year; we can’t change our
hometown into black and white or
colourful like fashion, so timeless elegance
is always my own personal trend.
A quiet garden at the back of the hotel
34 | perspective
Cabochon has just four suites and four studios for high levels of privacy
perspective | 35
COUNTRY FOCUS: THAILAND
Cabochon Hotel • Bangkok
10
Architecturally, the Walpole building is
blanketed by a clean white façade,
punctuated by ivory coloured window
frames. The balconies and elegant columns
are festooned with artistic patterns and
motifs distinct from its immediate
environs — a revelation of modernity and
aesthetics modelled after the Parisian and
Viennese styles.
A harkening back to the golden days of
yesteryear are apparent throughout. For
example, across the lobby is the Thai Lao
Yeh restaurant, where the wall panels are
crafted from 100-year-old timber salvaged
from a Thai village and painstakingly
COUNTRY FOCUS: THAILAND
Cabochon Hotel • Bangkok
upcycled. On the other side is the Joy Luck
Club, a library filled with fascinating
collections of antiques from Paris,
Amsterdam, Bangkok and Shanghai.
“Originally it should be a bit darker in
tone inside, but since we are in tropical
Bangkok, I made the colours brighter
instead,” explains Yeh. His motivations at
Cabochon also salute memories of his
family, in particular a close friend of his
father’s who greatly influenced Yeh’s own
sense of taste.
“What is most notable about this design
is the story behind it... It was with me all the
time until the end of the design process.”
Minutes with
Eugene Yeh
A VOTE FOR
TIMELESSNESS
At what age did design become an
interesting subject for you to explore?
Since I was very young, about five years
old; and when I took on my first trip
abroad at 11, I realised that architectural
design is one of my passions.
I always like to begin with a
theme, a soul or a story. I have
been following my own design
philosophy for years and it makes
my work different from others
The logo of the hotel is emblazoned onto the mosaic floor
Who is your biggest design influence?
Travelling gave me a big hit as I
observed the beauty of the world. But if
you’re asking about an icon, then I
would say Ralph Lauren, who has never
been trained as a fashion designer but
he has achieved a lot.
Bathrooms feature retro bath-tubs rather than modern shower cubicles
What is your design philosophy?
I always like to begin with a theme, a
soul or a story. I have been following my
own design philosophy for years and it
makes my work different from others.
When I design a factory, I will do it as
clean as a hospital; a hospital as
comfortable as a hotel; a hotel as warm
as a home; a home just like a resort; a
resort as carefree as heaven and
heaven... well, let’s leave that job to God!
What do you think about the latest Thai
design trends?
Never follow trends — if I may say so —
especially in architecture and interior
design. We can’t change our home every
season or year; we can’t change our
hometown into black and white or
colourful like fashion, so timeless elegance
is always my own personal trend.
A quiet garden at the back of the hotel
34 | perspective
Cabochon has just four suites and four studios for high levels of privacy
perspective | 35
ARCHITECTURE
INTERIORS
DESIGN
OCTOBER 2013
www.perspectiveglobal.com
COUNTRY FOCUS
THAILAND 專題透視在泰國
KATHRYN
FIRTH
The chief of design
at the London
Legacy Development
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英國資產發展公司首席設計師
續寫倫敦奧運會建築傳奇
BRAIN
TRUST 2013
Macau: past, present
and future: what lies
ahead for the former
Portuguese enclave?
Is it all just casinos
and mega hotels,
or can there be more?
澳門的過去、現在與未來：
前葡萄牙殖民地的前景為何？
其未來就只有娛樂場所及大型
酒店嗎？還是前途無可限量？
HK$48
US$18
=C15