Free Copy Chinatown’s ART ON THE WALL JULY 2018 ISSN 2586-9191 WWW.URBANAFFAIRSMAGAZINE.COM JULY NO.2 VOL.7 | NO.2 The Siam Hotel On Top of the World Makai Açai A romantic outing at the art deco, Bangkok’s best rooftop bars Hawaii’s superfood smoothie set to riverside splendor for sundowners indulge the health-conscious foodies Publisher & Editor Photographer Editor’s Letter Vasu Thirasak Teerarat Yaemngamluea re universities in danger of becoming extinct? Copy Editor Advisor Many universities in Thailand are probably asking Manoj Tripathi Anyamanee Chan-Oum the same question given the significant decline in A Fashion Editor Circulation Director student applications this year. But the worst has yet to come. Pekky The Angel Nithi Thirasak It comes as no surprise to learn that the number of Thai Graphic Designer Marketing Director households has steadily decreased over the past decade. A Unyanun Punkaew Sunida Thirasak survey titled “The State of Thailand’s Population 2015” – by the United Nations Population Fund Thailand and the Office of the Digital Media Designer Editorial Assistant National Economic and Social Development Board – shows Raquel Villena Mogado Monthira Amornboonyakrit that Thai families are headed for an era of low fertility with an alarming downward trend: women of reproductive age (15-49 Contributors years) have an average of less than two children, as opposed to Dave Stamboulis is a travel writer and photographer based six in 1964. in Bangkok. In addition to working as the updating writer for Fodor’s guidebook to Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia, he With more women in the workforce and the need to work is the “Bangkok expert” for USA Today’s 10Best website and longer hours, couples have opted to have fewer or no children at a regular contributor for various publications throughout all. Faced with work-related stress, couples don’t have the mood Southeast Asia. to do their “homework”. Or blame it on that sarcastic joke that’s been bandied about among single ladies: that “real” men are Born and raised in Bangkok, J. Pakchuen studied English and hard to find these days because a third of them are gay, another translation at Chulalongkorn University. Currently, she lives in third already married and the last third too dumb to marry. Washington, D.C. where she works as a translator, interpreter, writer, and tour guide. No matter what the reason, schools and universities are feeling the effects of this demographic shift. Not all universities are Based in Bangkok, Ploylada Sirachadapong started her suffering from the crunch, at least just yet. The old adage that writing career as a food critic, and after eight years of visiting getting into the top public universities is the best path to success restaurants around Bangkok she now expands her writing has more than a ring of truth as most students want to get into genre to include travel, fashion and architecture. a handful of prestigious public institutions. These universities Pekky The Angel is a fashion, beauty and lifestyle expert and can still fill seats, but the ratio of applications to available seats blogger. Visit her page at www.facebook.com/pekkytheangel/ have gone down from thousands of applications to just a few or www.pekkytheangel.com . hundreds. Born and based in Bangkok, Naam Sombatanantakorn is Worse still, the national admission system for public one of the co-founders of Viajente, a travel agency that offers universities is currently a mess, prompting many to just opt to various natural and cultural travel programs. She is a lifelong bypass the process and apply directly to private universities. learner and loves to travel. There are other factors, too, like the growing trend of teens taking a gap year or following in the footsteps of those famous English-born Christopher Scott Dixon, based in Bangkok, dropouts by taking up entrepreneurship early on. is an experienced writer and ex-BBC radio reporter/presenter. He has contributed many features to a variety of publications So will universities become extinct? Not if there’s still some in Thailand and in the UK. He has also written 17 books across demand for higher education. Here’s where the theories different genres and is a qualified teacher. of economics and Darwinism come in handy: if there’s an oversupply of universities now, the law of natural selection Swisa Ariyapruchya was born in Switzerland and spent her will take its course. The fittest, most adaptive, or most childhood growing up in Belgium, Poland, Thailand and the innovative will survive over the weaker ones until the supply USA. She is multilingual and speaks four languages. Apart from and demand are back in equilibrium, and the cycle starts her work as a central banker, she began her lifestyle blog Having again. “Me” Time in 2010 and has since continued to write in her spare - VT time. She is also co-founder of Booster Education Co., Ltd. and COVER PHOTOGRAPH: DAVE STAMBOULIS COVER Booster Analytics Co., Ltd. Pick a copy at: Villa Market, Mezzo Coffee, Creamery Boutique Ice Cream, Pacamara Coffee Roasters, Ceresia Roasters, Gallery Drip @urbanaffairsmagazine urbanaffairsmagazine Coffee, The Hive Thonglor, Hubba Thailand, KliqueDesk, www.urbanaffairsmagazine.com [email protected] The Work Loft, Never Say Cutz, Bumrungrad Hospital, Bangkok Hospital, and Broccoli Revolution. © Copyright 2018 Urban Affairs Bangkok. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, scanning or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except where noted. Views expressed by authors are not necessarily those of the publisher. No. 2 Vol. 7 July 2018 ปีที่ 2 ฉบับที่ 7 กรกฎาคม 2561 ISSN 2586-9191 4 l URBAN AFFAIRS JUNE 2018 ARCHITECTURE PHOTOGRAPH: COURTESY OF THE SIAM HOTEL 6 l URBAN AFFAIRS JULY 2018 ARCHITECTURE In Love with The Siam BY PLOYLADA SIRACHADAPONG y best friend was looking for a behind some of the world’s most famous Upon arrival by limousine boat at the hotel’s nice place to propose to his long- design-hotels. Combining his expertise with dark wooden pier, guests would then be led Mtime girlfriend and as a future Krissada’s vision, the outcome is a white art along a pathway lined with tropical trees groomsman (or in this case, groomswoman) deco building, with a blend of Thai décor in to the main entrance and the lobby area, and an architecture columnist, it is my duty its design. The designer’s team have added passing a serene infinity pool overlooking to find the perfect place for him. multiple floor-to-ceiling windows with dark- the Chao Phraya river. The atrium by the color frames to allow natural light to enter, pool has a small fountain and walking “She loves the river view, and she loves giving the building a majestic modern touch. garden, which adds a refreshing vibe to the antiques,” he said of his girlfriend. So the A triangle glass roof is right in the middle of ambience. obvious choice that comes to mind is the one the main building to capture all eyes and and only “The Siam Hotel” which is located utilizes natural light to brighten up the On the hotel premises, there are several on the banks of the Chao Phraya river. interior. F&B outlets, each distinguished from the rest by its theme, interior design and The Siam is one of my favorite places that Inspired by Paris’ Musée d’Orsay, the choice of food. A Thai teak wood house is a fine exemplar of design. Owned by the property impresses with a palette of black, plays host to a Thai restaurant called renowned “Sukosol” family, the person white, cream and grey as the main colors Chon Thai offering authentic Thai cuisine. behind this exotic property is Krissada to convey the art deco style. All guestrooms The Deco Bar & Bistro serves a variety of Sukosol Clapp, the well-known rock star are uniquely adorned with its own oriental western food options, from pastas to pizza whose family inherited a beautiful plot of artworks and antiques. The lofty ceiling and sandwiches. It boasts black and white land that was to become the site of this hotel. makes the rooms spacious and all rooms are marble tiles, black round pillars supporting Krissada is the creative director of The Siam. outfitted with opulent furniture and a king- the second-floor balcony, and 1920s-1930s- size bed. The natural textures such as wood, inspired interior décor. The Café Cha – just Set in three acres of land, The Siam has 39 marble, leather, and handwoven furnishings steps away from the lobby – offers a secluded guestrooms designed by famous architect are used to add the final touch of luxury corner to enjoy pastries, cakes, coffee or tea PHOTOGRAPH: COURTESY OF THE SIAM HOTEL PHOTOGRAPH: Bill Bensley, who was the design mastermind amid a cozy, relaxed atmosphere. served in a pot. URBAN AFFAIRS JULY 2018 l 7 ARCHITECTURE Besides serving as a hotel, The Siam functions as Krissada’s private museum that houses a substantial collection of antiques plus unique objets d’art ranging from old books, sculptures, vintage car models, to typewriters and vintage turntables. One of the interesting corners here is a beauty salon that does hair styling, facials, manicures, and pedicures. The salon’s elegant décor, from dark wood paneling to plush vintage leather chairs, transports you to another world that’s most likely a more flamboyant era of Bangkok. The hotel also offers classes in Muay Thai boxing and Thai cooking. Guests can enjoy a Thai massage and other spa treatments, or join a relaxing cruise along the river aboard a refurbished rice barge to experience the gorgeous Bangkok sunset.