Baba Beach Club Phuket’s architecture and design is a mix of old and new, traditional and untraditional. According to founder Khun Wan Issara himself, the architecture and design is “Chino-portuguese meets Shanghai Tang and Ralph Lauren” – but what does this mean? We digged deeper by interviewing mastermind designer, Khun Sutep Patsuteesutti nicknamed Ake, who worked alongside Khun Wan to build this sanctuary for quality electronic music.
Baba Beach Club Phuket mimics the traditional Chino-portuguese architecture commonly found in Phuket town – though it leans more towards traditional Chinese design, but with the excitement and energy of a modern beach club – in other terms Chino-modern. It reflects some of Sri panwa’s Chinese accents but in a modern and untraditional manner. As Wan Issara points out, “Baba Beach Club is the naughty sibling of Sri Panwa!”. Some examples of Chinese accents at the club would be the circular hallway by the reception and patterns of clouds and dragons in the art and design.
Shanghai Tang is the fashion brand Khun Wan associates with the clubs interior design and art – it is the inspiration for all the contrasting pop colours against the plane dark and white colours of the buildings. For example the big turquoise doors entering the Baba Beach Restaurant, the cayenne red ceramic stools lightly dispersed throughout the venue, the black pool and the black bathroom walls in contrast with the white outdoor walls. Pop colours are used to encourage energy and activity, so it doesn’t feel like a regular resort with a cookie-cutter atmosphere . Baba Beach Club wants to represent extraordinary, fun and sexy club culture.
You can find bold accents of Shanghai Tang influence especially in the Baba Beach restaurant downstairs and the raw bar upstairs – notice the bright red chairs and the gold tiled wall, as well as the glorious mural of a tiger and dragon, inspired by Chinese tattoo art painted by a Thailand’s well known painting artist named Home – Sawan Umansap. Baba Beach restaurant is an all-day-dining restaurant while the raw bar, serving Japanese sushi and other spectacular raw dishes, is only open in the evenings from 12pm to 11pm. Khun Ake, the interior designer, describes the raw bar upstairs as “the drunken version of Baba Iki at Sri panwa”.
*Gabana Villa
The Gabana Villas are located around the main entertainment pool to encourage more interaction, energy and activity – in comparison to Sri panwa where the culture is more private and secluded. The concept of the Gabanas is to be in the middle of all the action, directly connected to all facilities. You are close to the music, have direct access to the pool, beach, restaurant and bar – it is for people who enjoy an exciting, social environment, while also appreciating the comfort of having their own room nearby.
Finally the pool’s shape has a few myths – whether it’s shaped after a penis or not, only Khun Wan can answer that for you! But according to designer Khun Ake, he mentions it is common in Chinese design to shape doorways after a Chinese key-hole. This is the shape of the pool and the pool bar roof simply mimics the circular shape from the pool. He mentions they haven’t named the pool bar roof yet, a perfect spot for VIP parties or just watching the sunset – we’d be delighted for some name suggestions in the comments below!
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