4 minute read
SERENE OASIS IN THE CITY
UNTOUCHED ORGANIC EVOLUTION OF RICH PALETTE OF INGREDIENTS.
AB Concept founders Ed Ng and Terence Ngan’s private residence in Bangkok, Thailand, is a serene oasis infused with decorative Thai elements and inspirations. Inspired by the adventurous and vivacious spirit of the city, the home serves as a resting place and incubator of sensorial stimulation for Ed and Terence in Asia’s foremost creative hub.
Bangkok is a city known for its vibrant energy, abundant street food and busy traffic, and a popular destination within the Asia Pacific region for business as well as leisure. Ed and Terence are attracted to the city for its distinct culture, developed and evolved organically without any colonisation, and for the design of this home, drawn from Bangkok’s rich palette of ingredients.
Bangkok is a maze of congested streets interrupted by the occasional greenery. Located a few minutes from the highly revered Four-Faced Buddha, the apartment is on the 25th floor of a residential building in the heart of Bangkok.
ED AND TERENCE CAME ACROSS THE COLOURFUL FOUR-POSTER DAYBED IN A LOCAL ANTIQUE MARKET, AND HAVE PLACED IT BENEATH THE WINDOW IN THE MASTER BEDROOM TO PERFECTLY FRAME THE CITY VIEW AND PROVIDE AN AFTERNOON RESTING SPOT.
The renovation process began in 2018 and the refurbishment took approximately two years to complete. With a total area of 200 m2, the apartment consists of a living room, a kitchen, one master bedroom with a den, and an ensuite which includes a walk-in dressing room. The overall design scheme is calming with the addition of ornate details and abundant local materials and decoration. A wide selection of Jim Thompson fabrics has been used throughout the apartment, from wall covering to the drapes, and create a quiet and relaxed interior in contrast to the bustle outside.
The bespoke white pewter screens in the living room have been beautifully crafted by a local Thai artist using a hand-hammered technique. The wooden sculpture on the shelf features a mobilised village in Thailand. The large circular lamp in the living room is Fortuny Moda by Mariano Fortuny.
Outside the master bedroom, one would not miss the elephant ornament and leaf by Lamont.
Ed and Terence came across the colourful fourposter daybed in a local antique market, and have placed it beneath the window in the master bedroom to perfectly frame the city view and provide an afternoon resting spot.
The walls and flooring in both the bathroom and the den are covered in locally customised tiles. The bathroom’s white strikes a sharp and purifying contrast to the city’s colourful backdrop and the den provides an intimate retreat from the concrete jungle outside. The vintage cabinet by Hans Wegner is most notable among the carefully selected furniture pieces.
When asked about having a residence in Bangkok, Ed comments, “Hong Kong is commercial. It’s my home, my work; it’s about the system, while Karuizawa is about nature, refinement, and culture. Bangkok is for indulgence; it is about spiciness, craziness, and energy. When you have been serene for a long time, you crave a vivid and energetic lifestyle where people are more expressive. Being in Bangkok feels like adding an ingredient that makes life complete.”
Ed Ng, Co-Founder, AB Concept
