Napasai Resort, Koh Samui, Thailand

Napasai is an amazingly well designed resort on the island of Samui in Thailand. It boasts separate individual villas located on stilts above the soothing sounds of the calm ocean. The sketch above is the view from the infity edge pool out towards the ocean.

Napasai is a highly manicured landscape that is kept in impeccable condition.
  

This fountain is located in the entry space of the resort. It slowly spills water into a lower basin and creates a relaxing ambient sound which sets the tone for your stay.
  

The infinity edge pool with the Gulf of Thailand in the background.

The infinity edge pool spills over this wall. Raising the pool was a great design idea and effectively raises the pool to create the pool water to ocean water relationship that these types of pools strive to accomplish.

View to Napasai from the beach. The villas are strategically sited on the hills.

Design details.

The author at work.

24 Hours in Singapore

We missed a connecting flight to Thailand but we got the opportunity to see the country/city of Singapore. Among the sites we saw there was the Singapore Botanical Gardens.

An interesting feature within the gardens was this amphitheater that had a leaf-shaped roof.

A side view of the amphitheater. The leaf as roof was a very fitting design.

There are many water features in the gardens, possibly a nod to Singapore's natural environment, which is an island with many natural watercourses.

Fountain detail.

Another fountain detail within the gardens.

Bonsai collection.

Ku De Ta, Bali

Ku De Ta is a restaurant in Bali that is exceptionally designed. It stands out from other places in the area with its high style and superb attention to detail.


A quick layout plan from my sketch book.


A double row of daybeds line the beachfront area of Ku De Ta, elevated just enough to offer privacy while sitting and looking out at the ocean.


The overall space flows well and is effectively organized from the entry steps leading to the restaurant which then leads out to the grass plaza and finally to the beach access.


A "green" wall flanks both sides of the main dining room. The dramatic lighting design of this wall is a typical example of how lighting is so important to the feel of Ku De Ta.


Another view of the "green" wall.


This is a sketch of the entrance water feature that is visible when you go up the main steps. It is a very subtle aspect of the overall design but it adds an extra dimension to the place.


Ku De Ta is a hot spot in Bali no matter what time of day or night.

Bali, Indonesia

Parts of Bali are natural paradise while other parts of the island are managed poorly and polluted. From a design perspective, Bali boats some well planned and maintained resorts and restaurants.

Natural beauty at Dreamland Beach.

The cliffs of Uluwatu.




Bali is known as the "Island of the Thousand Temples." There are temples everywhere you look and they are a very important part of the culture.




Unfortunately, Bali has much pollution. The picture above shows runoff from a village and illustrates how the island must learn better strategies in order to combat these natural indecencies.




Stone mosaic patterns under a very effective arched pathway.