Bangkok Luxury - 4
Antonio Saponara has more of a challenge than most GMs. He knew before he arrived at Country Group’s 100-key Capella Bangkok on Chao Phraya River that the hotel consistently wins best awards: best this, best that, best hotel in the world, best hotel in the universe. How to satisfy expectant customers and live up to their ever-demanding standards? The Neopolitan strives for better than best, with a strong emphasis on food and health: he’s not, by the way, directly involved in the forthcoming Capella Residences, planned for 2030 in Lumphini Park with integral WellEra medical wellness (developed by Bangkok Dusit Medical Services, BDMS, Thailand’s large private healthcare group, the $865 million project’s being designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox).
Capella, by architects trained by Norman Foster, is the hotel for people who don't want to step out of their Bangkok bedroom. Why? Room #908 feels more like a suite, depending what the exact terminology is of a suite. This is a ‘suite’ because a corner of the space has been cut off for the outside terrace, which is just big enough to hold a double bed lounger. The toe end of this lounger is open to the elements above a glass wall about a metre high. You feel as though you are outside. You feel as though you are at one with the river immediately below, and its busy traffic, and what's going on on the opposite bank.
Designed by BAMO, the overall colouring of #908 is very soothing, softest grey with light wood trimmings and lots of mirrors, and some soft tan bits, as in the leather-covered espresso maker. Is there any art? Yes. There is one framed panel,1.25 meters tall x 50cm, white with punched out Thai words. A Thai boat song, incomprehensible to most, but it looks good. On the terrace, visible through the glass wall between terrace and bedroom, there is a circular something, 60cm diameter, white with a sea blue and a river brown splodge on it. There's colour in the bathroom in the form of Bamford green toiletries.
