Inside A Modern Thai Villa with Japanese Architectural Influence
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23 hours ago
A newly completed six-bedroom luxury villa in Phuket’s exclusive Avadina Hills, designed by renowned Japanese architect Takenosuke Sakakura and curated by its art-collecting owner.
Tucked away on a forested hillside, on the western shore of Phuket, is the recently completed Ratch Residence. This private six-bedroom villa, part of the Avadina Hills development by Anantara and Kajima Design, is enveloped by the lush canopy of Sirinath National Park, offering expansive views of the Andaman Sea and Layan Beach. Unlike many of the villas in the compound, the Ratch Residence was not delivered fully furnished; instead, the owner requested an empty shell, allowing him to design a completely bespoke second home for his family. The end result? A modern Thai villa that’s both an expression of refined luxury and of its tropical surrounds.
Interiors Inspiration: Inside A Striking Modern Thai Villa
The residence is owned by a Thai businessman and philanthropist with a deep passion for the visual arts and music. For its design, he collaborated with a Bangkok-based architect with whom he had a longstanding relationship, ensuring that every aspect of the interiors was deeply personal and reflective of his artistic sensibilities. Though not a professional interior designer, his curatorial eye and meticulous attention to detail were instrumental in shaping the home’s character.
The project commenced with a wealth of visual inspiration drawn from the owner’s love of Phuket and his appreciation of Japanese architectural minimalism, introduced by co-developer Kajima. The primary challenge lay in harmonising the raw, earthy aesthetic of a mountain retreat with the sleekness of contemporary design, all while allowing space for an extensive collection of modern art.
With the help of renowned Japanese architect Takenosuke Sakakura of Sakakura Associates, the Ratch Residence is part of a collection of homes within Avadina Hills, each shaped by Sakakura’s signature clean lines and thoughtful integration with the landscape. The result is a villa that exudes understated luxury, where symmetry and materiality play pivotal roles. A modern glass-fronted facade juxtaposes with exposed timber beams and textured stone, creating a sense of warmth and depth. Inside, teak and granite elements ground the interiors, evoking the untamed spirit of Phuket’s landscape. A mature tree, incorporated into the very structure of the home, reinforces this integration of architecture and nature.
Every detail of the residence was meticulously considered, whether it was making wooden doors bespoke, fitting custom closets, or sourcing only limited furnishings. The owner was particular about sourcing key pieces from his personal collection of art, objets, and staple furniture, blending handcrafted Italian imports with antiques unearthed at Bangkok’s Jatujak weekend market. The result is an eclectic yet refined aesthetic, and the interiors tell a deeply personal story – one of its owner-slash-collector’s passion for craftsmanship, artistry and lived experience.
Yet the villa also balances this love for tradition and craft with all the modern fittings. The residence unfolds across three levels, each connected with a discreetly integrated lift. The basement is a palatial leisure zone – with its private cinema, its gym, and its many additional guest bedrooms.
And nature plays a large part in the design of the home. The landscape design in particular is sensitive to the world it inhabits – tropical plants and native foliage are supported by an advanced rainwater recycling system. The architecture, too, brings nature in as a feature of the residence. The lower ground floor extends to the sea, and of course features a glorious pool. The living area of the villa sports a sliding glass panel which vanishes into the walls in seconds, transforming it into an open-air pavilion where rainforest and ocean breeze form its soundscape. The effect is a home that values both privacy and the immersive experience of outdoor living.
The Ratch Residence is a luxurious retreat that balances the allure of a traditional mountain residence with calming modern design elements. The owner’s hands-on approach ensured that his family home perfectly embodies his distinctive style and vision. Meanwhile, the architect’s ability to translate a vision guided by instincts and emotions into a coherent design narrative is evident in the skilled use of multifaceted patterns, textures, and materials. The result is a modern Thai villa with an artistic soul: one that engages the senses, respects its surroundings, and offers a sanctuary of elegance and tranquillity.
