Chiang Mai (Northern Thailand) Tourist Guide


	S.P. Publishing Group Co., Ltd. 11/1 Soi 3 Bamrungburi Rd., T. Prasingh, A. Muang., Chiang Mai 50200 Tel. 053 - 814 455-6 Fax. 053 - 814 457 E-mail: guidelin@loxinfo.co.th

LIVING IT UP:
De Lanna�
Contemporary in-style

Text: Nyanta
Images: Karin & Courtesy of De Lanna

Slap bang in the centre of the old city, near the district office and on the road heading down to Wat Pra Singha, there was once an empty, neglected piece of land no one noticed. But recently the area has been filled with a beautiful, contemporary, Lanna-style boutique hotel called �De Lanna�.

A compact hotel, comprising 35 rooms, De Lanna is a 4-star boutique hotel. The design was inspired by Lanna-style merged with contemporary concepts. The three-storey buildings and restaurant at the front enclose the central garden and swimming pool, creating a private space if you want to enjoy sipping coffee or sunbathing. The Lanna-inspired features include: the double hip roofs, half-stucco half-wooden pillars, wooden doors and windows with colored glass in antique style, and some trivial d�cor like naga-shape (mythical serpent) door holder, lamp, and other interior trinkets, which were specially designed to match with the hotel�s concept. The theme color is adapted from Lanna style which uses maroon as a main color. You will see the use of reddish brown oak, dark red decorative items and a maroon wall in each room. The beauty and harmonic settings of De Lanna comes from the creativity of Pinit Fongchan, the proficient architect whose renowned work is shown at Ban Thai Village Hotel.

Rooms here are divided into three types, with two of the 35 rooms as �Junior Suites�. These suite rooms are on the ground floor. Contrary to what you might think, Junior Suite is in fact the biggest room type, with an in-room private Jacuzzi and a spacious bathroom separated into two connected sections � toilet and a bath. For honeymooners or lovers you can slide the door to allow free space between room and Jacuzzi. The use of terrazzo floor and smooth cement walls gives the room a simple old-style feel, but with Western comforts.

Elegance in Lanna Style

The Deluxe Room (11 rooms) and Superior Room (22 rooms) have two styles. If you want Western bedding, you should stay in a room with double bed and sofa. But if you want to try Oriental style, why not choose a room with a platform. In this type of room there will be no bed but only twin mattresses and Thai style backrest pillow for you to lie down on the floor. The high ceiling on the third floor creates air flow and leaves some room for you to relax in.

Many other details in each room are carefully designed. Start with a room label which was attached on a carved metal sheet in 35 different styles, and then take a look at some knick-knacks inside such as wooden furniture that the owner has spent many months working on with the design, a sliding door or window in some rooms which were inspired by old Lanna houses.

Guests will find it very pleasant to stay here. You can swim in a clean salt-water pool, sunbathe on a poolside day bed, dine or drink coffee in a garden or at the in-house restaurant (serving European fusion food that tastes pretty good) and enjoy Wi-Fi internet. One last thing, the hotel boasts itself to be environmentally friendly using the solar collector system for hot water generation. The hotel is close to the Sunday night market, and its prime location in the middle of the old city allows you to wander or ride a bike around town.

Though the overall style is modern, De Lanna does put some antique Lanna hints where they can. So be sure that your stay here will be convenient yet containing Lanna�s mood in its air.

Green concepts : environmental friendly

- Clean water : salty pool

- Less energy : uses solar cell system for hot water generation