The hotel is situated in Surat Thani province. Its design concept—Tropical Reality—was inspired by Surat Thani’s very own milieu. The design team embarked on the project treating the architectural structure as a cube with overlapping areas of varying functions and perspectives. From the front view, the design was inspired by the abundance of coconut trees in Surat Thani province. The “Tropical Forest”—green, slanted lines—against the architecture reflects the origin of the project’s name, Comet. From the entrance, passersby will be able to see the motions in the lobby area. Similarly on the second floor in the all-day dining area, guests will see the change of movements that metamorphoses throughout time once they stroll into the front hall. Lava stone is used to exhibit the South’s ample mineral.

LOBBY
From the top view, we see changing, celestial movements from the floor’s materials and patterns. With this, the design team wants to display the beauty of meteor showers that are frequently visible down South. Furniture pieces that are scattered across the lobby resemble a cluster of islands—much like the City of 100 Islands. Functionally, each piece could be adjusted for varying usage, such as to accommodate guests as a waiting area, serve as seats for the café, and act as a co-working space.

The under view of the staircase illustrates connecting outlines that laces from the first to the fifth floor. With this design, our team intends to make guests feel like they are standing underneath a rain shower. The material used on each stone step is exposed and unprocessed—echoing the rain’s stain. The under view of the staircase illustrates connecting outlines that laces from the first to the fifth floor. With this design, our team intends to make guests feel like they are standing underneath a rain shower. The material used on each stone step is exposed and unprocessed—echoing the rain’s stain.

FOYER TO THE ALL-DAY DINING AREA
The side view showcases a towering wall that also serves as a door once its position changes. Its function extends when the door reveals the entrance to the buffet line. Here, the door becomes an entrance sign, unveiling a reflection of the word ‘Cobalt’—the element a lustrous silver-grey, the compound a distinctive deep blue. This reflects a key message that the designers want to communicate to the users—that the space could be converted, much like the cobalt. In the morning, it serves as a silver dining area, while by sundown, it transforms in to a dark blue bar.

ALL-DAY DINING
Moving into the all-day dining area, the design objective of the back view is that as time changes, so does the functions and mood. We envision a difference in experience in a single space with the concept of reversing—presenting the sky below and the ocean above. Subsequently, we tried to find a way to transpose the expanse, leading to the techniques of creating reflections. From the entrance hall, the polished stone floor is fused with glossy mirrors. The expansive buffet line that includes a reflective glass ceiling transforms into a bar for nighttime hangouts. A storage shelf also serves as a sofa and space divider—its functions alter according to usage needs no matter for dining or for social gathering purposes. Furniture pieces used are translucent so that it casts fluidity across the space. On the outdoor zone, the huge stainless bar reflects the environs—the day’s sky and clouds—onto the dining tables.

At night, once the front door shuts, the letters spelling ‘COBALT’ will be reflected upwards. The space converts into a deep blue bar underneath the ocean. A giant door wall prompts guests towards a smaller, dark blue entrance. The polished stone floors, fused with mirrors, glimmers with the movements of the lights. Inside, the same buffet line now transforms into bar stools, creating a drastic change of mood. Dim lights and lined lightings guide the eyes across the space. Moving and changing colors are casted onto the seating’s fabric, dancing with the jellyfish graphics on display—as if sitting underneath the ocean. At the same time, cars that drive pass will also catch sight of the movements within the space.

PINK POOL
This lounging area was inspired by underwater photographs that includes the vista above the sea water—much like a natural divider of the ocean. Slanted lines are used to section out the pool. The pink end of the pool symmetrically connects to the zone’s floor and wall. Its shower area and empty spaces are minimally filled with plants. Above the water, everything looks different. Every single function was designed from a human scale and a different human perspective.

Designed by Studio POINT LINE PLANE