A Colorful Escape in the Heart of Bangkok: Inside the Vela be Siam Hotel

August 6, 2025
Step into a bold and playful lobby where a sculptural orange reception desk pops against lush colorful walls, all beneath soaring ceilings and layered views of the common areas above.

Right in the pulsing heart of Bangkok’s Siam Square, the new Vela be Siam Hotel designed by ASWA (Architectural Studio of Work – Aholic) makes a bold entrance that’s designed to reflect both the energy of the city and the soul of traditional Thai design.

A fresh take on Thai architecture: this Bangkok hotel’s facade blends carved traditional Pun-Lom details with glimmering stainless steel chains, nodding to mosquito nets from the past.

The Architecture

The building’s exterior grabs your attention instantly. Stainless steel chain links shimmer in the Bangkok light, referencing old mosquito nets once common in Thai homes. This unexpected material sits beautifully against the Pun-Lom, a traditional carved detail borrowed from historic Thai architecture. It’s a smart, layered approach: respectful of heritage, reimagined through a modern lens.

A fresh take on Thai architecture: this Bangkok hotel’s facade blends carved traditional Pun-Lom details with glimmering stainless steel chains, nodding to mosquito nets from the past.
A fresh take on Thai architecture: this Bangkok hotel’s facade blends carved traditional Pun-Lom details with glimmering stainless steel chains, nodding to mosquito nets from the past.
A fresh take on Thai architecture: this Bangkok hotel’s facade blends carved traditional Pun-Lom details with glimmering stainless steel chains, nodding to mosquito nets from the past.
A fresh take on Thai architecture: this Bangkok hotel’s facade blends carved traditional Pun-Lom details with glimmering stainless steel chains, nodding to mosquito nets from the past.
A fresh take on Thai architecture: this Bangkok hotel’s facade blends carved traditional Pun-Lom details with glimmering stainless steel chains, nodding to mosquito nets from the past.
A fresh take on Thai architecture: this Bangkok hotel’s facade blends carved traditional Pun-Lom details with glimmering stainless steel chains, nodding to mosquito nets from the past.
A fresh take on Thai architecture: this Bangkok hotel’s facade blends carved traditional Pun-Lom details with glimmering stainless steel chains, nodding to mosquito nets from the past.

The Lobby

Walk in and the atmosphere shifts. The lobby is bold, cheerful, and immersive. A bright orange, pebble-shaped reception desk sits center stage against a colorful backdrop, a pairing that’s impossible to ignore. Look up, and the double-height ceilings open the space dramatically. Above, glimpses of the second-floor common area catch your eye, where yellow and black accents hint at the social buzz waiting just upstairs.

Step into a bold and playful lobby where a sculptural orange reception desk pops against lush colorful walls, all beneath soaring ceilings and layered views of the common areas above.
Step into a bold and playful lobby where a sculptural orange reception desk pops against lush colorful walls, all beneath soaring ceilings and layered views of the common areas above.

The Pool

Behind the lobby, the hotel calms down. A serene pool bar offers leafy respite from the city. Water features and greenery frame this quiet spot, perfect for a solo unwind or a slow afternoon with friends. It’s a peaceful pocket tucked behind the vibrant first impressions.

Tucked behind the lobby, this serene pool bar is surrounded by tropical greenery and water features, a relaxing retreat from the city’s buzz.
Tucked behind the lobby, this serene pool bar is surrounded by tropical greenery and water features, a relaxing retreat from the city’s buzz.
Tucked behind the lobby, this serene pool bar is surrounded by tropical greenery and water features, a relaxing retreat from the city’s buzz.

The Common Area

Upstairs, things pick up again. The second-floor common area pulls triple duty, lounge, breakfast zone, and game space. It’s designed for everything from laptop time to late-night chats, with joyful colors and dynamic patterns encouraging guests to linger, connect, and play.

A dynamic social space where bold colors, patterns, and flexible zones encourage guests to eat, work, relax, or play, all in one stylish setting.
A dynamic social space where bold colors, patterns, and flexible zones encourage guests to eat, work, relax, or play, all in one stylish setting.
A dynamic social space where bold colors, patterns, and flexible zones encourage guests to eat, work, relax, or play, all in one stylish setting.
A dynamic social space where bold colors, patterns, and flexible zones encourage guests to eat, work, relax, or play, all in one stylish setting.

The Hallways

Even getting to your room feels curated. Each floor is color-coded in the lift halls, signaling the level with a fresh, distinct hue. As you approach the guest rooms, the tones soften, gradually easing you into a calmer headspace.

Color-coded hallways guide guests through each floor, with bold hues at the lifts fading into calming tones as you approach the restful hotel rooms.
Color-coded hallways guide guests through each floor, with bold hues at the lifts fading into calming tones as you approach the restful hotel rooms.
Color-coded hallways guide guests through each floor, with bold hues at the lifts fading into calming tones as you approach the restful hotel rooms.
Color-coded hallways guide guests through each floor, with bold hues at the lifts fading into calming tones as you approach the restful hotel rooms.

The Hotel Rooms

The hotel rooms are restful but never boring. The palette shifts to muted tones, supporting deep rest, but playful touches remain, like the brightly tiled outer wall of the bathrooms. These rooms balance peace and personality in a way that feels both thoughtful and fun.

Muted tones create a peaceful mood inside the rooms, while fun design moments like colorful bathroom tiles add an unexpected twist to the calm.
Muted tones create a peaceful mood inside the rooms, while fun design moments like colorful bathroom tiles add an unexpected twist to the calm.
Muted tones create a peaceful mood inside the rooms, while fun design moments like colorful bathroom tiles add an unexpected twist to the calm.
Muted tones create a peaceful mood inside the rooms, while fun design moments like colorful bathroom tiles add an unexpected twist to the calm.
Muted tones create a peaceful mood inside the rooms, while fun design moments like colorful bathroom tiles add an unexpected twist to the calm.

Other touches include raised wood platforms that house the bed, while hidden lighting behind the headboards add a soft glow to the room.

Muted tones create a peaceful mood inside the rooms, while fun design moments like colorful bathroom tiles add an unexpected twist to the calm.
Muted tones create a peaceful mood inside the rooms, while fun design moments like colorful bathroom tiles add an unexpected twist to the calm.
Muted tones create a peaceful mood inside the rooms, while fun design moments like colorful bathroom tiles add an unexpected twist to the calm.
Muted tones create a peaceful mood inside the rooms, while fun design moments like colorful bathroom tiles add an unexpected twist to the calm.
Muted tones create a peaceful mood inside the rooms, while fun design moments like colorful bathroom tiles add an unexpected twist to the calm.

In another room, a lounge area is included for relaxing, while a different hotel room has a cabinet at the end of the bed that separates the sleeping area from the bathroom, and also doubles as a work station.

Muted tones create a peaceful mood inside the rooms, while fun design moments like colorful bathroom tiles add an unexpected twist to the calm.
Muted tones create a peaceful mood inside the rooms, while fun design moments like colorful bathroom tiles add an unexpected twist to the calm.
Muted tones create a peaceful mood inside the rooms, while fun design moments like colorful bathroom tiles add an unexpected twist to the calm.
Muted tones create a peaceful mood inside the rooms, while fun design moments like colorful bathroom tiles add an unexpected twist to the calm.
Muted tones create a peaceful mood inside the rooms, while fun design moments like colorful bathroom tiles add an unexpected twist to the calm.

Vela be Siam is an invitation to explore Thai identity through color, material, and mood. Whether you’re lounging by the pool or marveling at the hallway hues, this new Bangkok stay blends tradition and modernity with confidence and charm.

Photography by Soopakorn Srisakul | Architectural Design: ASWA (Architectural Studio of Work – Aholic) | Interior Design: ASWA (Architectural Studio of Work – Aholic)