Athita Pool Villa and Spa

An extension of an existing hotel, the project brings pool villas and a spa together within a climate-responsive compound in an old northern town. It draws on the region’s architectural heritage, combining local timber and brick with contemporary concrete and steel.

Brick and timber have long defined the town’s walls, monastic ruins and vernacular houses. Working with local craftsmen, the design team kept the tactile character of these materials while introducing structural systems that respond to the area’s seismic conditions.

The villas reinterpret the proportions and spatial qualities of traditional northern Thai dwellings as places to stay. Openings and envelopes are set for passive climate control, and the construction gives greater safety and comfort through the changing seasons.

Rather than closing the resort off, the master plan follows the pattern of the historic alleys, keeping the site permeable to the public and respectful of the nearby temple, so the new buildings sit within the old fabric without overpowering it. At the heart of the spa is a traditional fire therapy, in which heated metal tools are used in a massage ritual, given here a dedicated and quiet setting.