Centara Grand Beach Resort Ao Nang
Krabi, Thailand, Completed 2019
Landscape Renovation Planning and Design for Lobby Garden / Pool Villas / Pavilions at Sra Bua /
All Day Dining / Coast for A 5 Stars Hotel in Krabi, Thailand
Client : Centara Hotel Group
Architecture : BEGRAY (Coast)
Interior Architecture : BEGRAY (Coast)
Main Consultant / Construction Management : Surachet Boonkrob
Collaborator : URBAN/S Landscape Architecture & Urban Planning
A LIGHT TOUCH
Landscape Design for Centara Grand Beach Resort, Ao Nang, Krabi, Thailand
by TOPOLA Design
A Strong Sense of Place
PLACEMAKING
01 Place
Set within an established tropical landscape along the beachfront, Centara Grand Beach Resort already possesses a mature and immersive garden character. Rather than reinventing this existing setting, the landscape renovation begins with an appreciation of what is already there—its mature trees, lush vegetation, open views toward the bay, and relaxed relationship between garden and beach.
The project comprises a series of interventions throughout the resort: a new entrance to the main lobby, an extended deck for the all-day dining restaurant, new swimming pools and decks for the beachfront pool villas, a dining deck at the Japanese restaurant, new pavilions at Suan Bua Restaurant, and the new beachfront restaurant, Coast.
Together, these interventions provide an opportunity to refresh the guest experience while preserving the qualities that have long defined the resort.
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02 Making
The landscape approaches to the renovation with a light touch. Existing trees and established planting are preserved wherever possible, while new landscape and architectural elements are carefully inserted to enhance rather than overpower the beauty of the existing setting.
At the main arrival, existing palms within the roundabout are relocated to open a direct visual connection toward the bay. A series of generous steps creates a more gracious sense of arrival while maintaining the resort’s relaxed beachfront character. Low walls frame the approach, directing views between the entrance, lobby, and sea beyond, while a reflecting pool introduces water as a calming and welcoming element. At night, a series of lanterns creates a warm and understated arrival atmosphere.
Throughout the resort, new architectural elements are intentionally minimal, light, and breezy. Open trellis structures allow views, daylight, and air to pass through, while walls are punctuated with square apertures to encourage natural ventilation and maintain visual permeability. The architecture becomes a framework for experiencing the landscape rather than an object competing with it.
At the new beachfront pool villas, hedges and layered tropical planting create privacy between villas while maintaining the lush character of the existing gardens. New swimming pools are configured to maximize their usable length for recreational swimming, while decks extend outdoor living into the landscape. Additional planting envelops each villa, creating a more intimate and immersive garden experience.
Across the restaurants, villas, arrival spaces, and beachfront, the renovation follows the same principle: preserve what is valuable, remove what obstructs, and add only what strengthens the experience of the place.
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