Thai Entrepreneurs Transform Ancestral Homes into Trendy Hotels and Restaurants

The Preservation of Heritage Buildings

In Thailand, young hoteliers and restaurateurs are converting their family homes into stylish new businesses, while simultaneously preserving the nation’s rich architectural heritage. Many travelers who passed through Bangkok in the early 2010s fondly recall the legendary Hemingway’s, a hangout in a century-old Thai house. Sadly, it was demolished in 2016, reflecting the common fate faced by historic buildings in Thailand.

Phacharaphorn Phanomvan, a Bangkok-based architectural scholar, emphasizes the importance of heritage structures, stating, “There are thousands of heritage buildings spread across the country, and many are privately owned. However, Thailand has limited expertise in conservation and funding, and the government offers little incentive for the restoration of these monuments.”

Renovations by Young Hoteliers

Fortunately, some forward-thinking hoteliers and restaurateurs are committed to saving their families’ properties by renovating and repurposing them for modern use. In Chiang Mai, Rungroj Ingudananda has restored his Chinese ancestors’ general store, which originally opened in 1888. The building is now Kiti Panit, a restaurant known for its northern Thai dishes, including hung lay moo (pork curry) and nam prik num (eggplant relish).

Cultural Venues and Contemporary Dining

In the resort town of Hua Hin, three siblings have revitalized their grandmother’s beachfront property. Today, Charras Bhawan is a resort featuring five beautifully restored villas centered around the original 1922 structure. While family heirlooms and historical photographs adorn the wooden hallways, the villas are equipped with modern amenities like outdoor jacuzzis and private pools.

Moreover, young creatives are actively participating in the preservation of historical buildings in Bangkok as well. At Potong, chef Pichaya Utharntharm has enhanced the space that housed her family’s herbal-medicine dispensary for generations. She now offers a 20-course tasting menu in front of the family shrine and has transformed the former opium room into a cocktail bar.

A few blocks away, four siblings have transformed their great-grandparents’ residence into Baan Trok Tuan Ngork, a vibrant cultural hub featuring craft markets, pop-up dinners, and rotating art exhibitions. Win Assakul, one of the siblings, states, “Our family home has stood for ancestry and heritage for the last hundred years. Now that it’s renovated, it stands for progress.”