The soft opening of the much-awaited Keemala resort, Phuket, late last month has many of us travel bugs all agog (packages on the site suggest a formal launch by September-October). One of the most physically and imaginatively ambitious projects we have seen in recent times, it is based on a conceit of a whole ecosystem and a fantastical set of (imaginary) island tribes/cultures that recalls something out of Avatar.
The architecture has already been feted by design magazines since last year, in fact. There are residences arrayed in clusters, sheltered amidst trees, all with their own little pools. There are thatched mud huts (aka Clay Pool Cottages) of the Pa-Ta-Pea earth-dwelling agricultural tribe. There are Tent Villas—poetic pavilions of the Khon-Jorn nomads, hunters and traders, that resemble nothing so much as elegant upturned dinghies. There are the Tree Pool Houses, pods of slender bars reminiscent of songbird cages in a lotus bud shape, supposedly inspired by the treehouses of the sky-worshipping healers and inventors of the We-Ha. And there are woven Bird’s Nests, shaped as though a giant baya weaver’s home were blown over and co-opted by a ground-dwelling creature like Man—supposedly the homes of the luxurious and artistic Rung-Nok people.
The 38-villa resort sits between Kamala village and Patong beach, a peaceful place with easy access for party animals. The Mala spa, which brings to mind harvests and haystacks, is vegan and offers a calendar stocked with Tibetan, Watsu, Mayan, Maori, Chinese, Japanese and, of course, Thai therapies—there is even a raindrop ritual. The rock-lined pool supports an ‘aqua Zen’ school. Hidden away, the fitness hub and surrounding rubber plantations and other venues allow organised activities such as yoga and Pilates sessions. Just don’t bring the rugrats. This place is for young adults (14 years) and above. Tariffs from THB 19,121; keemala.com