Project coordination for TAJ Exotica @ Koh Lone, Phuket, landscape design by PLandscape - 2007

Worked on the incredible TAJ EXOTICA Hotel in Phuket under direct supervision from K. Pui, as a team coordinator.

@ PLANDSCAPE (PLA)
Client : TAJ Hotels
Architect : Dbalp
All following pictures are voluntarily of small resolution : this project is still ongoing, you will have to wait until its completion to have a chance to discover more there, through direct experience. I just wish to give here a small taste of the complexity of this project and the uncompromising pursuit of excellency @ PLA.

As a project coordinator for PLA, I was lucky to be in direct contact with the architect, the project management, the different engineering teams, and participate to this highly exciting venture.

The site contours

Site sections give a clear idea of the steepness of the slopes

First analysis of the slopes gradients and location of the guests villas. 

First analysis of the slopes gradients and location of the guests villas. 

These locations have been worked upon for months, following uncompromisingly several criteria :
- optimize views
- manage individual privacy
- minimize necessary steps for access
- stay within the limits of the law
- optimize road location (see below)
- save *every* tree of diameter larger than 20cm (not easy to do in a forest !)
- minimize necessary soil disturbance during and after construction
- minimize natural water flow alterations during and after construction
- minimize visual disturbance from outside the island
- lastly, try to save money

Study of slope gradient effect on villa footing height 

Study of slope gradient effect on road cut & fill

All the following pictures display some aspects of the studies and solutions proposed to optimize both the villas together with the access road position to comply with the factors listed above.

Now, we also started conceptual design of the swimming pool. My latest save shows number 27. Before me, another designer had done some 17 tries. After me, another designer proposed her own variations and solutions. At all times, K. Pui was behind us, relentlessly pushing us to find better solutions for either practicality, aesthetics, views, technicalities, environment and other design considerations. When I left PLA, teams were still working to make the pool experience the very best it can be, using each specificity of the site, pushing design limits beyond.

Below, an extract from a very specific report I wrote : I had to investigate a pest infestation and find solutions. I found out the pest details, and relevant methods to fight it. 

My part of the overall design work is just one single aspect of the design of this incredible place. Every member of the different teams working for TAJ Exotica had the same uncompromising urge to push boundaries further, may it be the architects, the different specialized engineering teams, project managers, etc...

Keywords :
#TajExoticaResortAndSpa #CoconutPestControl #SwimmingPoolDesign