The Craftsman Hotel, situated in Aree, Bangkok, is a hotel that was rebuilt from the infrastructure of a former US military facility used during the Vietnam War. The hotel is comprised of 70 rooms (categorized into 3 different types of varying sizes), a spa, a bar/restaurant, fitness center, and pool. The U-shape of the hotel is derived from the original shape and form of the military base structure and is fully capitalized on to increase the efficiency and sustainability of the hotel. The peripheral facade of the hotel has been designed in a way that creates two voids to create passages for the wind to flow over the pool, producing a cool, refreshing breeze which is quintessential in combating Bangkok’s blistering heat. The spatial arrangement of the interior spaces is also arranged and oriented in a way that allows them to be cooled by streams of wind, reducing the building’s reliance on artificial air conditioning. Sunlight is also a key component in keeping the hotel well-lit to reduce reliance on artificial lighting. The white marbled pool at the center of the hotel reflects a substantial amount of light on to the bar area and the inward-facing facade of the building. Light is also introduced to the interior of the building through the use of strategically placed openings in each room, light wells, and windows. The hotel is comprised of a multitude of public and private spaces and these spaces are interwoven in a manner that allows people to circulate freely between spaces while still maintaining separation between each space. The public realm of the bar, lobby and pool act as the introductory elements for the user, offering an escape from the noisy outdoors into a calm oasis. The lobby acts as the boundary between the public and private realm, as it serves as the forefront and representative for the guests in the hotel. The rooms are arranged along the U-shaped structure to surround the pool area, allowing the guests to gaze over the crystalline pool and the bar. The offices are located at the back of the hotel, on a subterranean level to create a separate space for workers away from the guests. The facade that envelopes the building is made primarily of Resysta artificial wood paired with white polished concrete, a combination that can absorb large amounts of heat and UV radiation from sunlight. The form and shape of the Craftsman, as well as the array of interconnected spaces, is designed in a way that allows it to become a self-sufficient microcosm. This is done by orienting rooms to be inward-facing as well as creating a public space below that is animated constantly by the presence of people. The idea of an ‘escape' is substantiated by the surreal pink colour palette of the bar as well as the calming, crystalline marbled pool bordered by sunken seats. The amalgamation of these surrealistic and ethereal elements produces an atmosphere that is radically distinctive from the mundane concrete jungle that surrounds the Craftsman, feeding in to the idea of a nirvana encapsulated within its walls.