If you feel a distinct joie de vivre walking into a Bill Bensley-designed establishment, that’s exactly what its maker intended. Throughout the more than 30 years since he started his eponymous design studio Bensley in a Bangkok garage, work has been “all about play” for the architect, landscaper and interior designer who trained at the Harvard Graduate School of Design..
American landscape architect and environmentalist Bill Bensley considers himself a complete novice in the art world since he has never trained as a painter. He picked up a paintbrush under the instruction of his dear friend and Caribbean-based painter Kate Spencer to manifest his unique perspective on life and surroundings. He also emulated other artists' styles and delved into the world of fauvism art, bursting with bold colours and a sense of humour. After several painting holidays with Spencer, Bensley eventually discovered his own path, which is full of gorgeous details and vivid colours with enchanting figures.
Bill Bensley By Design
The Harvard-educated, Bangkok-based interior designer describes how art, parties and nature inform his practice
Luxury design go-to Bill Bensley has been creating extraordinary hotels and resorts since 1989. With more than 200 completed projects and a 150-strong team which he heads with his partner Jirachai Rengthong Bensley has created one-of-a-kind spaces in India, Southeast Asia, and the Americas for major hoteliers, including Rosewood and One&Only.
The prolific U.S.-born, Bangkok, Thailand-based architect, who has lived and worked in Asia since his Harvard University days, boasts a highly original oeuvre. His otherworldly spaces include an edible golf course, a Malaysian sultan’s royal palace, the world’s longest, largest swimming pool, a thrilling zip-line ride over one of Asia’s most beautiful ecosystems, and his personal favorites: a boutique hotel and tented camp, created in collaboration with the Shinta Mani Hotel Group.