Welcome Home
Nestled along the banks of the Khlong Bangkok Noi, Siri Sala Private Thai Villa is a magnificent abode where guests can escape the frenetic ambiance of the city and immerse themselves in traditional Thai culture.
A short distance upriver from Wat Pho Pier and Wat Arun, Siri Sala feels a world away in the quiet, canal-laden neighborhood of Bangkok Noi. Adjacent to the bustling Chao Phraya River, this district consists of an intricate network of canals (khlongs) lined with wooden stilt houses, little-known temples, and floating markets. These waterways are integral to the community, and the neighborhood harks back to a bygone era when Bangkok was known as the Venice of the East.
Set within meticulously designed grounds consisting of lush native flora and water gardens, the open-air spaces of the home are filled with the sounds of native songbirds and tones of resonant bossed gongs emanating from Wat Suwannaram across the canal. The property exudes serenity.
Above all, Siri Sala is a home—a unique home that has been welcoming guests with culturally authentic stays since January 2022. Previously only available for full buyout, Siri Sala recently partnered with Small Luxury Hotels (SLH) and now offers individual accommodations to discerning travelers seeking exceptional experiences.
Villa Courtyard
The Journey
On a warm and sunny afternoon, our wooden long-tail boat—the bow adorned with a colorful Phuang Malai—navigated upriver along the Chao Phraya. With the engine thrumming behind us, we marveled at the sight of The Grand Palace and majestic temples gracing the urban riverbanks. A short while later, we turned up a sleepy canal and continued motoring toward our destination.
A decade prior, entrepreneur and CEO, Irma Go, and her husband, Kirati “Art” Thepsoparn, took visitors on a similar cruise through one of their favorite neighborhoods. A for-sale sign on a waterfront lot immediately seized her attention. Three dilapidated stilt houses stood precariously at the water’s edge. An idea was born.
Despite challenging initial circumstances, a fortuitous happenstance allowed this dynamic couple to acquire the property a year later in 2016. This event would mark the beginning of a five-year collaborative journey involving numerous creative partners. As two of the original, century-old, homes were damaged beyond repair, the initial idea of a full restoration had to evolve. The third home was saved, meticulously disassembled, and exceptionally reconstructed.
Ultimately, building Siri Sala is a love story—one brought to fruition by a dream, perseverance, visionary leadership, and a design team dedicated to the highest standards. Five years after acquiring the property, they opened their villa to guests. This past November, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Irma, who welcomed us into her home.
The 6-meter dining table made from reclaimed floorboards
The Property
The villa is composed of three Thai houses, called ruen, perched above a tai-toon designed courtyard. This design traditionally allowed floodwaters and wildlife to pass safely beneath riverside homes. Common rooms now line the courtyard perimeter amongst the stilts. An upper-level terrace (chān) joins the private quarters, with home entrances facing one another—features reflecting a cultural emphasis on strong social and familial connectedness.
The main house includes six bedrooms, private and communal living rooms, an open-concept kitchen, dining, and sitting room, a library, gardens, and a 20-meter saltwater pool. Modernized for contemporary living, the villa pays homage to the past through thoughtfully chosen details, ranging from heritage furniture to upcycled materials. A striking example is the massive dining table, crafted from reclaimed teak floorboards salvaged from one of the original homes. It seats twenty-two guests.
Each ruen displays steeply pitched roofs with gable ends, which are evocative of traditional Thai stilt houses of the central region. The architectural ornamentation of the pediments (na chua) follows the Luk Fak Pakon style, utilizing a series of rectangular frame patterns. A distinctive Ngao finial—a large horn-like feature—decorates the lower end of each bargeboard, known as a panlom. Locally crafted dark green ceramic roof tiles, proudly reflecting the natural sediment colors of the Chao Phraya, utilize the Krabueng Hangmon Gled Pla style. They are representative of fish scales.
The canal-facing residences are named Ruen Bangkok Noi and Ruen Hor. Each home features a living room and an en-suite bedroom. Magnificent hand-painted ceiling frescoes—the work of Silpakorn University mural students—adorn each bedroom. Each work of art honors the flora and fauna of the local waterways, the story of love and family, as well as the ancient murals of Wat Suwannaram. The beautifully designed en-suites feature an ong and khunn (water jar and bucket) for traditional bathing, aside from modern luxury amenities. Both suites are perfect for solo travelers or couples.
Dining Room of Ruen Siri
Ruen Siri, the third home, was purposefully designed for large families or groups to gather. The house consists of four suites: three upstairs and one on the raised ground floor. The ground floor suite, inclusive of a private garden, can be reconfigured as a spa or workspace. The garden serves as an outdoor sanctuary complete with a shower and a freestanding soaking tub. The private living rooms and dining space are decorated with hand-woven rattan wall hangings.
A notable highlight of the property is Ruen Deum, which is colloquially known as the Heritage House. Painstakingly disassembled and catalogued by Ayutthaya craftsmen, the Heritage House was faithfully reconstructed by the team of trusted architects. It is a fantastic example of the original homes that stood on the property. Adjacent to the main villa, it currently serves as a jazz lounge and living space outfitted with a crystal chandelier and sepia-toned photographs.
Heritage House interiors
The Creative Team
To bring her dream from ideation to materialization, Irma engaged Bangkok-based 4b Architects as her strategic partner. She sought spatial storytellers, creative collaborators, and trusted advisors. The guidance and expertise provided by Design Director Piram Banpabutr and Senior Designer Adil Khan proved essential to the project’s successful outcome. Irma noted that they invested time in understanding the concept of Thainess and how it might be reinterpreted for the modern world.
Founded in 2013, 4b Architects believes architecture is more than structure—it is an experience, a feeling, and a story waiting to be told. Their design philosophy is rooted in quiet elegance and cultural sensitivity. The team specializes in designing spaces for gathering, evoking emotion, fostering connection, and exuding timelessness. They create places with purpose.
Driven by the ethos of honoring the past while designing for the future, the team understood Irma’s vision for Siri Sala. Piram noted how the project was guided by a sense of custodianship, rather than ownership. An overarching design value was to create a space respectful of Thai architectural heritage, offering a forward-looking interpretation. These values foster meaningful preservation and adaptation, resisting the erasure of local identity.
Interior designer Nicoletta Romei was another key partner in shaping the aesthetic of Siri Sala. The Italian-born designer was engaged because of her superbly understated style and her adeptness at mixing the old with the new. Visually, earth tones accented by subtle splashes of color bring warmth to the home. Irma observed that Romei’s selection of colors, fabrics, and furniture served to bridge the past and present.
Ruen Hor Entrance & terrace
The Experience
Siri Sala is synonymous with bespoke hospitality; no two stays are alike. If desired, every aspect of your stay in Thailand can be managed by their team. The dedicated host team works tirelessly to craft personalized experiences for every guest based on their interests. Preparations begin months in advance, with the team continually vetting new vendors, restaurants, and excursions.
On our recent visit, we partook in the Thai Herbal Inhaler (Yadom) blending experience. Guided by our hostess, Ou, we learned the methodology behind selecting, blending, and producing our own aromatic herbal inhalers using a mortar and pestle. Our group thoroughly enjoyed engaging in this ancient Thai tradition.
We also had the opportunity to visit the culturally significant, 18th-century Wat Rakhang, known as the Temple of the Bells. This temple complex houses Ho Phra Trai Pidok, a Tripitaka Hall (scripture library) where sacred Buddhist manuscripts are preserved. The ornate, elevated wooden building served as the residence of King Rama I during the Thonburi period, prior to his ascension to the throne. Whilst there, we participated in the Buddhist practice of Siam Si, or fortune-telling. The experience was as calming as it was reflective.
Additional possibilities include customized tours based on interests, such as exploring Bangkok Noi by long-tail boat, touring cultural sites with an archaeologist, perfecting the art of flower folding, engaging in Thai cooking or writing classes, or practicing tam boon by giving alms (tak bat) to Buddhist monks early one morning.
Finally, a stay at Siri Sala would not be complete without visiting Wat Suwannaram. Viewing the 19th-century murals dating back to the reign of Rama III is a fantastic experience. The story behind the dueling artists who created these masterpieces is captivating. Fans of The White Lotus will enjoy searching for single panels that inspired the show’s title sequence. We highly recommend exploring this little-visited heritage site.
Wat Suwannaram - mural panel that inspired The White Lotus title card
The White Lotus Comes to Bangkok
Millions of viewers were introduced to Siri Sala in Season 3 of HBO’s extremely popular series, The White Lotus. Serving as the elegant residence of Sritala and Jim Hollinger, the villa was beautifully showcased in two episodes.
Featured spaces include the floating dock (arrival and departure), the courtyard with its open-riser staircase (introductions), the herb garden walkway, the upper-level terrace and entrances of Ruen Hor and Ruen Bangkok Noi (cocktails), and the climactic scene between Rick and Jim at the Heritage House during the penultimate episode.
Indochina Productions initially approached Siri Sala in early 2023. Following a year of pre-production, the series was filmed on location for several weeks in July 2024. With the entire cast and crew being very respectful of Thai culture and design, Irma and her team greatly enjoyed working with The White Lotus.
Irma noted the attention to detail of the crew was astounding, particularly relating to set design. For example, to assuage any copyright issues, every vintage photograph in the Heritage House was replaced with the production’s own stylized images during filming. Bronzed metal lotus sculptures, produced by the art department, still crown the top of each floating dock pile—a production memento for guests to enjoy.
Across the canal, the show’s title sequence was inspired by the murals within Wat Suwannaram. The Seattle-based creative studio, Plains of Yonder, developed the renowned title sequences for the show. Their process for creating compelling animated sequences utilizing interpretations of local works of art is truly fascinating.
Overall, Irma stated the impact on the community was a net positive for several reasons. Significant recent media attention has helped highlight Siri Sala, the culturally important Wat Suwannaram, Thai culture and design, and the Bangkok Noi neighborhood. The local community continues to experience the profound effects of the series, one year after the third season premiered.
Mural Panel
Your Oasis Awaits
For Bangkok-bound travelers seeking quiet luxury, inquiring about this magnificent property is highly recommended. In a city that never sleeps, Siri Sala provides a quiet refuge where guests can immerse themselves in local cultural experiences. It affords one the opportunity to understand the concept of Thainess while standing on the doorstep of this bustling metropolis. After all, it truly is an oasis within Bangkok.