The third season of The White Lotus certainly packed on the drama. Set in idyllic resorts around Thailand, one riveting storyline unfolds in a couple's Bangkok residence, a traditional-meets-modern villa called Siri Sala. And wouldn't you know it, this privately owned property in real life is owned by a Filipina and her Thai husband.
Siri Sala is owned by Irma and Kirati Thepsoparn. Irma met her Thai husband during her time in university and, after getting married, the two decided to settle in the bustling city center of Bangkok. A few years later, during a boat ride, they spotted a dilapidated traditional Thai stilt home with a "for sale" sign. Even with the obvious wear and tear, its original Thai architecture remained. For the couple, it was love at first sight.
The History of Siri Sala Private Villa in Bangkok, Thailand
"I’ve always loved old things, and when I found this property by the river, I knew I wanted to preserve its history,” Irma tells SPOT.ph of the traditional wooden home that's had different owners over the decades.
When Irma first saw it, it was clear it has seen better days. While being nestled just above one of the city's most important waterways is one of its most striking features, it's also its biggest problem. The river has been rising, which results in constant flooding in the surrounding area.
When the Thepsoparns bought the property, they knew they needed to renovate it. Not wanting to lose what she considered the "essence of the property," Irma and Kirati made it a point to incorporate parts of the old houses into the new structures.
At the time, many traditional houses in Thailand were being replaced by modern, high-rise buildings, and while islands like Phuket and Samui still had a lot of traditional Thai villages, Bangkok almost had none left.
If Irma and her husband were to save the property and restore it, visitors no longer need to head out to the islands for a taste of traditional Thai architecture. After deciding the property should be open to the public, the Thepsoparns rolled up their sleeves and went to work.
Siri Sala opened in 2022, on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic. The private riverside villa is decked out in modern necessities and creature comforts. The 1,600-square-meter property features three separate Thai houses joined together by a common courtyard. Renting the six-bedroom luxe villa includes access to the 20-meter saltwater pool and the gardens.
The interiors of Siri Sala are a mix of tropical and modern. Each piece of furniture brings an air of refinement to the boutique property, incorporating wood, vibrant colors and natural elements one would associate with a property in Thailand.
Irma points out that The White Lotus team ended up using some pieces of furniture from the property— instead of using their elaborate prepared sets— for key scenes shot in Siri Sala. "Keep an eye out for the Kenneth Cobonpue sofa set they used in the patio scenes. That's ours!" Irma proudly says.
The main houses are laid out with an open design, allowing the breeze to travel through many common areas, ensuring a cool temperature even without air conditioning. This layout also creates a lot of open spaces where guests can gather and enjoy the surrounding areas together. But make no mistake: each room in the property offers respite and privacy for those seeking alone time.
If you look closely, you'll spot remnants of the original structure repurposed into doors, door knobs, chairs, window fixtures, and other elements in the renovated homes. Small touches, yes, but they're Irma and Kirati's way of paying homage to the traditional Thai houses that were here before.
And that's not all they did to preserve and keep the spirit of traditional Thai architecture alive. There's also an on-site heritage house, or Ruen Deum, right behind the main villa.
While small, especially compared to the grand primary structures, the Ruen Deum is made mostly from wooden panels and materials carefully disassembled from the original houses of Siri Sala's past. It's essentially a time machine that takes you back to the Thai stilt houses of a time long gone. With the help of craftsmen from the area, it's now a near perfect recreation of the original structure.
For the most part, almost everything you see as the whole Hollinger drama unravels is authentically Siri Sala. Sure, there are a few touches of Hollywood magic here and there, but there's no denying the property is a gem in itself. This is hardly the first time Siri Sala had its time in the spotlight. Before this, Siri Sala also played host to a top-rated K-drama King of the Land, starring Im Yoon Ah and Lee Jun Ho.
Stays at Siri Sala require renting the entire six-bedroom villa, and prices start from 144,000 baht, excluding taxes (roughly P241,000). While the price may seem steep, Siri Sala stays are full-service stays that accommodate up to 12 persons at a time, around two people for every room.
But aside from accommodating a relatively large group, every stay includes:
- Daily breakfast
- Half Board Dining (lunch or dinner) for every full day of stay
- Airport transfers
- Dedicated car or van service with driver for 10 hours for every full day of stay
- Daily housekeeping
- Daily laundry (non-dry cleaning)
- One Thai cultural activity per stay. Activities include flower folding or morning alms and massage, a boat tour with a guide, or a cooking class (for stays of three nights or more)
Siri Sala is at 28/8 Soi Charan Sanitwong 34 Arun Amarin Bangkok Noi Bangkok, Thailand. The property is roughly 45 minutes away from Suvarnabhumi International Airport. For more information, visit Siri Sala's website.
This story originally appeared on Spot.ph. Minor edits have been made by the Preview.ph editors.
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