MYS Khaoyai Hotel by Urban Praxis: Immersive Architecture in the Heart of Nature

Located in Tambon Mu Si, Thailand, MYS Khaoyai Hotel is a striking example of sustainable luxury and immersive architectural design. Conceived by Bangkok-based architecture firm Urban Praxis, the 3,950 m² boutique hotel redefines the relationship between built form and natural surroundings, blending innovative hospitality design with the breathtaking landscape of Khao Yai National Park.

Elevated Ground Floor: A New Dimension of Guest Experience

Inspired by the forested topography of Khao Yai, Urban Praxis introduces the concept of the “Elevated Ground Floor”—a spatial strategy that allows guests to engage directly with the lush, mountainous terrain. Rather than imposing on the land, the building delicately rises above it, inviting the park's ecology into the architecture. Each suite is designed like a luxurious treehouse, stacked vertically to minimize the footprint while maximizing views and ventilation.

Despite zoning restrictions, the design team creatively resolved spatial constraints by stacking private suite cabins, each equipped with a green balcony, en-suite bathrooms, and large glazed openings that welcome natural light and park vistas. These forest-inspired sanctuaries provide a seamless transition between interior comfort and exterior wilderness.

A Sky-High Statement: The Transparent Cantilevered Swimming Pool

The architectural centerpiece of the hotel is undoubtedly its nine-meter-long transparent swimming pool—a dramatic cantilevered structure that extends out into the landscape and floats above the reception lobby. Engineered in collaboration with Reynolds Polymer Technology and Supol Techanarach, the sky pool exemplifies a bold integration of advanced materials and structural precision. Guests can swim "into the sky" while enjoying a 360-degree panoramic view of the Khao Yai mountains, creating a surreal and elevated sensory experience.

The pool’s design defies conventional boundaries, with minimized structural supports that enhance its levitating effect. It is a feat of engineering and transparency, symbolizing the hotel’s ethos of harmony between architecture, innovation, and nature.

Interior Atmosphere and Material Palette

Interior design by LYNX complements the building's architectural intent through a refined material palette that draws from local textures—stone, timber, and glass—while maintaining a contemporary aesthetic. Warm tones and tactile finishes enhance the immersive forest experience, further reinforced by natural lighting strategies devised by SEAM Design.

Project Team and Collaborators

The successful realization of MYS Khaoyai Hotel was made possible by a multidisciplinary collaboration, including MEP engineering by Power Planning Service, construction management by AE Asia, and interior execution by Manmade Interior. The main contractor, 7 Makara, ensured that each detail aligned with the vision of understated luxury within nature.

A New Paradigm in Eco-Luxury Hospitality

MYS Khaoyai Hotel sets a new benchmark for eco-conscious hospitality architecture in Thailand. By integrating biophilic design principles, innovative structural solutions, and a deep respect for the site’s ecology, Urban Praxis delivers a retreat that is at once modern, magical, and deeply rooted in place. It invites guests not only to stay—but to feel, float, and connect with nature in unexpected ways.

All Photographs are works of SkyGround architectural film & photography