Studio Locomotive transforms a historic rice barge into the celebrated Apsara Cruise, blending Thai cultural heritage with contemporary design. The project, commissioned by Banyan Tree Hotel Bangkok, has been named Bar & Restaurant of the Year at the World Architecture Festival Interiors.
A Floating Landmark on the Chao Phraya
Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River remains the lifeblood of the capital, lined with temples, palaces, and centuries-old fortifications. Against this backdrop, the Apsara Cruise—once a humble rice barge from the Ayutthaya era—has been reborn as a luxury dining vessel. The adaptive reuse project by Phuket-based Studio Locomotive preserves the barge’s wooden cargo hull while introducing a three-deck superstructure inspired by vernacular bamboo canopies.
Design Rooted in Thai Heritage
The 245-square-metre configuration includes a 90-square-metre indoor dining area, a beverage bar, and a wheelhouse discreetly housed within a green-tinted glass booth. Thai fine arts and architectural motifs are reinterpreted through contemporary materials: mirror, mosaic tiles, and wooden beads. Wall murals reimagine Buddhist legends, while Prajamyam floral patterns—symbols of protection and prosperity—add cultural resonance.
Illustrator Nakrob Moonmanas contributes striking glass murals depicting the Rice Goddess and other deities of abundance, reframed for modern audiences. The project also involved naval engineering by TAGU Offshore, lighting design by APLD Lighting Design, and interior execution by AI Decoration. Together, these collaborators ensured the vessel’s transformation into a fully functional, all-season restaurant.
The Apsara Cruise exemplifies how adaptive reuse can elevate hospitality while honouring cultural memory. By merging traditional craftsmanship with modern luxury, Studio Locomotive has created a dining experience that resonates with Bangkok’s identity as both a global city and a guardian of its riverine heritage.