From Phuket to Phu Quoc and as far as Puerto Rico, each property designed by Bill Bensley is created to complement its surroundings and built with minimal environmental impact. The renowned architect, designer, artist, hotelier, and philanthropist has a clear vision – and it is no less than to “make the world a better place through good design.”

Bill Bensley’s expanding collection of properties includes some of the most amazing hotels, resorts, and homes in Asia. The total number has already exceeded 200, yet you won’t find a single bland one. At the age of 65, Bill is as energetic as at the beginning of his journey and continues his fight against clichéd, boring and harmful luxury.

“I was in high school when I learned about landscape architecture. A wonderful man by the name of Rocco Campanazzi introduced me to the field by way of Knotts Berry Farm. As I was interested in both gardens and art as a teenager, I thought that might be a good avenue for me… and it was. I still keep in touch with Rocco today,” Bill recollects the beginning of his quest in the 1970s.

Bill studied landscape architecture at California State Polytechnic University and then urban design at Harvard Graduate School of Design. After graduation, Bill went backpacking in Europe and ended up relocating to Southeast Asia, diving into the world of hotel and resort design.

“To be perfectly honest, I stumbled across hospitality. In 1984, when I moved to Singapore, I found a job the day I arrived. The following week, I was on a plane to Bali to design the Bali Hyatt… and with zero experience, I made it all up as I went along. Today, I prefer to take on hospitality projects as opposed to residential projects because the likelihood of good maintenance is much greater,” Bill says in an interview with RL Phuket.

In 2024, Bill Bensley can celebrate 40 years of calling Southeast Asia his home. The legend resides with his partner in Bangkok, while his eponymous BENSLEY studio has offices in both Bangkok and Bali. The tropical island and the Asian megalopolis hold a special place in Bill’s heart.

“Bali in the 1980s was a huge influence on my work. I learned the architectural and spoken languages and became a Baliophile. Why? Because Bali, then, unlike today, was a unique place unto itself – with layers and layers of art, culture, costumes, and dance,” Bill says.

“Bangkok, like Bali, is a place of great mystery and history. The people of Thailand are seemingly naturally blessed with artistic talent. Being Buddhist, they are kind, polite, and honest. And in the 1980s, I fell in love with one of them, and to this day, I consider that the best thing that has ever happened to me!” he adds.

With dozens of amazing projects under his belt, Bill struggles to single out one that stands out as special among the special. He finally makes his choice from the perspective of Bill the Traveler rather than Bill The Architect.

“Who is my favorite child? Tough question. If I have to answer, it would be Shinta Mani Wild as I consider our charming rainforest tented camp exactly what I seek when I go on vacation. There is an adventurous vibe that challenges the normal comfort zone of our guests. I specifically love the rainforest in the rainy season, as the waters in the river are raging, and the nights are very cool,” he says.

He then admits that Shinta Mani Wild is equally important to Bill The Environmentalist.

“The camp is a stronghold, a bastion of conservation, where we host the southern headquarters of Wildlife Alliance, our serious AK47-wielding private army hellbent on protecting what is left of the Cardamom Rainforests’ wildlife and timber. Shinta Mani Wild is the covergirl of eco-tourism,” he says.

As mentioned above, BENSLEY studio’s ethos is to design properties that complement their locations and minimize impact on the surroundings. In Bill’s own words, he once “just got tired of doing nice gardens for bad buildings,” so now every project has its own challenges, from saving coconut trees in a bay to preserving rice fields in the hills.

Summing up his 30 years of experience, Bill Bensley released a white paper called Sensible Sustainable Solutions, a set of standards and guidelines for hotel operators and designers to integrate sustainability into their work and make the world a better place through design.

A Phuket resident doesn’t need to go far to witness how they work as Bill Bensley’s iconic properties are scattered throughout Southern Thailand. To learn more, stay tuned for the second part of this story in the next issue of RL Phuket magazine.

Find out more about the wonderful world of www.bensley.com.