Julia Sinikova

Having proclaimed his grand mission as “to make the world a better place through good design,” Bill Bensley is more than just an architect or a designer. His life path is so deeply rooted in art, one might call Bill a Renaissance man. Yet, the cheerful American prefers simpler words.

“I like to think of myself as a jack of all trades. In my free time, I am also a gardener, fisherman, lover of all things natural, and most recently, an outsider artist… I say ‘outsider’ as I was not traditionally trained in fine art, so I might have a different perspective on the matter,” Bill says.

Despite his lack of formal training, Bill quickly made a significant impact on Asia’s art world, with his bold and vibrant paintings, addressing various social and environmental themes. These include topics like environmentalism, racism, and personal identity.

Like his architecture and paintings, Bill’s books – Escapism and More Escapism – aim “to make the world a better place.” Bensley also published Sensible Sustainable Solutions, a white paper on integrating sustainable practices into hospitality. No of the above, though, can be considered Bill’s biggest work.

“Oh, that elusive opus magnum… I really feel that I am not even close. Maybe someday… But until that time, I am going to keep on experimenting,” he says.

The Shinta Mani Foundation is arguably close to Bill’s work of life, as each Shinta Mani project reflects his principle to build “with a purpose.”  Shinta Mani Siem Reap helps underprivileged in Cambodia, Shinta Mani Wild protects Cardamom Rainforest, Shinta Mani Luang Prabang will help deaf children.

Luckily for us, Bill Bensley is an architect, so his creations don’t reside in museums – they have a practical, public purpose. They are, quite literally, built to be visited.

One of the latest additions to Bill’s impressive portfolio is InterContinental Khao Yai, which the designer himself once called his “best landscape experience in 35 years.”

Just a three-hour drive from Bangkok, you’ll find Khao Yai, Thailand’s first national park, established in 1962 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A breathtaking slice of paradise, Khao Yai boasts lush tropical greenery, stunning waterfalls, mountains as high as 1,351 meters, and abundant wildlife. Hidden within this natural wonderland is an old train, seemingly lost in the jungle – InterContinental Khao Yai Resort.

Offering stays in upcycled railroad carriages, the resort gives travelers a unique way to experience the wonders of Khao Yai without compromising on comfort. Unlike Shinta Mani Wild, it doesn’t challenge the guests’ comfort zones – instead, it combines the best of both worlds.

Yet, when discussing the resort, Bill Bensley skips over the concept of the train in the jungle and instead highlights a different aspect.

“A wonderful aspect of building a hotel in Thailand, for me, is that I know we will be able to fill it full of genuine, caring, gorgeous people to run it. The Thai owner of the Intercontinental Khao Yai is one of those genuine people that shares my love of gardens, more so than any other client I have had in my 40-year career. Khun Manit spared no expense in creating a virtual rainforest around our trains, and his effort really put us on the map,” Bill Bensley says.

And that is what you need to know about Bill.

This is the second part of RL’s interview with Bill Bensley, the legend of resort design in Asia. To read the first part