Missed the exceptional Dior takeover at Penang’s Macalister Mansion? Don’t worry — there is still time to experience the Dior Gold House in Bangkok, arguably the centrepiece of the Parisian maison’s immersive tour de force that is redefining the future of luxury shopping
Even if fashion is not your forte, you cannot help but be amazed by the Dior Gold House in Bangkok. Located in the Ploenchit district, a short stroll from the swanky Park Hyatt hotel, the gilded edifice is designed to captivate anyone with an eye for beauty — be it from the vantage points of architecture, design, luxury or, yes, even cuisine, the entire structure begets wonder.
The façade, gold-clad and borderline garish and a reproduction of the iconic storefront at Paris’ 30 Avenue Montaigne, is in complete contrast to what lies within. Paying due respect and giving honour to the host country’s renowned excellence in traditional art and natural materials, the team at Dior have outdone themselves by putting together a stellar line-up of emblematic Thai talents, including, but not limited to, architect Boonserm Premthada, interior designer Eggarat Wongcharit and a host of artist-artisans who champion traditional craftsmanship.
Leading the troupe is none other than artist Korakot Aromdee, whose 3D flora and fauna-inspired walls — nicknamed “The Garden of Happiness” — wrought out of bamboo, wood, rattan and raffia deserve their own standing ovation. He is joined by Savin Saima, son of the renowned Ajarn Vassana Saima, who is one of Thailand’s foremost names in product and handicraft design. The mother-and-son duo work together under the label Vassana Studio, crusading to preserve bamboo weaving as an art form. All it takes is a single glance of a wall of finely wrought bamboo filigree faux Lady Dior bags to be left gobsmacked.
Sumphat Gallery dreamed up the mirrors for Dior Gold House, Bangkok
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The tuk-tuk, ubiquitous around bustling Bangkok, is given the Dior treatment by Saran Yen Panya of 56th Studio, a multidisciplinary design house. Reimagining it in reed, rattan and wicker, it captures the spirit of a city in flux. The mirrors, crafted from brass using the Lai Rot Nam technique — a traditional decorative style of applying black lacquer with gold inlay to surfaces — are the work of the creative duo behind Sumphat (Thai for “touch”) Gallery: architect-designer Rush Pleansuk and photographer Philippe Moisan.
Another star name recruited by Dior is Wishulada Panthanuvong, a celebrated artist and chief proponent of the circular economy whose motto is “Nothing is worthless”.
She often works with sustainable materials and considers waste and byproducts an artistic resource. In the garden of Dior Gold House, you can find Unleashed Nature, her installation featuring a mighty lion and mythical unicorn made entirely from industrial waste.
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Vassana Studio created a whole wall of faux Lady Dior bags using bamboo filigree
Besides the visual and tactile, Dior also ensures the senses of the palate are well pleased when you visit. A Café Dior has been provisioned for to ensure thirst and hunger are banished from this fantastical kingdom. Naturally, it is not just anyone who has been tasked with creating superlative sustenance but Mauro Colagreco of three Michelin-starred Mirazur fame.
And while it appears that all fantasy and dreams are on the ground level, the house of Dior shares the magic from above as well. The roof of Dior Gold House is capped by a dramatic dome, complete with a star-shaped oculus (a nod to Dior’s lucky star motif) said to be inspired by the one in Rome’s Pantheon.
Dior Gold House, Bangkok, is scheduled to run until December 2026
