Principal architect and co-founder of Bangkok-based VaSLab Architecture Vasu Virajsilp didn’t have to look far for inspiration for Casa de La Flora, a 36-villa resort located on the breathtaking beach of Khao Lak, Thailand. “When my partner [Boonlert Deeyuen] and I started to think of the theme ‘flora,’ we thought of the villa as a flower,” explains Virajsilp, who says that the beach’s beauty is only rivaled by the privacy and peace that can be found there. “We wanted to make each villa arise from the ground and bloom.”

Collaborating closely with owner Sompong Dowpiset, they crafted each glass-fronted villa in Brutalist architectural style, through the use of simple architectural processes and a minimalist aesthetic-concrete and natural wood take centerstage-with no redundant elements.

And the desire for a modern look wasn’t the only reason for this style of design: since the 2004 tsunami, the preservation of the Khao Lak coastline is crucial. The designers worked with and around the naturally occurring indigenous plant life, and most villas are supported by topiary conceived by landscape designers T.R.O.P. Says Virajsilp, “We try to create in a way that is a combination of art and architecture. That is always our aim: to create architecture with meaning.”

In addition to the über-private villas, Casa de La Flora boasts a library, infinity edge pool, four treatment rooms, a sauna, and steam room, among other amenities. For a real sense of place, the reception area includes a multi-purpose space called “Tai-toon,” where Thai people traditionally gather or welcome their guests.

Dining is just as luxurious. La Arunya restaurant lures guests with sumptuous Thai and international cuisine, and elements of the rest of the resort, such as deviated roofs, walls, and ceiling lines are mirrored here. “[The restaurant] was designed as an open-air space where guests can feel the breeze of the ocean while dining and looking at the sea,” adds Virajsilp.