Athita Pool Villa and Spa has been named a Winner in Excellent Architecture — Architecture - Public at the German Design Award 2026. The official winner record credits Studio Miti as designer and recognises the project for a composed relationship between vernacular character, contemporary ambition and the life of its local setting. View the official German Design Award record.
“A thoughtfully composed blend of traditional elements and contemporary ambition defines »Athita pool villa and spa«. The intentionally free layout creates a welcoming atmosphere, while the distinctive masonry emphasizes integration with the local context. The project excels in establishing a harmonious dialogue between identity, authenticity, and public presence—delivering a remarkably high standard of excellence.”
— German Design Award jury
An architecture that belongs to Chiang Saen
Athita Pool Villa and Spa is an extension of Athita The Hidden Court. Its design continues the architectural language of the surrounding community rather than treating the hotel as a separate object. The project draws deeply from vernacular traditions, allowing familiar forms, material memory and the everyday rhythm of Chiang Saen to guide the experience of the place.
What may first appear to be an intentionally free arrangement is part of the design’s welcome. The sequence of spaces is composed to feel open and friendly, with moments of discovery instead of a rigidly prescribed route. This creates a retreat that feels private without losing its relationship to the town around it.
Traditional elements, thoughtfully reinterpreted
Elements of traditional houses and the distinctive character of local brickwork are adapted to shape the building’s façade. These materials are not used as decoration; they are part of the project’s effort to sit quietly within its context. Brickwork gives the public-facing architecture a grounded presence, while timber and familiar proportions bring warmth and a sense of scale that connects the new spaces to neighbouring buildings.
The approach preserves the serene atmosphere at the heart of Athita. Rather than competing with the historic character of Chiang Saen, Athita Pool Villa and Spa makes room for it: light, texture, shade and the measured transition between public and private spaces become part of a calm stay.
Recognition from the German Design Award
The German Design Award is presented by the German Design Council. In the official 2026 gallery, Athita Pool Villa and Spa is listed as a Winner in Excellent Architecture, Architecture - Public. The recognition affirms a design approach that holds heritage and contemporary life in balance, and that treats authenticity as something built through material, place and human experience.
For Athita, the award is also a celebration of the people and ideas behind the project. Studio Miti’s design translates the distinctive vocabulary of Chiang Saen into a contemporary hospitality setting while preserving the calm, welcoming character that defines a stay here.
Awards and recognition at Athita
- German Design Award 2026 — Winner, Excellent Architecture (Architecture - Public)
- Architizer A+Awards 2026 — Jury Winner, Architecture +Brick (Details)
- Golden Pin Design Award (Taiwan) — a leading design award in Asia
- TIDA Awards 2025 — Thailand Interior Design Awards, Best of Small Hotel Design
- ASA Gold Medal — Gold Medal from the Association of Siamese Architects
- LIV Hospitality Design Awards 2022 — Winner, Architectural Design Hotel – Boutique
- MICHELIN Guide Selection — selected by the MICHELIN Guide
- Tablet Hotels — selected into the global boutique hotel collection
- Secret Retreats — member of Asia’s curated boutique retreat network
Experience the quiet architecture of Athita
The architectural story of Athita is best experienced at an unhurried pace. Guests are invited to move through spaces shaped by brick, timber, filtered light and the calm character of Chiang Saen. Explore our rooms and villas, discover wellness at Athita, or read about another recognition in Athita Pool Villa and Spa at the Architizer A+Awards 2026.
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