INSIDE BY PORTFOLIO 2020

63 B aan Botanica is designer Bill Bensley’s Bangkok home named for the plants – an astounding collection of more than 15,000 species – flourishing in its gardens. Along with his partner, designer and horticulturist Jirachai Rengthong, Bensley retreats from the busy studio’s bustle with their six Jack Russells amid exotic objects and mementos from travels around the world. Here, Bill tests out his funkiest design ideas, and on weekends, is often found painting friends or hosting amazing parties in the garden oasis. A recent gathering he hosted was an African- themed party complete with fabulous wax fabric outfits. Bensley bought this little black and white house in a side street off Sukhumvit from an American named Billy Bones. “At first, I was more intrigued by the name of the owner than the house itself,” Bensley confesses.  A truly refined and stylish house, Baan Botanica is at the same time a thriving tropical jungle and a comfortable refuge in the heart of the city. Despite the evenness of the Thai climate, Bensley and Rengthong introduced constant changes to the place that it appears to undergo seasonal transformations. The pandemic-led lockdown only served to heighten the real value of the place. “I feel lucky that my Baan Botanica is a wilderness in itself and is constantly evolving, so I do not feel the need to get out of Bangkok too often – I have a jungle on my doorstep!” FOLIO