Bill Bensley, designer and artist, took the stage during the Skift Asia Forum In Bangkok, where he has lived since 1984. Rafat Ali, Skift’s founder and CEO, discussed with him his career as a hotel designer, his creative philosophy and his inspirations.
Bensley is a young man who has recently been described as the “Willy Wonka of Design“Founded his studio in 1990 and has designed more than 200 properties worldwide, including Shinta Mani Wild – an award-winning jungle camp in Cambodia.
“Respecting Mother Nature has been a principle that guides us ever since we were children,” Bensley told Skift prior to the Forum. “Shinta Mani has successfully set the Asian standard in conservation and hospitality.”
You can watch the entire video below.
Highlights from Our Conversation with Bill Bensley
Why He is Attracted to Working in Southeast Asia“I’ve had a few experiences in America… and I found that there were too many cooks. In this part and especially in Africa, if you draw something that’s how it is. You can also build it.”
India’s Advantages: “I love India as it is a place that still allows everyone to use their hands. “There are so many people who can sew in India, can lay stones and can carve workmanship… that’s important for my work.”
Travel Advice “I have a great deal of experience teaching in universities. One of the things I do most is to encourage them to travel. Most importantly, I ask them to travel, put their iPhones away and do as I do. Wherever I go, I have my portfolio with me at all times and I am always sketching. This is what I think about when I sketch. “If I take my 3,001st photo of the day I won’t look at it ever again.”
Innovative Ideas: “Even in my paintings … Instead of doing what traditional artists do and sticking to just one style, I experiment with many different styles. “Everything I do is to learn new things.”
How to Deal with Budget Constraints: “One of our best hotels ever was a Novotel… and it was the only Novotel which ever made the cover of Architectural Digest. What was my landscape budget? $50,000. “The whole thing”
The Desert and Greenery of Asia “Conservation does not only need to be done in the most lush parts of the planet. The desert is as fragile as anywhere else. Saudi Arabia is doing some great conservation projects. It would be great if you could be involved.”
