Phuket Old Town mansion transformed into luxury destination celebrating island’s heritage
The redesigned House of Tin Baron on Thailand’s Phuket island includes a Louis Roederer Cristal Room and fine-dining Italian restaurant Terra
A grand 19th-century mansion on the Thai island of Phuket has been transformed into a new luxury lifestyle destination that pays homage to the rich cultural heritage of the island.
House of Tin Baron in the heart of Phuket Old Town dates back to around 1898, making it one of the earliest establishments of its kind built in Phuket. Originally owned by British merchants, the property eventually came under Chinese ownership, mirroring the cultural and economic shifts that defined the region during that era.
House of Tin Baron is named after the tumultuous period in the late 17th century when the King of Siam fought the French for control of the tin mines in Phuket.
Regardless of who was in control, the island’s natural landscape was devastated by the tin mines and refining plants. This did not stop until the 1980s, when cheaper plastics replaced a lot of the demand for tin as a commodity.
While the island has refocused its economy on tourism, the silver lining, like much of colonial history, is the architecture left behind.
