Solidifying the status of the stunning Thai island Samui as an international design destination for South East Asia is the arrival of the first W Retreat and Residences Koh Samui in the region.

To abet the sensation of sublime isolation, the W is built on an island within the island; a hill separates its own peninsula of land from the rest of Samui. It showcases the sleek W lifestyle with cutting edge architecture by MAPS Design Studio and interior design by Thailand-based design firm P49 Design, who have effortlessly translated this into a tropical paradise without cliché.

Timber, bamboo and stone have been used to convey spectacularly contemporary organic configurations in the lobby, the W Lounge, the Woo Bar and Namu, the resort’s signature Japanese restaurant. aWay Spa is a stunningly realised hideaway bordered by white terrazzo floors and bleached wood walls equipped with a Thaimazcal treatment facility – a domed space with pebble flooring and raw-rock seating – the first of its kind in Asia. The Thaimazcal treatment is based on Mexican tribal rituals, using local Thai ingredients. The Retreat has 75 private villas while the Residences features 17 secluded beachfront villa, each fastidiously kitted out with every convenience and luxury imaginable, and then some.

W Retreat and Residences. 4/1 Moo 1 Tambol Maenam, Surat Thani. Koh Samui, 84330, Thailand. +66 77 915 999.