Promoting Thai Culture Through a Water Park
Challenge:
How to craft a water park where guests can learn about Thai heritage
Creative Solution:
As a famous tourist destination, Phuket had plenty of postcard beaches, fancy resorts, and vibrant nightlife to offer. There was a gap, however, for those looking for something more culturally authentic. Andamanda aimed to fill that gap by using the entire water park to promote the magic of Thai culture, architecture, mythology, and even local life.
Starting with the park’s name, Andamanda pays homage to the Andaman Sea, where the island of Phuket lies. Its five distinct zones are also themed and named to reflect the region it is in. Treating guests like royalty, they begin their day at The Pearl Palace, a welcoming center in traditional Thai architecture.
From there, guests will explore both family and thrill attractions in four zones, with the master planning and schematic design for the park provided by WhiteWater’s architecture team. The zones are:
- Coral World, which reminds of the natural treasures in the Andaman Sea
- Emerald Forest, referring to the nearby Khao Sok National Park
- Naga Jungle, with Naga being a mythical serpent that is a revered guardian spirit in Southeast Asia
- The Great Andaman Bay, with a wave pool that features a replica of the iconic James Bond Island
In keeping with the goal of creating an immersive cultural experience, every water slide tower is built as a concrete structure to allow for detailed theming.
With food being the highlight of any vacation in Thailand, The Village is where guests can find not only Thai gourmet but a floating market—a market where vendors sell from small boats in the water, which is a hallmark of Thai heritage. Not to be missed is an outdoor theater for cultural performances. For more close encounters, mythical characters in the form of cuddly mascots are there to greet guests.
After a day at Andamanda, both local and foreign visitors will leave with a new, refreshing appreciation for Thai culture. To learn more about this award-winning project visit the project page.
