Tri Vananda Phuket: Rooted in Nature, Designed for Longevity

THE ARRIVAL: NATURE'S WELCOME

He explains that dragonflies nesting in water are an indicator of high-quality water. This unexpected ecological indicator is just one of many subtle signals that Tri Vananda isn't a typical luxury development. While other high-end projects throughout Phuket erect imposing concrete walls and identical villas, here nature dictates the architecture rather than submitting to it.

THE CONTEXT: A DIFFERENT KIND OF DEVELOPMENT

I'm riding in an electric buggy through what feels like a carefully preserved forest, occasionally passing a structure so well integrated with its surroundings that I nearly miss it. "Did we drive by it? I didn't even notice it the first time," I remark as we circle back to a three-bedroom show villa, its ash wood exterior seeming to emerge from the jungle rather than impose upon it. "A lot of customers who come dining at Jampa, don't notice there's a house here," explains Cream, a knowledgeable sales team member with a passion for design. "It's just hidden in the jungle."

This 600-rai (237 acres) property in central Phuket represents a significant departure from the island's typical development trajectory. While neighboring projects rush to maximize built space with cookie-cutter concrete designs, Tri Vananda will develop just 15% of its vast holdings, leaving 85% as preserved forests, wetlands, and lakes. It's a vision that seems almost counterintuitive in Thailand's booming luxury market, yet one that reflects both ancient wisdom and future-focused thinking.

Founded by Narong Pattamasevi, who began his career as a financier with Citibank before establishing Trisara as the group's first luxury project, Montara has consistently balanced luxury with sustainability and cultural authenticity.

As we drive through the property, Benjamin reflects on what makes this family's approach so different from typical developers. "One of the first things that struck me about this project was the long-term vision," he explains. "When I initially joined, I asked them about the business logic behind holding onto this land for so long. They originally bought it 30 years ago, and the value has skyrocketed since then. Think about how much 600 rai in central Phuket is worth these days."

But for the owners—a multigenerational Thai family where Narong and his wife Poonsri work alongside their CEO son Kit—the property represents something more valuable than quick profit or conventional development. It embodies their vision of community, wellness, and harmonious living with nature. "They really have this vision about community and enjoying the longer years of your life together," Benjamin explains. "They're a very family-oriented people. They travel together. They do everything together."

THE DESIGN: LIVING WITH NATURE, NOT APART FROM IT

At the entrance to one of the show villas, I remove my shoes—that quintessentially Asian ritual marking the transition from outside world to sanctuary. Inside, the home reveals itself through a series of thoughtful spaces rather than a single dramatic gesture. An internal courtyard forms the heart of the dwelling, where a Phuket Gardenia tree stands in quiet dignity.

The villa exemplifies what the team calls "biophilic design"—architecture that embraces and enhances connection with nature. Glass walls retract completely, allowing the boundary between inside and outside to dissolve. Strategically positioned apertures create natural cross-ventilation that keeps interiors 2-3 degrees cooler without air conditioning. This passive design approach stands in stark contrast to the hermetically sealed, energy-intensive villas typical of tropical luxury developments.

In the master bedroom, Cream demonstrates another thoughtful feature: circadian lighting that mimics the changing quality of natural sunlight throughout the day. "If you travel abroad and get jet lag when you come here, you probably want to be more energized," she explains, showing how the system shifts from the warm glow of morning light to the cooler brightness of midday. Even the bedside table incorporates a small drawer lined with electromagnetic shielding where phones can be sequestered at night—a subtle encouragement to disconnect that reflects Tri Vananda's commitment to wellness beyond the obvious. Research has shown that electromagnetic fields from phones can disrupt sleep patterns, so this seemingly small detail exemplifies how the property integrates wellness into every aspect of daily life.

Materials throughout the villa reflect the property's "wabi-sabi" philosophy, a Japanese concept embracing imperfection and transience. Cream elaborates: "Everybody has a little bit of imperfect beauty inside them. But if you put all that stuff together, you can make something harmonious and beautiful." This translates into natural finishes that will weather and patina gracefully: rammed earth walls, engineered oak flooring, bamboo cabinetry, and Jim Thompson fabrics.

Outside, there are no fences between properties—a deliberate choice that defies the norm in luxury developments. "Fence is illegal in our community," Cream states matter-of-factly. Instead, dense landscaping of lemongrass, pendant plants, and native species creates natural privacy screens while deterring mosquitoes without chemicals.

As a security buff, I must say despite the openness, the property maintains an impressive sense of security—discreet checkpoints, well-placed camera systems, a strict appointment-only policy, and strategically placed staff ensure that the absence of walls never compromises safety.

THE FARM: WHERE SUSTAINABILITY TAKES ROOT

We step out of the buggy and immediately feel the difference in temperature. "It's always like 5 degrees cooler whenever you cruise through here," he notes. The farm serves multiple purposes—producing food for residents and the property's fine-dining restaurant as well as a farm for plants at Trisara resort. It does this while also functioning as an educational space and community hub. "Next week, we have our big organic roots market," Benjamin explains. "We'll have organic vendors from all around Phuket, and they all set up their stalls around here. We do that once a month.”

The farm exemplifies the property's "farm to fork, fork to farm" philosophy. Food scraps from Jampa return to feed the property's chickens and ducks, creating a closed-loop system that minimizes waste. "That's why they're so happy," Nam Whan says of the well-fed animals. "They're happier than me.”

We encounter a chicken that Nam Whan introduces as "Nugget," a distinctive, fluffy white fowl that stands out from the others. Benjamin jokes that villa owners get "visitation rights" to Nugget. There's a gentle humor in how the staff interact with these creatures—a 13-year-old blind rooster they call "Grandpa chicken" who "always stays outside," and two plump wild ducks that simply showed up one day and never left.

Nam Whan explains how the property incorporates traditional Thai wisdom into its landscaping. "Normally, people living in jungle areas, they do this," she says, referring to the natural approach to pest control and privacy. "But I don't see in Phuket, except here."

THE CHARACTERS: PERSONAL JOURNEYS THAT DEFINE THE PLACE

Perhaps the most compelling aspect of Tri Vananda is how it has attracted people with profound personal connections to the land and its philosophy. Nam Whan, who manages the farm and serves as the property's wellness director, embodies this perfectly. A two-time national Muay Thai champion, she left a life in Melbourne to return to Thailand after losing her step-parents.

Her first day at Tri Vananda cemented her decision to stay. "When I drive in here, I smell the nature, the smell of flowers and trees," she says. “It's the pure kind, the smell only in the most natural environments. That smell helps you to clear everything automatically. It makes me feel like I'm home."

Similarly, Benjamin brings a surprising depth of connection to the project. Having lived in Thailand for 24 years, he reveals that as a teenager, he lived near the property and always admired its lush grounds. "Look, 17 years later, I help run the place!”

This sense of coming full circle, of returning to something essential, permeates Tri Vananda. It's evident in how the project responds to contemporary concerns about sustainability while drawing on ancient wisdom about living in harmony with nature. The name derives from Sanskrit—"Tri" representing time (past, present, future). "Vananda" suggests bliss or joy. All together, it’s the forest of long-lasting happiness.

THE WELLNESS VISION: BEYOND LONGEVITY TO QUALITY OF LIFE

The Tri Vananda and Clinique La Prairie collaboration is rooted in community—crafting a space where health, sustainability, and genuine human connection support and enhance one another. This commitment is evident throughout the property, from the organic farm that supplies fresh vegetables to residents, to the monthly farmers market that brings local producers together, and even to the educational programs that teach children the art of farming and cooking.

THE FUTURE: SUSTAINABILITY BEYOND MARKETING

As we conclude our tour, passing another lake where a family of wild birds peacefully floats, I ask what sets Tri Vananda apart from other luxury developments claiming sustainability credentials.

This commitment extends to ambitious plans for carbon neutrality. "For people staying in our hotels that are peak season, $3,000 a night, for them to add on another $10 to offset their carbon footprint—immediate yes," he says. They’re in the process of analyzing the best paths forward to ensure carbon neutrality.

It becomes clear that while Tri Vananda represents the future of luxury development in Thailand, it's not merely chasing trends. In many ways, it's a return to fundamentals—community, nature, wellness—that have always been central to Thai culture but were temporarily forgotten in the rush toward rapid development.

Tri Vananda

Tri Vananda is a 600-rai wellness community in Phuket where nature guides every detail—from biophilic villas that start around $1.5 million USD, to dragonfly-filled lakes and chemical-free farms. Designed in partnership with Clinique La Prairie, it’s the largest wellness development in Asia, integrating longevity science, sustainable living, and regenerative hospitality. The developers describe it simply: “Rooted. Rhythmic. Regenerative.”

To explore villa ownership or plan your visit, discover more at trivananda.com.