IR-ON Hotel, Bangkok
Industrial Thai Tradition Reimagined in Wrought Iron
An Unexpected Makeover in Thong Lo
Set just a short walk from the Thong Lo BTS station, IR-ON Hotel is what happens when creative vision meets urban leftovers. Originally a stalled apartment project, this eight-story shell sat unfinished—bare concrete, no façade, no fittings—until Premnon Lerdporncharoen, of Thai steel manufacturer Oneput, saw its unrealized potential. Today, it stands as a striking ode to Bangkok’s everyday architectural vernacular, elevated through design and raw material.
A Skin of Stories
The façade is what stops you. A patchwork of repurposed wrought iron screens—the kind found on balconies and gates across Thailand—now forms the hotel’s defining skin. Haphazard by design, the screens are arranged with poetic disorder. Some boast ornate geometric or floral motifs, while others are faded, rusted, or warped—each carrying the quiet history of its former life. Together, they offer privacy for rooms, filtered light for hallways, and a deeply textural exterior that’s equal parts brutalist and beautiful.
Rooms with Rough Edges and Warm Details
Inside, the aesthetic leans minimal industrial: exposed ceilings, polished concrete floors, metal furniture, and open-frame wardrobes. But it’s not cold—clever touches like warm wood, soft lighting, and local textiles inject a welcoming spirit. Each of the 44 rooms is straightforward in layout but rich in visual contrast, with the ever-present ironwork casting dynamic shadows across the interiors.
Designed for the City
Public spaces, including the lobby lounge and dining area, feature open layouts, where iron beams and floor-to-ceiling glass create a flow between the inside and the Bangkok skyline beyond. The design invites lingering—whether over breakfast or late-night conversation. There’s no rooftop pool or grand ballroom here, but what it does offer is an authentic, grounded sense of place—a stay that reflects the materials, culture, and improvisational creativity of the city itself.
DNA Hotels Verdict
A standout in Bangkok’s boutique hotel scene, IR-ON Hotel is a design-forward tribute to Thai urban textures—wrought iron, rust, and raw honesty done right. For travelers drawn to local character, clever reuse, and a dose of edge, this place delivers with personality and purpose.
