A short sail away from mainland Phuket lies the relaxed escape of Coconut Island, where Studio Locomotive has unveiled the high-spirited 'Laku Beach Club,' drawing inspiration from the traditions and culture of the local Moken and Urak Lawoi sea nomads of the Andaman coast.

Former generations of the Moken and Urak Lawoi sea nomads adhered to the ideology of ‘non-accumulation’. Yet, their down-to-earth values, preserved through oral literature, have materialized into meaningful folklore and practices, honing their seafaring way of life to thrive on the abundance of the sea and the fruits of the motherland. 

The vivacity of Laku Beach Club springs from an imaginative interpretation of the songs, music, and celebratory rituals. Paying homage to the local villagers’ experiences and deep reverence for nature and ancestral wisdom, Studio Locomotive repurposed a vacation house into a space that resonates with the recollection of nomadic island life. The name 'Laku,’ meaning 'rhythm of a song' in the Urak Lawoi language, embodies the venue's essence of recreation and conviviality.

Woodwork on the exterior walls features bands of thorn-shaped skewers, mimicking the long, spiny leaves of seashore screwpine. The interlaced patterns on rattan furniture and mosaic clay tiles, which flow across the interior walls and floors, are adapted from these nature-inspired woven motifs.

Traces of marine life are present in ambitious details: vibrant wood-carved angelfish serve as door handles, fishbone inlays swim throughout the terrazzo bar and floor patterns, and fish scale markings are etched into wooden walls.

Roping techniques used in crafting a Rebana drum are applied as decorative rope detailing around the poolside music booth and the boat prow-shaped lighting above the bar counter.

Timber furniture with sculptural parts and interlocking details shape the solidity and organic proportions of the wood element. Communal tables with terrazzo legs complement the consistent materiality of the interior space.

Laku Beach Club offers a glimpse into the beauty of sea nomads’ spirits through its unique hospitality space, paying tribute to the seafaring culture of the Andaman coast with refined artisanal touches that harmonize with the reimagined rhythms of Coconut Island.