Bill Bensley: Difference between revisions

'''Bill Bensley''' (born {{Birth date|1959|2|2}}), born '''William Bensley''', is an American [[landscape architect]], [[architect]], and [[interior designer]] who has designed over 200 hospitality projects in 50 countries.<ref>{{Cite web|lastauthor=CNN|first=By Karla Cripps|title=The paradise maker: Meet luxury resort designer Bill Bensley|url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/bill-bensley-luxury-resort-designer/index.html|access-date=2020-10-05|website=CNN|language=en}}</ref> He is the founder and creative director of [[Bangkok]] and [[Bali]]-based design studio BENSLEYBensley, established in 1989 and 1990 respectively.<ref name="Paul">{{Cite web|last=Paul|first=Michael|date=2020-02-24|title=Inside Designer Bill Bensley's Magical Bangkok Home|url=https://www.thailandtatler.com/life/bill-bensley-home-bangkok|access-date=2020-10-05|website=Tatler Thailand|language=en-TH}}</ref>

Bensley was born on February 2nd2, 1959, to [[English immigrants]], in [[Orange County, California|Orange Country]], [[California]].<ref name="A Sense of Service - Sight">{{Cite web|title=A Sense of Service -– Sight|url=http://www.bbc.com/storyworks/a-sense-of-service/sight|access-date=2020-10-05|website=BBC Storyworks|language=en}}</ref> His father was ana research engineer for [[NASA]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Platinum Circle 2017: Bill Bensley|url=https://www.hospitalitydesign.com/people/interviews-in-depth/platinum-circle-2017-bill-bensley/|access-date=2020-10-05|website=Hospitality Design|date=18 October 2017}}</ref> Following a career day talk by landscape architect Rocco Campanozzi<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-06-30|title=INTERVIEWInterview: BILLBill BENSLEY,Bensley FOUNDERFounder BENSLEYBensley|url=https://hotelspaceonline.com/news/interview-bill-bensley-founder-bensley/|access-date=2020-10-12|website=SPACESpace {{!}} International Hotel Design|language=en}}</ref> ([[Knott's Berry Farm|Knott’s Berry Farm]] amusement park), Bensley joined [[California State Polytechnic University, Pomona|California State Polytechnic University’University’s]]<nowiki/>s [[Landscape architecture|Landscape Architecture]] program.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Bill Bensley -– BENSLEYBensley|url=https://www.bensley.com/studio/bill-bensley/|access-date=2020-10-12|website=www.bensley.com}}</ref> In his book Escapism, Bensley recalls his first big presentation in his freshman year: overcome by nerves, he threw his model to the floor and walked out.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Bensley|first=Bill|title=Escapism Volume I|publisher=|year=2017|isbn=978-1932476828|location=Bangkok|pages=9–11}}</ref> He credits this night with BENSLEYBensley's unconventional presentation style now, where he unrolls meter-wide scrolls that are sometimes 15 meters long or more.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Bensley|first=Bill|title=Paradise by Design: Tropical Residences and Resorts by Bensley Design Studios|publisher=|year=2008|isbn=978-0794607661|location=Singapore|pages=14–15}}</ref> At University, Bensley went on to win an award from the [[American Society of Landscape Architects|ASLA]]<ref>{{Cite web|lastname="Paul|first=Michael|date=2020-02-24|title=Inside Designer Bill Bensley's Magical Bangkok Home|url=https:"//www.thailandtatler.com/life/bill-bensley-home-bangkok|access-date=2020-10-05|website=Tatler Thailand|language=en-TH}}</ref> which led to a full scholarship at [[Harvard Graduate School of Design|Harvard’s Graduate School of Design]], studying Urban Design under famed architect [[Moshe Safdie]], and alongside [[Mathar Bunnag|Lek Mathar Bunnag]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kanin|first=Srimaneekulroj|date=2014-12-14|title=Bangkok's king of exotic luxury resorts, Bill Bensley|url=https://sgmagazine.com/city-living/news/first-person-bill-bensley|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010170848/https://sgmagazine.com/city-living/news/first-person-bill-bensley |archive-date=2020-10-10 |access-date=2020-09-05|website=SG Magazine}}</ref> who invited him to come to Asia after they completed their studies at Harvard in 1984. The day after graduation, Bensley started backpacking across Europe, before going to Malaysia where he hitchhiked and exchanged sketches of people he met for meals, as he worked his way to Singapore.<ref name=":1" />

FollowingAfter graduationgraduating from [[Harvard University|Harvard]] in 1984, Bensley joined [http://www.bcihk.com.hk/ Belt Collins & Associates] in Singapore for 3 years, followed by 2 years in their Hong Kong office.<ref name="Lockhart">{{Cite web|last=Lockhart|first=Katie|title=Tour the Whimsical Bangkok Home of a World-Renowned Hotel Designer|url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/tour-whimsical-bangkok-home-world-renowned-hotel-designer|access-date=2020-10-05|website=Architectural Digest|date=3 April 2020|language=en-us}}</ref> In that time he learnt Indonesian and Malay, and familiarised himself with the Southeast Asian architectural vernacular, particularly that of Bali.<ref>{{Cite book|lastname=Bensley|first=Bill|title=Paradise by Design": Tropical Residences and Resorts by Bensley Design Studios|publisher=|year=2008|isbn=978-0794607661|location=Singapore|pages=14–15}}<1"/ref> Bensley then moved to Bangkok, where he opened the first BENSLEY studio in 1989, andwith a second in Bali in 1990.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Changing The Landscape|url=https://www.forbes.com/global/2007/0618/073.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111132558/http://www.forbes.com:80/global/2007/0618/073.html |archive-date=2016-01-11 |access-date=2020-07-15|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref> The studio's early projects included landscaped gardens for the [[Four Seasons Resort Hualalai]], the [[Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok]], the [[Oberoi Udaivilas]] in Udaipur and the [[Anantara Hua Hin Resort & Spa]].<ref name=":0" /> Private clients included Malaysian [[Sultan]] [[Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ferber|first=Lawrence|title=World-Renowned Designer Bill Bensley on His Favorite Hotel Projects|url=https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/world-renowned-designer-bill-bensley-on-his-favorite-hotel-projects|access-date=2020-10-05|website=Condé Nast Traveler|date=9 February 2017|language=en-us}}</ref> and thebusinessman privateHoward homeFeldman.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Howie's HomeStay, Chiang Mai, Thailand - Hotel ReviewCompound|url=https://wwwonline.cntravelerwsj.com/hotelsarticle/thailand/mae-rim/howie-s-homestay--chiang-maiSB10001424052970203388804576615100458883770.html|access-date=2020-10-1205|website=Condé Nast TravelerWSJ|language=en-US}}</ref> of businessman Howard Feldman.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Howie's HomeStay, Chiang Mai, Thailand Compound– Hotel Review|url=https://onlinewww.wsjcntraveler.com/articlehotels/SB10001424052970203388804576615100458883770.htmlthailand/mae-rim/howie-s-homestay--chiang-mai|access-date=2020-10-0512|website=WSJCondé Nast Traveler|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2006, the BENSLEY-designed [https://www.fourseasons.com/goldentriangle/ Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle] opened in Chiang Rai.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Camp Facts {{!}} Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle, Thailand|url=https://press.fourseasons.com/goldentriangle/hotel-facts/|access-date=2020-10-12|website=Four Seasons Press Room|language=en}}</ref> It was the first BENSLEYBensley tented camp project, and doubles as a sanctuary for rehabilitated elephants.<ref name=lodge>{{Cite web|last=Magazine|first=Wallpaper*|date=2017-05-11|title=The Explorer's Lodge at the Four Seasons Tented Camp — Chiang Rai, Thailand|url=https://www.wallpaper.com/travel/thailand/chiang-rai/hotels/the-explorers-lodge-at-the-four-seasons-tented-camp|access-date=2020-10-12|website=Wallpaper*}}</ref> A new concept in hospitality, it was awarded [[Condé Nast Traveler|Conde Nast Traveller]] Readers' Choice #1 Hotel in the World, three years in a row.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Profiling: Bill Bensley {{!}} Best Interior Designers|url=https://www.bestinteriordesigners.eu/profiling-bill-bensley/|access-date=2020-10-05|website=www.bestinteriordesigners.eu}}</ref> Gradually, BENSLEY grew from a landscaping studio to one offering [[architecture]] and [[interior design]] as well. In 2010 Bensley was awarded the AD100 -– an annual survey of the best names in design by ''[[Architectural Digest]].'' <ref>{{Cite web|title=AD100|url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/architecture-design/ad100-2020|access-date=2020-10-05|website=Architectural Digest|language=en}}</ref> - andIn response, he said in an interview: "We pride ourselves on our attention to every detail, from the architecture and gardens down to the napkin rings and signage."<ref>{{Cite web|last=architecturaldigest.com|title=2010 AD100: Bill Bensley|url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/bill-bensley-profile|access-date=2020-10-12|website=Architectural Digest|date=January 2010|language=en-us}}</ref> HeBensley is often defined as a [[Maximalism|maximalist]] designer.<ref>{{Cite web|last1date=January 5|first1=CBS, News|last2=2020|last3=Am|first3=9:33|title=Hotel designer Bill Bensley, delighting in the art of surprise|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hotel-designer-bill-bensley-delighting-in-the-art-of-surprise/|access-date=2020-10-05|website=www.cbsnews.com|language=en}}</ref>

Bensley’s work is centered around [[sustainability]], with Tatler Malaysia writing that "he has made it his life’s mission to preserve the sanctity of the Earth through focused ecological practices."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jingmei|first=Luo|date=2020-09-02|title=Bill Bensley On Practical And Green Hotel Design|url=https://my.asiatatler.com/life/bill-bensley-sustainable-hotel-design-practical-green|access-date=2020-10-05|website=Tatler Malaysia|language=en-MY}}</ref> At the F[https://www.fourseasons.com/kohsamui/ ourFour Seasons Koh Samui] he introduced the concept of Minimal Intervention: preserving existing landscapes through architecture built ''around'' trees and adapted to the existing terrain, rather than cutting down trees and disrupting natural [[Sustainable drainage system|drainage patterns]]. BENSLEYBensley's dedication to [[Conservation biology|conservation]] and sustainability continued with the opening of a tented camp<ref>{{Cite web|last=Magazine|first=Wallpaper*|date=2020-04-22|title=The design hotels pushing towards a more eco-friendly future|url=https://www.wallpaper.com/travel/design-hotels-pushing-towards-sustainable-future|access-date=2020-10-12|website=Wallpaper*}}</ref> in [[Cambodia]]'s [[Cardamom Mountains|Cardamom mountains]], [https://wild.bensleycollection.com/ Shinta Mani Wild - Bensley Collection], under the Shinta Mani Hotel Group. Bensley purchased a piece of land “roughly the size of Central Park”<ref>{{Cite web|last=Evans|first=Christina Ohly|date=2019-05-11|title=The Aesthete: Bill Bensley talks more personal taste|url=https://cms.howtospendit.ft.com/articles/206142-the-aesthete-bill-bensley-talks-more-personal-taste|access-date=2020-10-05|website=cms.howtospendit.ft.com|language=en}}</ref> to prevent it from being mined, and set up a 15 -tent luxury camp, which fundshelps fund [[Wildlife Alliance]]'s work in the protection of the forest from [[poaching]] and logging by [[Wildlife Alliance]],– a common issue in the area. It iswas nowincluded creditedin asthe anow-canceled [[National Geographic]] [https://www.nationalgeographiclodges.com/lodges/asia/shinta-mani-wild/#.X4QIJGgzaUk Unique Lodges of the World], lodges which arewere all "dedicated to protecting the surrounding habitats and cultures".<ref>{{Cite web|title=National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World|url=https://www.nationalgeographiclodges.com/|access-date=2020-10-05|website=National Geographic Unique Lodges|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-06-08|title=Top 10 most fabulous National Geographic lodges in the world|url=http://theluxurytravelexpert.com/2020/06/08/10-best-national-geographic-lodges/|access-date=2021-08-26|website=the Luxury Travel Expert|language=en-US}}</ref> This is a new model of hospitality which blends conservation with high-end luxury.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-02-24|title=What it's like to be Bill Bensley, designer of whimsical resorts|url=https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people-events/article/2187293/what-its-be-bill-bensley-designer-whimsical-resorts|access-date=2020-10-05|website=South China Morning Post|language=en}}</ref> In 2020, Bensley self -published a white paper on sustainability called [https://www.bensley.com/media/sensible-sustainable-solutions/ Sensible Sustainable Solutions.] Architectural Digest called Bensley a "... pioneer in sustainable hotel design for the past three decades ... (who) not only anticipated the shift toward sustainability, but is also now sharing his hard-earned knowledge with others in the industry"."

* Rosewood Luang Prabang, [[Laos]]<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Romeyn|first1=Kathryn|last2=Romeyn|first2=Kathryn|date=2018-08-28|title=Five Questions with Visionary Architect Bill Bensley|url=https://robbreport.com/travel/destinations/luxury-hotel-designer-bill-bensely-bali-eg18-2812968/|access-date=2020-10-05|website=Robb Report|language=en-US}}</ref>

* Shinta Mani Siem Reap -– Bensley Collection, [[Cambodia]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-02-07|title=C&TH Meets Visionary Architect & Designer Bill Bensley {{!}} Interviews|url=https://www.countryandtownhouse.co.uk/culture/bill-bensley-interview/|access-date=2020-10-05|website=Country and Town House|language=en-GB}}</ref>

* Shinta Mani Wild -– Bensley Collection, [[Cambodia]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=About|url=https://www.nationalgeographiclodges.com/lodges/asia/shinta-mani-wild/about/|access-date=2020-10-05|website=National Geographic Unique Lodges|language=en}}</ref>

* Oberoi Amarvilas, [[Agra]], [[India]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Carroll|first=Petra|title=India's Amarvilas|url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/bensley-slideshow-072001|access-date=2020-10-05|website=Architectural Digest|date=July 2001|language=en-us}}</ref>

|AD100: Top 100 Architecture & Interior Design<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rowlands|first=Penelops|title=AD 100: Bill Bensley|url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/bensley-article-082005|access-date=2020-10-12|website=Architectural Digest|date=August 2005|language=en-us}}</ref>

|AD100: Top 100 Architecture & Interior Design<ref>{{Cite web|last=architecturaldigest.com|title=2010 AD100: Bill Bensley|url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/bill-bensley-profile|access-date=2020-10-12|website=Architectural Digest|date=January 2010|language=en-us}}</ref>

|[https://www.hospitalitydesign.com/ ''Hospitality Design]''

|Travel Awards 2019 -– Nomination in Adventure Camping Category<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-08-27|title=Announcing The Finalists for The 2019 Surface Travel Awards|url=https://www.surfacemag.com/articles/surface-travel-awards-2019-nominees/|access-date=2020-10-05|website=SURFACESurface|language=en-US}}</ref>

|Asia 2019 Outstanding Contribution Award for Hospitality and Design<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-02-28|title=Bill Bensley To Receive AHEADAhead Asia 2019 Outstanding Contribution Award|url=https://www.indesignlive.sg/happenings/bill-bensley-ahead-asia-2019-award|access-date=2020-10-12|website=INDESIGNLIVEIndesignlive SINGAPORE {{!}} Daily Connection to Architecture and DesignSingapore|language=en-US}}</ref>

|''[[https://design-anthology.com/ Design Anthology]]''

|[https://www.worldtravelawards.com/ ''World Travel Awards]''

|Outstanding Contribution Award<ref>{{Cite web|last=VIR|first=Vietnam Investment Review-|date=2019-11-29|title=Sun Group lands major haul of honors at World Travel Awards 2019|url=https://www.vir.com.vn/sun-group-lands-major-haul-of-honors-at-world-travel-awards-2019-72173.html|access-date=2020-10-05|website=Vietnam Investment Review - VIR|language=en}}</ref>

|[https://www.ttgmedia.com/ ''TTG Luxury Travel]''

|Awards 2020 -– Contribution to Luxury Travel Award<ref>{{Cite web|title=Revealed: the winners of the TTG Luxury Travel Awards 2020|url=https://www.ttgmedia.com/luxury/luxury/revealed-the-winners-of-the-ttg-luxury-travel-awards-2020--21524|access-date=2020-10-05|website=TTG|language=En}}</ref>

|[https://idcs.sg/ ''Interior Design Confederation, Singapore]''