The Norm Opens as Bangkok’s Most Design-Led Rooftop Bar.

With a string of initiatives blending hospitality with design, Fritz Hansen has been repositioning from manufacturer to cultural host across Asia over the last decade. From the showroom to third places for the design-aware public. Launched earlier this month, The Norm in Bangkok is their latest project—a rooftop bar designed by Ekar Architects, furnished entirely with Fritz Hansen pieces. Their guiding idea at The Norm is—“Here, you belong.”

The space isn’t trying to be spectacular, although we’d say it very much is. Balance is achieved through comfort via a sequence of experiences, warm finishes and lighting, and a finely tuned soundscape. Fritz Hansen’s CEO for Asia, Dario Reicherl, says, “At this scale, furniture becomes essential. Not as decoration, but as a way of supporting behaviour—people staying longer, talking more, feeling at ease.”

Set at the highest point of a high-rise within the Dusit Thani compound in Bangkok’s Silom/Bang Rak district, The Norm sits directly adjacent to Lumphini Park — caught between dense urban fabric and open green landscape. Created by Bangkok-based bar owner Turk Sitthan, the venue was conceived to balance that imposing scale with a sense of ease. “I didn’t want it to feel intimidating,” says Sitthan. “I wanted people to feel comfortable coming in—like they belong here.”

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Rather than presenting the rooftop as a single dramatic panorama, EKAR Architects have orchestrated the arrival as a sequence. The first impression isn’t the skyline—it’s the ceiling. “The light tunnels are not decorative elements. They are architectural instruments that guide perception,” explain the architects. Large inverted-gable light tunnels rise overhead in warm-toned wood, softly illuminated, recalibrating scale and pace before the city reveals itself.

Spanning approximately 1,200 square metres, The Norm brings fully indoor spaces, sheltered outdoor seating and open terraces together as one continuous environment—unusual for Bangkok’s rooftop scene. Guests drift from social settings to quieter zones without ever needing to leave.

Materiality does the heavy lifting here. Layers of wood, stone and leather are paired with amber-toned lighting, creating an atmosphere that feels immersive yet unforced. Within this framework, leather-upholstered Egg™ and Swan™ chairs by Arne Jacobsen echo the warmth of the architecture, while sofas and tables by Poul Kjærholm carve out calmer, more intimate zones. A line of customised Series 7™ bar stools lines the bar counter, inviting guests to linger rather than pass through.

Since opening, one response has stood out—how instinctively guests engage with the space. Many recognise the furniture, but more importantly, they respond to how the environment makes them feel. Calm, grounded and welcome—despite being at the heart of the bustling city.

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[Images courtesy of Fritz Hansen.]