Fah Thai Magazine Jan-Feb 2018

PHUKET
Baan Chinpracha
is a mansion that
has stood through
the glory days and
gloomy times of
Phuket.
Its preserved
grandeur is one
of the finest
works of original
Anglo-Chinese
architectural
design.
CHINPRACHA HOUSE
Among the best places to get a
glimpse of Phuket’s glorious past is
the 114-year-old ‘Baan Chinpracha,’
or Chinpracha Mansion, one of a
few remaining ‘Anglo-Chinese’
style mansions. It was originally
built at a time when Phuket enjoyed
its commercial peak during the
reign of King Rama V, just before
World War II.
History buffs will enjoy
browsing the house’s eclectic
personal collection of antique
furniture, mostly exquisite
Chinese-style mother of pearl
sets built of intricate woodwork
and still auspiciously exist as a
set of two.
Other details of the house, such
as the beautiful ceramic floor tiles
and decorative fences, were also
brought in by trading ships from
as far as Holland and Italy. Phuket
was then a centre of trading in the
region with ships coming from all
over the world.
Passed down to the sixth
generation, the original owner
Phra Pitak Chinpracha was a
Fujian descendant who came to
settle down in Phuket during the
reign of King Rama IV. Chinpracha
later became one of Phuket’s
prominent figures in the tinmining
industry. Visitors can
reminisce about its storied past,
and those wishing to hire the
entire place for special occasions
can do so with an advanced
booking. Baan Chinpracha, 98 Krabi
Road, Phuket, T: +66 (0) 76 211 281
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