สูจิบัตร งานสถาปนิก'65 : พึ่งพา อาศัย : Co-with Creators

The Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage requested the permission
to present the ASA
Conservation of Architectural Heritage and Community Award of Excellence 2020 - 2021
Building Type: A. Conservation of Architectural Heritage and Community Award of Excellence
Building:
The Principal Residence, Sra Pathum Palace
Location:
195 Phayathai Road, Pathumwan District
Architect:
Paolo Remedi
Architect/Conservation Architect: Assistant Professor Dr. Piboon Jinawat
and Associate
Professor Surachai Cholprasert
Year of Construction: 1912-1916
Year of Renovationn: 1993-1997 (major renovation) and 2005 – 2008
Owner:
HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn
The Principal Residence of Sra Pathum Palace was constructed during the early reign of
King Vajiravudh and had been the home of Queen Savang Vadhana and Prince Mahitala Dhibesra
Adulyadej Vikrom. Queen Savang Vadhana came up with the layout and assigned Paolo Remedi, an
Italian architect working at the Department of Public Works, to transform her ideas into actual
working drawings. The two-story high building was built with reinforced concrete structure, with a
rectangular layout that rests in parallel with San Saeb Canal, corresponding with seasonal wind and
sunlight directions. Stylistically, the palace is a simple, majestic Classic architecture with details of
porches, balconies, a portico, and a porte-cochere to complement the building’s grand appearance.
These details were reflective of Queen Savang Vadhana and the members of the Mahidol Royal
Family’s immaculate tastes where functionality and sophistication were equally prioritized.
The adaptation of Western Architecture and interior decoration to suit Siam’s local climate also makes
Sra Pathum Palace an invaluable architectural legacy with its own great historical, artistic
and architectural merits.
The building’s structure was restored while new system works were installed to provide the needed
modern facilities. The rooms’ layouts and interior decoration were done following the original details
indicated in the found historical evidence. The Princess also emphasized that the work should aim to
revitalize the function but retain the oldness to achieve the genuine atmosphere of the time when the
Queen Grandmother was living in the house. Queen Savang Vadhana Museum completed the construction
and officially opened on December 17th, 2008, as a part of the special celebration of King Bhumibol
the Great’s 80th birthday.
The Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage and its Architectural Conservation
Commission realize the invaluable cultural merits of the Principal Residence of Sra Pathum Palace
including its excellent operation and conservational approach through the living museum concept.
With the museum’s incredible understanding in its own significance as a learning space, the
conversational approach it has taken is an impressive result of a great interpretation and presentation
of the nation’s history, alongside the architectural history of Siam. The in-depth and careful study and
research to develop its own body of knowledge in architectural conservation has led the museum to
achieve an aspiring operation and strong organizational management through a variety of activities
that have continuously engaged public participation. All of the aforementioned qualities are what make
the Principal Residence of Sra Pathum Palace a truly sustainable source of knowledge, and an
excellent example that will shed a brighter light on architectural conservation, making it more widely
recognized by both the governmental and private sector in the long future to come.
The Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage, therefore, requested the permission
to present the ASA Conservation of Architectural Heritage and Community Award of Excellence 2020
- 2021 for the Conservation of the Principal Residence, Sra Pathum Palace, to HRH Princess Maha
Chakri Sirindhorn.
Queen Savang Vadhana resided at the Principal Residence of Sra Pathum Palace until the day of her
passing in 1955. The building ceased its residential functionality and was under the care of Princess
Srinagarindra. When Princess Srinagarindra passed away on 18th July, 1995, King Bhumibol the Great,
having acknowledged the importance of Sra Pathum Palace as a place where both his Grandmother
and Mother once resided, granted the Palace to HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and initiated
that the Principal Residence where Queen Savang Vadhana and the Queen Grandmother called home,
should be established as a museum; a memorial place to commemorate the Queen Grandmother and
exhibit her life and work in public welfare.
Fulfilling her father’s wish, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn proceeded with the conservation of
the building. Initially, she began with the renovation of the building’s structure, reinforcing its strength,
and installing new, more modern system works. The architecture was also restored into its original
condition. Later in 2005, she founded the Queen Savang Vadhana Foundation to oversee the establishment
of Queen Savang Vadhana Museum at the Principal Residence. Following the living museum concept,
the museum serves as this beautiful knowledge center with a curatorial program that provides accurate
and up-to-date information and content. The mood and tone, and overall interior decoration of the
Principal Residence are designed to revive the atmosphere of the period under the reign of King
Vajiravudh. The exhibition was based on a thorough study on all relevant history and information,
including information obtained by interviewing original staff and residents of Sra Pathum Palace, as
well as the research on old documents, archives and photographs from different sources.