U Hotel Chiang Mai

Location: 70 Ratchadamnoen Road, Tambol Sri-Poom, Amphur Muang, Chiaang Mai

Occupant: Associate professor Jarunee Maneekul

U Hotel is situated in the center of Chiang Mai city. It was a former residence of the first governor general of Chiang Mai, Phra Nayok Khananukarn (Muang Tiphaya Monthon), who was assigned any important tasks to all royal family and nobleman in the north. For example, he was a guard chief to suppress all kind of rebellions. He also followed the voyage of the Princess Dara Rasmi from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. Besides, he was the renovation group leader for WWat Phra That Sri Chom Thong and Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.

U Hotel Company Limited is now the owner, which has later rented the entire building and land for its hotel affair, approximately 1 Rai ( 1 rai = 1600 sqm) for twenty years. At the beginning, all entire building had been damaged from the use of a former owner in a long period. Thus, the renovation started under the concept of reconstruction the past by preserving and maintaining the unique building. Especially, its roof and gable, which has been decorated with the Tiphaya family symbol; the sun in the triangle frame. The interior of the building has been changed the layout to appropriate the hotel services for tourists. It is divided into two part, front reception and rooms for guests.

Today the building has been operated under the name “U Hotel Chiang Mai”. With its history and value, the hotel guests can enjoy peaceful atmosphere among the Lanna culture in Chiang Mai.

The Supreme Court

Locaation: Ratchadamnoen Road, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Pra Nakom Bangkok

Architect (s)/Designer (s): Phra Sarocharattanimmaan (Saroch Sukkayang)

Occupant: Ministry of Justice

Year established: 1939

The complex of the Court of Justice was established in 1939 by Phra Sarocharattanimmaan (Saroch Sukkayang). Before drawing the plans, the government sent him to visit a court in Singapore and bring back architectural information. The opening ceremony of the Court of Justice was held in 1941 by Phra Ong Jao Atit Tiphaya Apa.

The buildings are laid out in a “U” shape divided into three parts. The first part was built in 1939 for the Court of Justice. The second part is the building nearby the “Ku Muang Doem Canel”, and it was completed in 1943. This part is used as the Court of Appeal. The third part is the Supreme Court. It sits on the site of a former Justice Court used in the reign of King Rama V that was demolished in 1959. In 1963, a new building was erected and installed as the Supreme Court. The architecture was influenced by modernism, which was the main architectural trend of that period. The concept of modernist architecture was well-known in the reign of King Rama V by groups of Thai students who studied it in Europe. However, the popularity of this style didn’t become wide spread until after the revolution of 1932. It can now be found on various important public buildings.

This building holds the Justice Court and the independence Memorial. Its modern architectural style was popular in the period of the People’s Party, after the 1932 revolution. The entire construction is a valuable national architectural heritage site and the land it is build on has a long history as a justice court. The building exposes the arts and architectural styles of the old period and represents a good society and political system. Thus, the buildings of the Justice Court and the Supreme Court are worthwhile to be preserved.

The Dharma Chamber of Ban Loog

Location: 163 Moo 8, Tambol Muang Nga, Amphur Muang, Lumphoon Province

Occupant: Wat Ban loog

Year established: 1886

In the past, the Lanna people believed that the building of a Dharma chamber or a Tripikata chamber is a way to worship the Tripikata, which is regarded as the Lord Buddha’s own words. The Tripikaataa which has been recorded in the right way will become priceless and sacred. Therefore, it needs to be kept in high places and has to be separated from other buildings.

The Dharma chamber of Ban Loog Temple was built in 1886, with Guru Bahpunya, the fourth abbot of the temple, as the chaiman of the construction. The construction was done according to cosmological principles, having the character of a two floored Thai shaped building, with a rectangle plan and a high cellar. In order to enter the Tripikata storage room, a ladder has to be leant to climb in, which is the reason why there are no stairs construction to be found, both internal and external. From the outside, the building is decorated with sculptures, which have been used to decorate the Dharma chamber of Ban Loog Temple, consisting of four wooden carved sculptures of the Chatulokaban (the Four Guardians of the world according to Buddhist belief) standing in the four corners of the building, symbolizing the principles, belief and idea of the Dharma chamber construction.

The tile covered roof is decorated with hanging water boards. The roof ridges are embellished with wooden carved Hassadeeling birds dotted into Chinese glass. There are wooden carved sculptures decorated with Chinese glass in the front side. The gable and its apex are wooden carved and dotted with brass, a special style which can be found in art of the area nearby the Ping River (Chiang Mai – Lampoon). The windows have drawings of angels walking south painted on cinnabar. Within the upper floor of the Dharma chamber, lays a Dharma casket containing the Tripikata made of palm leaves, which is considered to be the Dharma casket with the most perfect condition. There is a mulberry paper made base to place the image of the Lord Buddha in the bottom floor, where other antiques of the temple are being kept.

With its unique and beautiful characteristic of the Dharma chamber of Ban Loog. Muang Nga municipality is presenting the exhibition to increase both students and enthusiasts’ knowledge and understanding of its local history and the Lanna beliefs.

Wat Bot Samsen

Location:  Samsen Road, Dusit, Bangkok Province

Occupant:  Wat Bot Samsen

Year established:  1932

Wat Bot Samsen is a royal temple for the Theravada Buddhist monks of the Maha Nikayasect in Thailand. The land area is eight rai and three tarangwaa. It was established on February  1 ,1708 and received Prarachtan Wisugcamsima on February 20, 1728 in the late Ayudhaya period of Somdej Phra Chaoyuhua Boromakot. The name of the temple builder is unknown. After the establishement of the Rattanakosin Island, the temple was renovated by Somdet Phra Bawornrajchao Maha Sura Singhanat. And the temple has been continually maintained ever since.

The architecture is of the early RAttanakosin period style. The temple is composed of a Ubosot(the old one) is the only Ubosot in the Ayudhaya style. The building is curved like the bottom of a sailing boat. The mural paintings found inside the Ubosot are of the late Ayudhaya period. They depict Marn Phachon on the front wall above the door, Thepchoomnoom images on the side walls and Wedsandon Chadok images on the wall near the windows.

Pagoda is in the front of the Ubosot. It is the castle-like pagoda in the Prasat style located on a high base with the Larn Prathaksin on the top. The upper base(Ruan That) has the Jara Nam arches with Buddha statues facing four directions. The top of pagoda is in the twelve notchedrim style.

Mondop of the Footprint of Buddha has a square layout in the Prasat style located on a high base with the tile roof of the Chedi style. The colored painting of Thephanom and Kanok patterns are decorating the tympanum. The four arch doors are found on its four sides. The Buddha statue is placed on the high base decorated with a lotus pattern.

Bell Tower is a two-storey square building. Its tile roof was installed in the Prasat style with casting decorating it. The building has four poles. Each pole is decorated with flowers and the Prachamyarm patterns on its top.

Pier Pavilion/Sala Thanam (in front of Monk’s Dwelling) is a building in the tetrahedron shape. The two stairs lead to the river. The building is surrounded by short fences. It has a wooden roof. The wooden carved gable is decorated of flowers and plants pattern.

Pier Pavilion/Sala Thanam (in front of Bell Tower) has the triangle roof style. The building was rebuilt over the former monks dwelling. There are two entrances surrounded by short fences. The top of the building is made from wood. The gable is decorated with a Lam Yong mold casting and the roof tiles are decorated along the sides.