Government House of Thailand

Government House
ทำเนียบรัฐบาล
Government House of Thailand in 2010
Location within Thailand
General information
Architectural style Venetian Gothic
Address 1 Phitsanulok Road Dusit, Bangkok 10300
Town or city Dusit, Bangkok
Country Thailand
Coordinates 13°45′47″N 100°30′43″E / 13.7631°N 100.5120°E / 13.7631; 100.5120Coordinates: 13°45′47″N 100°30′43″E / 13.7631°N 100.5120°E / 13.7631; 100.5120
Current tenants Prayut Chan-o-cha
Construction started January 1, 1925 (1925-01-01)
Owner Government of Thailand
Technical details
Size 45,000 m2
Design and construction
Architect Corrado Feroci

Government House (Thai: ทำเนียบรัฐบาล; RTGS: thamniap ratthaban) refers to the offices of the Prime Minister of Thailand and appointed cabinet ministers.[1] It contains conference rooms and is used for state functions and receptions of foreign guests. It consists of several palace-like structures extending over 11 acres (45,000 m2). King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) commissioned the Italian architect Annibale Rigotti to design the main building in 1923, although construction would remain incomplete as Rigotti returned to Italy after the king's death in 1925. Initially intended as a family residence for one of the king's favorite generals, the building became the prime minister's office in 1941. Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram then assigned Italian sculptor and artist Corrado Feroci to complete construction (also working on the building at this point was the architect Ercole Manfredi). The main building is crowned with a golden dome housing a statue of Phra Phrom (Brahma) and its façade resembles that of the Ca' d'Oro Palazzo in Venice.

During the 2008 Thai political crisis, anti-government protesters besieged Government House. After a court order, they had to move, but then attempted to block the government house once more and succeeded. The cabinet temporarily moved to Don Mueang International Airport. The protesters then besieged Don Mueang International Airport soon after that, giving the cabinet no place to work. On 1 December 2008, after protesting for three months, the protesters left Government House as there were constant attacks.

Thai-Khu-Fah Building

In front of Thai-Khu-Fah Building, Government House

Thai-Khu-Fah Building (ตึกไทยคู่ฟ้า) is an important building on the grounds of Thai Government House. The building is a symbol of the Cabinet of Thailand and government as an office of the prime minister and a conference hall for cabinet ministers similar to that of the White House of the United States or Number 10 Downing Street of the United Kingdom. The building has only two floors with a neo-Venetian Gothic architecture combined with Byzantine arts and only one staircase. On the roof there is a small shire for Lord Brahma. Downstairs are three lounges. The first is the Golden Dome Room on the south side of the building for visitors of the prime minister. The second is the Ivory Room which is in front of the Golden Dome Room and adjacent to the right, which is a lounge for official visitors of the prime minister. The third is the Purple Room, which is on the ground floor to the right-hand side of the building. This is a lounge for the visitors of the deputy prime minister and other cabinet ministers. The building has a small conference room for the Board of Committees' conference which has the prime minister chairs. The upper floor of the building houses the prime minister's office, the political officers' office, and the old cabinet conference room.

References

  1. ↑ "Thai Khu Fa... the House of Glory", Thailand Illustrated, Public Relations Department, 17 (3), September–December 2000, ISSN 0125-0159, archived from the original on 2011-09-28, retrieved 2009-02-17
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