(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)
Above: Kurusapa
Printing House (right) - Should it
be torn down?
Kurusapa Printing House/Wat Sangwech Typing School - September 10, 2004
Plan
to raze printing school site sparks
row - The Nation, September
6, 2004
...The project has been unable to
proceed because the Fine Arts Department
listed the printing house as an historical
building in 2000. The Rattanakosin Committee
needs a cabinet resolution to de-list
the building.
Historical buildings should be
older than 100 years, have an important
historical background or meet the fine
art standard, said Adul Wichierncharoen,
a member of the committee.
But the building is only an old
wooden edifice that was built in 1932.
Its unpleasant appearance just improved
recently when the Treasury Department,
which is responsible for the plot, repainted
it, he said, adding that demolishing
the building would improve the scenery
around Phra Sumane Fort.
The two-storey wooden building was first
used as Wat Sungwejs printing
school, Thailands first school
of printing, before being changed into
the Kurusapa printing house in 1950
and being used as a Kurusapa warehouse
from 1973 to 1995.
The building has a very significant
history. It was the first printing school.
It is an example of the old wooden architecture.
I dont understand why the committee
cannot see that, said Orasri Silpi,
an area resident and president of Bang
Lamphu Civic Net.
She said the building contained too
much historical value to be demolished
just for an open public park...
Deputy Prime Minister Chaturon Chaisaeng has opposed a proposal of the Ratanakosin and Old City committee to demolish the old Kurusapa printing house in Ta Pra Arthit area.
As chairman of the committee, Mr Chaturon said that he disagreed with the plan to tear down the 72-year-old historical building and turn the plot into a small public park...
The Rattanakosin committee has wanted to knock down the old printing house since 1999, claiming its architecture and structure was inconsistent with those of the nearby historical Phra Sumane Fort and the city wall...