| Bangkok's Crucible of Construction |
Blue - shopping centers and shopping areas
Yellow - palaces, shrines, and temples
Green - BTS Skytrain
stations and lines, bridges, sewers, etc.
Brown - other areas of note |
January 6, 2003 - Things are looking
up--at least that is what developers think. An amazing collection
of huge shopping centers is being built and renovated along Ploenchit
and Ratchadamri Roads. Our map and the notes below are an attempt
to chronicle the history this area of town and point out some features
of note. This area--the Sraprathum area--was
the location of Thailand's first airport before Don Muang Airport
was opened in 1914. Interest in this area as a major shopping district
has been around for some time.
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com) |
1 - An old wooden
house surrounded by shophouses (this
can been seen only from the Skytrain)
2 - Lighted fountains
- This kind of public decoration is a shocking rarity in Bangkok.
Many public art and facilities like this were instituted during
former governor Bhichit Rattakul's tenure.
3 - A splendid old wooden house
hemmed in by concrete shophouses
4 - Co-Co Walk
- For years a vacant lot, this area is now a new open-air market,
Co-Co Walk, opened in January 2003 |
5 - Hollywood Street Plaza
- One of the last unairconditioned shopping malls built in Bangkok.
It used to be a good shortcut to get from Phayathai Road to Phetburi
Road. The side that exited on Phetburi Road had a life-size copy of
Rome's Trevi Fountain. Hollywood Street had a brief moment of popularity
in the mid-1990's, then dwindled. Later it was reconstituted as a tech
mall (a place to buy pirated CDs) and then went dark again before the
north-south section was demolished in October 2004.
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com) |
6
- Mackenna Theater
One of the large old-time movie theaters in the area that closed
due to competition from more modern venues at nearby shopping
centers. In March, 2004 it was torn down. Mackenna was one of
the big old theaters in the Crucible of Construction. Along
with Scala and Lido in nearby Siam Square, it was one of the
large, old-style theaters where big movies opened. With the
advent of smaller, modern luxury theaters in upscale shopping
centers, it could not compete, as Mackenna is a stand-alone
theater not near any shopping area. After it closed as a theater,
it served for a short time as a snooker hall. No word on what
will replace it. Mackenna was developed by the Poolworaluk family
(they control Entertain Golden Village Co Ltd - EGV).
Left: Mackenna Theater on Phaya Thai Road.
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Right: Main theater of Mackenna. Paragon
Project cranes can be seen in the background.
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(Photo: 2Bangkok.com) |
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com) |
7 - The bridge on Phayathai
Road - The bridge has
beautiful elephant carvings that have been temporarily moved
while the bridge is being widened.
8 - Bangkok Art
Museum - After this project was canceled by former
governor Samak who wanted the spot to be a shopping center, this
project is back on track to start construction in 2006. At present
the lot is a small park.
9 - Mahboonkrong Shopping Center (MBK)
- A huge and dense collection of shops catering to
the youth market (1985). Lots of cell phones and video games.
MBK also has a highrise office tower and a hotel tower.
The National Stadium (off the edge of the map
to the left of MBK) - Built
in 1937 and opened in 1940 on the former palace of Crown Prince
Vajirunahit (AKA Hor Wang or the Siamese replica of Windsor Palace).
Crown Prince Vajirunahit was the first Crown Prince. He passed
away in 1894 at the age of 17. Presently, the National Stadium
looks dilapidated after the 1998 Asian Games due to the lack of
allocated funds compared to Huamark Stadium which has a large
budget. National Stadium has been used for domestic sports since
1940 and for hosting international sports since 1959. |
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com) |
10
- Sra Paduma Palace (left) - A 17-acre site rich
in history. Sra Pathum Palace or Lotus Pond Palace was the site
of the weddings of HRH Prince Mahidol Adulyadej and HRH Princess
Mother, parents of the present Thai monarch in September, 1920.
The present King and Queen were married there on April 28, 1950.
The late Princess Mother lived at the palace and it has been recently
renovated to serve as the residence of the HRH Princess Maha Chakri
Sirindhorn. |
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com) |
11 - Discovery Center
(left) - An upscale shopping center and highrise office tower
(1997) - Here is a photo
of the building with a huge feng shui disk.
12 - Siam Center - Opened in 1973,
this shopping center that has experienced a revival with its connection
to the Siam Skytrain Station. It is also linked to the Discovery
Center by elevated walkways. Siam Center has gone through several
renovations over the years, including one after a November, 1995
fire that killed several people. In 2005, the interior and exterior
are undergoing an extensive renovation. |
13 - Siam Square -
A warren of upscale open-air shops, restaurants, trendy English schools
(41 tutoring institutions according to The Nation, January, 2002),
and old movie theaters on land leased from the adjacent Chulalongkorn
University. The area first began to develop in the late 1960s with the
construction of Siam Theatre (opened January 1, 1967), the Lido Theatre
(1968), and Scala Theatre (1970). The Siam Skytrain Station (where the
two Skytrain lines cross right in front of Siam Square) has made the
area livelier than ever.
14 - Chulalongkorn University
- Thailand's first university - The southern end of the university (not
on this map) is also being developed into Chula
Hi-Tech Square
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com) |
15 - Paragon Shopping Center
- The Paragon is under construction. It is on
the site of the Siam Intercontinental
Hotel (left). Built in the gardens of Sra Paduma Palace in
the 1960's, the Siam Intercontinental Hotel was a well-known Thai
landmark. However, when the hotel's 30-year lease expired, it
was torn down in 2002 to make way for the Paragon.
The 26-acre gardens will be reduced to
a few acres. 2b has a page of photos showing the unusual
hotel being demolished. The Paragon is on track for opening
in October 2005.
16 - Wat Padumavanaram (also Wat
Padum Vanaram) - Temple built over 100 years ago |
17 - Royal Thai Police HQ - The
main Thai forensics lab is here as well. On more than one occasion we
have first smelled and then noticed the dead bodies that are brought
in by pickup trucks at an entrance along Henri Dunant Road.
18 - Police General Hospital
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)
Above: July 25, 2005 - Forecourt
of Central World Tower as seen from the Skytrain viaduct. At one time
there was controversy about the development of a high-rise next to
Wat Padumavanaram (middle left). Now the Wat is almost completely
enclosed by modern buildings. The Paragon
construction is going up in the background.
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)
Central World Plaza at Rajaprasong Intersection
- August 17, 2005
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)
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19
- Central World Plaza (formerly World Trade Center)
(left) - Massive shopping center and highrise office tower built
on the former site of the Phetchaboon Palace (home of Prince Juthathuj's
family). There was controversy over whether it was proper to build
a highrise next to Wat Padumavanaram. Part way through the construction
of the highrise, the developers (Wang Phetchaboon, owned by the
Wanglee family) went broke, leading some to speculate that building
a structure over a wat caused the bad fortune. Others blamed the
'curse' on constructing a shopping center on former palace grounds.
The agency that holds the title to the land, the Crown Property
Bureau, ended up suing Wang Phetchaboon. The entire site was recently
taken over by Central Pattana (owners of the Central chain of
department stores). The large plaza (for Bangkok) outside the
center makes it a prime location of new year's eve countdowns.
This is the location broadcast from Thailand to the rest of the
world on new year's eve. The site is 'protected' by gigantic shrines
on either end of the site. |
January 24, 2003 - The Bangkok Post reports
Central Pattana, will finish the construction of the World Trade office
tower, currently stalled at 39 stories. The building's height has been
scaled back to 45 stories from 63 stories.
February, 2003 - the "World Trade Center-Bangkok" is to be
renamed "Central World Plaza." The complex will be expanded
including more retail space and a new 5-star hotel.
June, 2003 - Press reports now cite the tower's height at 51 stories.
March, 2004 - A giant TV screen has
been erected in the plaza.
September, 2004 - Central World Plaza office tower opens.
The walkway under the Skytrain was completed and opened in 2004.
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com) |
Original Bangkok World Trade Center model
- On the 7th floor of the Bangkok World Trade Center shopping
center is the original model (with a 63 floor tower) of the entire
World Trade Center complex. The model shows a long walkway under
the Skytrain tracks and connecting walkways to the tower WTC and
the shopping center.
Left: Chad Blair send in this rendering of the revised
WTC tower (now called Central World Tower) with only 43 floors
instead of 63.
Right: An alternate rendering from a poster on the construction
site.
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(Photo: 2Bangkok.com) |
Update
on the Central World Plaza - Bangkok Post, June 27,
2003
...Central Pattana last year signed a 30-year lease agreement with
the Crown Property Bureau to run the 32-rai site. The World Trade
Center had previously been managed by Wang Petchaboon Co. The Bureau
had filed suit against Wang Petchaboon and declared the lease void
for failure to complete construction of the site. Central Pattana
has announced plans to revamp the site into a hotel, office and luxury
shopping centre by 2005...
Work on tower resumes - Bangkok
Post, June 28, 2003
The 51-storey office building, due for completion at the end of
next year, is part of Central World Plaza, the new name adopted by
CPN for the shopping and office complex in central Bangkok.
An earlier article: Construction
resumes on long-suspended tower
Four contractors win
CPN tower work - Bangkok Post, September
5, 2003
The four Thai and joint-venture contractors will transform the
51-storey structure, left unfinished in 1996 by the former developer,
Wang Petchaboon Co, into a high-tech ``intelligent'' building within
one year.
Assigned to carry out the work were: K-Tech Construction and Engineering
Co, responsible for structural work and architecture; Power Line Engineering
Plc, for building systems; CWT Joint Venture for curtain walls; and
Jardine Schindler (Thai) Ltd for lift and escalator systems.
CPN will also invest about 160 million baht by the end of this year
for an elevated walkway linking the existing BTS skytrain walkway
to both the plaza and the tower.
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)
Central World Plaza at Rajaprasong Intersection
- July 27, 2005
Left to Right: Paragon construction, Central World Tower, Central
World Plaza...
Walkway - In 2004-2005, an elevated
walkway was built on the underside of the Skytrain tracks. This connects
the Siam Square area with the Chitlom Skytrain Station. We came across
mention of this plan from 1997: "The development and expansion
of existing shopping facilities on Ratchadamri Road linked by a network
of covered walkways to facilitate movement. The overall objective of
the project is to turn the Ratchadamri Road area into a beautiful, convenient,
orderly and clean center, with a distinctively Thai character and ambiance,
which will be a world class entertainment and shopping area on a par
with Singapore's Orchard Road, the Champs-Elysees in Paris, or Fifth
Avenue in New York." - Minister to the Prime Minister's Office
Piyanat Watcharaporn at a tourism convention in Bangkok in 1997.
20 - Peninsula Plaza
- In the early 1990's this small shopping center
had all the top-notch foreign designer shops. It still has an exclusive
(and sedate) aura, but it has been eclipsed by flashier shopping centers
like Gaysorn Plaza.
Behind Peninsula Plaza a 'Courtyard by Marriott Bangkok' (a hotel) is
to set up in the former Park Lane Mansion behind the Four Seasons. Due
to be complete in 2007.
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com) |
21
- Royal Rajdamri - Ever since we featured
a photo of a dramatic
abandoned highrise on Rajadamri Road, we received lots of questions
about it. It is one of the few derelict structures left in Bangkok's
Crucible of Construction. Now an abandoned construction site
with a dramatic
tiered entrance (left), "it was to be a high-end condo
with a shrine to Rama II (I think) in the entrance foyer, linked
to WTC and Amarin by air-conditioned walkways. It was going
to be the biggest residential complex in Ratchadamri area."
(Thanks to Chad Blair and Mike for this info.) Note: Both 'Rajadamri'
and 'Ratchadamri' are both the same Thai word, transliterated
differently. Usually buildings along Ratchadamri Road use the
spelling 'Rajadamri.'
April 14, 2003 - More on the Royal Rajadamri
Chad Blair uncovered some additional info on the project including
a photo (right) of the model of the building. He writes:
The Royal Ratchadamri was designed by CASA Architects. The
developers were a joint-venture between Srivigrom Group and
Maneeya Group. It was to be a 50-story residential tower with
a 10-story parking garage connected to a 9-story retail-part
in front of the building. Presently debt reduction is being
negotiated and will hopefully be done by late 2003 and then
construction can resume.
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April 18, 2003 - Royal Rajadamri to be a Ritz Carlton?
An anonymous tip we received: I work in the Maneeya building which
has recently become almost 100% full, with lots of tenants wanting additional
space including my office. We spoke to the landlord recently who told
us that the planned Maneeya South building is to be resumed for completion
by end of 2004 owing to limited space in the Maneeya Center. The 'Royal
Rajadamri' building is also scheduled to restart, though he didn't give
us a specific timeline for construction--the info we have is that this
is to become the Ritz Carlton with a retail shopping area in front.
September 9, 2003 - Royal Rajdamri revived
2Bangkok.com has confirmed that Gannon Realty (Thailand) Co., Ltd. has
plans to revive the Royal Rajdamri project. We are trying to get more
details... UPDATED - September 10, 2003: Gannon has informed us that
more details will be available by the end of October. The Royal Rajdamri
site is an L-shaped plot that connects Rajdamri and Ploenchit Roads.
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com) Royal Rajadamri construction - December 11, 2004
The long derelict Royal Rajadamri is finally under construction again.
Most notably the grand staircase has been removed.
Above: December 23, 2002
Below: December 11, 2004
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)
Royal Rajadamri construction - July 5, 2005
After some tinkering it seems all of the existing structure has
been removed except for one section.
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22 - Grand Hyatt Erawan
- An upscale shopping center and hotel (reservations).
Built after the four-story
Erawan Hotel was demolished in late 1987. The shopping center
in the complex was remodeled and reopened in 2005.
Left: The old
Erawan Hotel
23 - Amarin Plaza
anchored by a Sogo Department Store - In the early 1990's one
of the biggest upscale shopping plazas. Home of the first McDonalds
in Thailand opened at a cost of USD $2 million in 1985. Linked
to the Chitlom Skytrain station by foot bridges.
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(Photo: 2Bangkok.com) |
24 - Maneeya Center
- Office building - a second tower, "Maneeya
South" is to resume construction soon.
25 - Erawan Shrine
- Shrine held in high respect by Thais
(you will often see Thais waiing it as they pass). Maybe because
of this respect, some sources breezily claim that the shrine predates
the development around it, but this is untrue. It was built during
the construction of the original
Erawan Hotel in 1956 after the deaths of several construction
workers and other mishaps. The shrine is also often erroneously
cited as an example of a Thai
spirit house. The intersection in front of the shrine is called
Ratchaprasong intersection. This area is considered fraught with
potential bad luck since it was once an area where criminals were
put on public display. |
26 - Gaysorn Plaza
- Recently reopened (after an initial failed
configuration that included a Planet Hollywood) and rebranded as a high-class
shopping plaza (with the most expensive foreign brands). Linked to the
Chitlom Skytrain station by foot bridges. Rather conspicuous for not
have prominent shrines outside the building for protection from the
area's bad luck (see #24).
27 - Narayana Phand
(or Naraiphan Pavilion) - A shopping center for Thai handcrafts and
souvenirs. Cheaper than such stores in the Sukhumvit and Silom areas,
but more expensive than Jatujak Market. Formerly the home of Rajprasong
Shopping Centre (1964), Thailand second shopping centre and its first
air-conditoned one.
28 - Arnoma Hotel
(reservations)
29 - Thai-numbered clock
on a pedestrian overpass
30 - Big-C Supercenter
- The claim is that it is the largest retail space locally. It will
include enclosed walkways to existing shopping centers further off the
street. This was the former site of Rajadamri Arcade (1972), Thailand's
first shopping center with a parking lot.
31 - Small shopping area
and home of several watch dealerships run by the C.
Thong Panich company.
32 - Le Meridien President Hotel
33 - This area is filled with many shops
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com) |
34 - Central Chitlom
- The flagship store of the Central chain
- completely remodeled every few years including once after a
fire in the mid-1990's
35 - Sewer - Right
off the bridge is a massive and deep shaft that connects to the
new sewer system
(left).
36 - Pantip Plaza
- Not really part of the upscale sweep
of Ploenchit Road, but is world-famous for the extensive selection
of pirated software and CDs openly for sale in store after store.
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37 - Textile plaza
- A major wholesale textile shop - if you have
a store and want to buy locally, it is likely you buy here or in the
adjacent maze of markets
38 - Grand Diamond
- Highrise condominium and hotel
39 - Watergate Hotel
- The area is called pratunam ('water
gate' or 'dam' in English). Someone has literally made this English
translation of the area name the name of the hotel resulting in an unintentionally
(?) humorous name.
40 - The Platinum Fashion Mall
- Newest addition to the crucible--a shopping mall and condo project
developed by S.P.C. Properties and Development Co., Ltd. Under construction
now.
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com) |
41 - Pratunam Complex
- Construction restarted in 2002 after
a couple of idle years. In 1992, when the shophouses that occupied
the site were being torn down after their leases expired, owners
put up banners demanding they be allowed to stay on since they
had occupied the site for 30 years. The Pratunam Complex includes
two 44 story residential buildings, a 42 story hotel, and a 14
story shopping complex. The condo towers are still under construction.
Pratunam Center is
on the rise - Bangkok Post, September 9, 2003
Pratunam Center, the huge commercial complex left unfinished
because of the 1997 financial crisis, has been revived and is
set to open its doors by the end of this year.
Left:
November 7, 2005 - The towers at Pratunam Complex near completion. |
42 - Yindee gem
scam shop -
A famous gem scam shop
Thanks to Wisarut Bholsithi, Conor
Bracken, and Don Entz for additonal information on this area.
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