Thread: Anger Erupts After 127-Year-Old Colonial Trading Post Demolished

The demolition of a 127 year-old Colonial trading post building in northern Thailand’s Phrae province left Thai people seething with anger on Tuesday. The governor has ordered a probe into the demolition of the building that was once used by the British.


As part of what is said to be a renovation project, the Bombay Burmah office building, built by a Far Eastern trade company as a British Colonial trading post. It was torn down by a group of bulldozers on Monday.


A historical preservation group, said that the demolition of trading post took place without consulting the public. The demolition also provoked a huge uproar with netizens local residents.


“They do not even have clear architectural plans for the rebuilding,”said Theerawut Klomleaw, president of a historical preservation group.


Theerawut said the building is part of the province’s historical legacy. Saying that the authorities in charge of taking care of the building should have repaired it instead of bringing down the entire structure.



British Colonial trading post torn to the ground


The Bombay Burmah Trading Post is a 127-year-old building raised by the Bombay Burmah Trading Company Ltd. It was used for moving teaks from forests in Phrae to export markets. The teaks were cut down in such large quantities that effects can still be seen today.


According to Khoasod the company itself was founded in 1863 by the Scottish merchant house Waller Brothers.


In a backlash to the demolition, director of the province’s historical preservation office Issaret Sittirojanakul said that plans to tear down other structures in the arboretum would be put on hold for now.


But the contractor behind the work said criticism from netizens was unfair. Because the building was in a dire state of disrepair. “Wood gets old with time.

The building was falling apart,” chief contractor Kasemchai Tatan told Khaosod. “These projects need proper approval, it’s not like the governor can just sign off of anything.” “You can follow the hivemind if you want,” he said. “Later, you will be the ones praising me. Berate me for now.”



Phrae Governor orders investigation


Meanwhile, the governor said four million baht was sought during the last fiscal year to repair the house. However, he had no idea the building would be brought to the ground.


Mr Issaret said he meant well in trying to give the building a new lease on life. However, he did not anticipate that it would provoke so much public displeasure.


Governor Kanprempree Chitanont said the contractor was summoned to explain the details of the work on Friday.

Anger Erupts After 127-Year-Old Colonial Trading Post Demolished

Originally Posted by misskit

Mr Issaret said he meant well in trying to give the building a new lease on life. However, he did not anticipate that it would provoke so much public displeasure.

...Whose opinions did he solicit, I wonder? And who has the demolition contract? And who will own the commercial property that will go up in place of the demolished structure? I don't expect answers from the local press for fear of defamation claims...

Disrespect and vacant knowledge of historical entities - regardless of their political nature.

Essentially, money-grubbing philistines with no aesthetic values beyond straightening their teeth and staying as white as possible.

Other than the ubiquitous temples and palaces, there is really nothing of any historical architectural interest in the entire country.

They simply have no finer feelings for heritage and preserving links with the physical past. Savages really and no more than shopping mall fodder.

An example: the only building of any architectural interest in lower Sukhumvit Rd was a delightful 1920s teak house complete with terraces that was used latterly as a bar/restaurant, Hemingways. In any other civilised country the building would have been subject to a preservation order but not in BKK. The land was sold to a Jap development company to erect another fucking hotel and the building was trashed.

They really are useless.

Originally Posted by tomcat

meant well in trying to give the building a new lease on life.

as rubble

Originally Posted by misskit

director of the province’s historical preservation office I

they really don’t seem to understand their job

Originally Posted by misskit

The building was falling apart,” chief contractor Kasemchai Tatan told Khaosod. “These projects need proper approval, it’s not like the governor can just sign off of anything.” “You can follow the hivemind if you want,” he said. “Later, you will be the ones praising me. Berate me for now.”

They don't give a fuck and it will all be forgotten soon enough.

Parks Dept. defends dismantling of Bombay Burma building in Phrae province

Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has apologized to the people of the northern province of Phrae for the recent dismantling of a colonial-style building in Chetawan forest, but claimed the demolition was part of a restoration process.


Natural Resources and Environment Minister Woravuth Silpa-archa said he had received a clarification from the national parks chief, Mr. Tunya Netithammakul, saying that the 127-old Bombay Burma building was dismantled to be rebuilt with the same wooden materials, except the concrete foundation, which had eroded beyond repair.


Mr. Tunya also insisted that, in order to renovate the building, it had to be dismantled first, and assured that every wooden plank and its position had been recorded, so that they can be re-assembled.


Thanks to the skills of the artisans in Phrae, the park chief assured that the restored building will look the same, with the exception of new paintwork.


The demolition of the historical building, a reminder of the early logging business in Thailand, run by the multi-national company East Asia Pacific, has sparked widespread protests from conservationists, historians and the people of Phrae province.


Phrae Governor, Mrs. Karn Prempree, has ordered an investigation into the case.


Mr. Issaret Sitthirojanakul, director of the 13th Conservation Area Management Office, said that the building was badly in need of major repairs, because it was structurally unsound, and that his office had been allocated 6.7 million baht for the purpose.


He offered an apology for not informing the public in advance about the need to dismantle the building and said the work will be completed in 6 months.

Parks Dept. defends dismantling of Bombay Burma building in Phrae province – Thai PBS World

Originally Posted by misskit

Mr. Tunya also insisted that, in order to renovate the building, it had to be dismantled first, and assured that every wooden plank and its position had been recorded, so that they can be re-assembled.

Yes, I can see exactly how they dismantled that with care.

Quite, bit of a difference between "dismantling" and "demolishing".

Phrae’s iconic Bombay Burmah building will be rebuilt soon, promises DNP

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) has promised to rebuild Phrae’s 127-year-old Bombay Burmah building as soon as possible.

The building, originally owned by British firm Bombay Burmah Trading Company, which had been granted logging concession in 1889, was considered the province’s historical heritage and local residents and conservationists were outraged when the building was torn down.

DNP’s director general Thanya Netithammakun went to the grounds of Chetawan Arboretum on Tuesday (June 23) where the building is located to monitor operations.

“The Fine Arts Department has sent officials to survey the area and come up with a plan to reconstruct the building, which may be the same as the original or even better,” he said. “The rebuilding will be discussed with both related state agencies and the private sector,” he said, adding that DNP will closely monitor the operation and ensure it is completed as soon as possible.

Phrae’s iconic Bombay Burmah building will be rebuilt soon, promises DNP

Originally Posted by misskit

Mr. Tunya also insisted that, in order to renovate the building, it had to be dismantled first, and assured that every wooden plank and its position had been recorded, so that they can be re-assembled.

Thanks to the skills of the artisans in Phrae, the park chief assured that the restored building will look the same, with the exception of new paintwork.

He went on to add that modern processes ensure concrete is almost indistinguishable from wood at a distance.

Originally Posted by misskit

and come up with a plan to reconstruct the building, which may be the same as the original or even better,” he said.

That's not how reconstruction works...

I would like the opinion of Seeking Asylum, before I decide my take on this menagerie

^ Sausages has left the house and is getting treatment for this seaside withdrawl symptoms in a childrens sandpit with castle buckets, mini rakes and seashells.

He's on the beach ?

Hope that he doesn't get sunstroked.

Also

Originally Posted by misskit

Phrae’s iconic Bombay Burmah building will be rebuilt soon, promises DNP

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) has promised to rebuild Phrae’s 127-year-old Bombay Burmah building as soon as possible.

The building, originally owned by British firm Bombay Burmah Trading Company, which had been granted logging concession in 1889, was considered the province’s historical heritage and local residents and conservationists were outraged when the building was torn down.

DNP’s director general Thanya Netithammakun went to the grounds of Chetawan Arboretum on Tuesday (June 23) where the building is located to monitor operations.

“The Fine Arts Department has sent officials to survey the area and come up with a plan to reconstruct the building, which may be the same as the original or even better,” he said. “The rebuilding will be discussed with both related state agencies and the private sector,” he said, adding that DNP will closely monitor the operation and ensure it is completed as soon as possible.

Phrae’s iconic Bombay Burmah building will be rebuilt soon, promises DNP

I believe, in this case, an historical restoration would've been much more appropriate than a razing and rebuild.

Just a thought.

I can't quite pin down what makes me think of the news story about the latest art restoration attempts.

They dismantled and numbered all the planks from the upper floor and then they demolished the crappy and weak concrete bottom floor. (see rubble picture)
Shouldn't be difficult to build a new stronger concrete bottom floor and then rebuild the wooden upper floor.
I see no reason to believe that this will become a failed renovation.

Can't really see what the Problem is,the concrete was knackered the wood was knackered and it needed to be demolished.

Whats the Problem?

Who needs history when you could have a brand new one with a shopping mall next to it?

Originally Posted by TheRealKW

Yes, I can see exactly how they dismantled that with care.

Clearly the fundamentals were unsound.

There's nothing in that picture to suggest it won't look as good when restored, but on a firmer footing.

Let's wait and see.

It's a lot of concrete, plaster and corrugated iron anyway, not exactly Notre Dame.