2Bangkok.com - Luang Sathorn mansion site

Luang Sathorn Mansion/Russian Embassy site

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

Deep digging at the old Russian Embassy - October, 2007

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

Construction at the old Russian Embassy - September 10, 2007

Old Russian Embassy site sign - March 26, 2007
Project owner
North Sathorn Realty Co., Ltd.
Project: Infinity Tower sales office
Construction period: 180 days (September 1, 2004 - February 27, 2005)
License number: 8919/2547 LOR.WOR. September 1, 2004
Architecture: Palmer & Turner (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Engineering: Palmer & Turner (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
System engineering: Palmer & Turner (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Construction supervisors
Contractor: Bouygues Thai Co., Ltd.
Supervisors: Wiriya Jitprani POR.YOR. 18184
Supoj Tuangsintawikul POR.SOR.THOR. 2907

"Elephant in the hole" story - March 27, 2007
Pieter writes: Thanks for quoting me in the "Elephant in the hole" story. It appears now that this is actually a movie set and at several evenings last week scenes have been shot at that location. There really doesn't seem to be any other purpose to the construction of the pit.

The hole and the elephant - March 21, 2007
Pieter points out an interesting thread on Skyscrapercity about the hole and an elephant in downtown Bangkok. Could it be that this is some kind of ceremony since this is the former site of the Western Cemetery? (below)

(Source: 2Bangkok.com)

From the year 2000: The End of the Western Cemetery
Early one Sunday morning in January, 2000 I was on the Chong Nonsi Skytrain station and noticed workers "removing" the Western Cemetery in downtown Bangkok. Bones, clothes, and wooden coffins were being burned and the headstones were being broken up. Oh well, this world is for the living. How many of us even know where our great-grandparents are buried--much less go and visit the graves?...

Google Earth Placemark for the site is here.

(Photo: Baggage label from the 2Bangkok.com collection)

Baggage label from the Hotel Royal - March 3, 2007
And below is the site today...

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

Old Russian Embassy and new development - December 21, 2006
Google Earth placemark

Above: Postcard view from the 1930s of the Hotel Royal located in the Luang Sathorn Mansion (later the Russian Embassy).

History of the Luang Sathorn Mansion/Russian Embassy site - March 17, 2005
1914 - The mansion was built by Luang Jitjamnongwanich as his residence
1927 - The mansion became the 'Hotel Royal'
1948-99 - Used as the Soviet, then Russian Embassy
2005 - Restored and used as a health club as a part of Sathorn Square development

Also: (from Rediscovering the history behind Bangkok’s historical buildings, The Nation, May 2, 2004)
...He said that few people seemed to appreciate the fact that the mansion of Luang Jitjamnongwanich on Sathorn Road was being converted into an office building for the Russian Embassy.
"But then we tell that this area is related to the main characters of the novel "Si Phaendin" ["Four Reigns" by Kukrit Pramoj]. That building could be Khun Prame’s house, where Mae Ploy went to get married. The imagination and feeling makes a big difference,” he added...

Simulacra at the Russian Embassy - March 29, 2005
Rajan was the first of several to notice: I was going through images of the Russian Embassy on your website (one of the best). When I was looking at the "Second chamber with metal bed springs leaning against the wall" picture (bottom of this page) I noticed a human face like image on the wall... What do you think?

Left: Detail of the 'face'
Right: Detail of the 'face' from a second photo taken in the room.

2Bangkok.com visits the Luang Sathorn Mansion/Russian Embassy - March 25, 2005

(Source: Golden Land Plc/The Venetian)

(Source: The Venetian)

Sathorn One design based on Las Vegas casino? - March 12, 2005
Rapee was the first to point out that the 'Venice of the East' design from Sathorn One is in fact taken from the Venetian Casino in Las Vegas. Even the rendering of the completed project (left) is an exact match for the artwork on the Venetian Casino website (right). It appears that the Sathorn One 'rendering' is actually a photo from the casino with a skyscraper added in the background.

(Source: Golden Land Plc)

The canals of Sathorn! - March 11, 2005
One Sathorn Square - This overwrought design is similar to the flashy creations from the height of Bangkok's last building boom in the 1990's. However, it is much more creative than other office tower proposals for the site that included removing the Luang Mansion/Russian Embassy building.

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

Prime location - August 31, 2004
The corner lot at Sathorn and Narathiwat Road is being prepared. The land (including the adjacent Russian Embassy) is being developed by Golden Land PLC.

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

The future of the Luang Mansion/Russian Embassy - July 23, 2004
Golden Land PLC has finally declined our requests to photograph the old Luang Mansion/Russian Embassy on Sathorn Road saying they were still planning the use of the building and that the building itself was 'very dilapidated.' They said the building will be protected and integrated into whatever will be built on the corner of Sathorn and Narathiwat Road.
They further observed 'candidly' that the Luang Mansion/Russian Embassy building was shoddily constructed and not worthy of being protected. They said the only reason it was a protected building was that Thailand had already torn down most important historic buildings and this was all that was left.
Above and below are photos of the mansion that could be obtained by looking into the site. The photo above shows an office for consular affairs constructed off the front of the building.

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

Previous plans for the site
Left and below are rendering from the 1990s for the Russian Embassy/Luang Mansion site that entailed razing the building. These were collected and provided by Bangkok Highrises.

SATHORN SQUARE: Historic site boosts value of project - The Nation, November 1, 2004
...Likewise, the Russian embassy’s three buildings will be restored to become a key element in Golden Land’s massive 220,00-square-metre Sathorn Square mixed-use project.
Sathorn Square will house a five-star hotel, office tower, shopping mall and residential condominium.
In addition to these projects, Golden Land has bought an additional 2.5 rai of freehold land next to the embassy. The site will be used for its luxury 33-storey condominium called "Infinity"...

Interesting things from the Bangkok Highrises site - August 18, 2003
Photos of the strange buildings on the Assumption University (ABAC) Bangna Campus, the towers at Shinawatra University and Suranaree University of Technology. Also a new design for Sathorn Square that would apparently appear to require the tearing down of the Russian Embassy--one of the largest Thai-style mansions left.