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In July 2002 the 1960s-era Siam Intercontinental
Hotel, at the time one of the most architecturally unique and beautiful hotels in Bangkok, surrounded by 26 acres of gardens,
was demolished to make way for the construction of the Siam Paragon, a large high end
shopping mall resembling a large concrete and glass box. Like the Siam Intercontinental, much of Bangkok's interesting and historic architecture and character is being swept away to clear the way for the construction of modern and soul-less shopping malls, condominiums, and office towers. By law, any building more than 100 years old is protected, but a large part of Bangkok's most interesting history occured much more recently than that. This site is an effort to document and preserve some of Bangkok's recent history.
The main project concerns the hotels of the 50s, 60s and 70s, including
the Atlanta, the Florida, the Miami, King's, the Ambassador
and Chavalit,the Windsor, the Crown, the Rex, the Grace, the
Nana the Rajah, the First, the Prince, the Opera, the Liberty,
the Federal, the Malaysia, the Rose, and many others. As Bangkok
becomes a city of shopping malls and condominiums, it's colourful,
more interesting past should be preserved. The hotels of this
era remain as some of the few remaining living monuments to
this age. Oldbangkok.com hopes to preserve their memory before they fall
under the wrecking ball, to be replaced by other sterile
monuments to consumerism and trendiness.
If you have any photos or stories of some of Bangkok's older hotels please
email us at comments @ oldbangkok.com
For another view of Bangkok's interesting past visit here
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