Near the end of my Canadian June-July summer 'vacation' of studies, I headed back to Bangkok to gear up for the next school year. Before jumping into the deep end with my new job as High School Counselor, friends and I decided to do the tourist-thing and visit the home of an early settler, learning about Thai culture, its architecture, artifacts and artistry.
During my visit I learned that Jim Thompson, an American architect from Delaware (born 1906), was assigned to Bangkok while in the military service during the Second World War. Jim eventually decided to leave the service and live in Bangkok permanently. It was at this time when he devoted his time to reviving the craft of weaving silk which had been previously neglected. Needless to say, the industry flourished to encompass a worldwide market.
In the meantime, Jim built an amazing home using six existing teak buildings (most around 200 years old) that represented the best of Thai architecture. Design features ensured his home was truly representative of Thai culture, such as elevated floors to avoid flooding during the rainy season, roof tiles, red exterior paint, interior open to exterior, and even chandeliers from old Thai palaces.
Thompson’s collection of Thai artifacts became such a point of interest that he opened his home to the public.
His home remains open today with proceeds donated to Thai charities and projects to preserve the Thai cultural heritage. If you are at all interested in Thai culture, I highly recommend visiting this unique presentation in the heart of Bangkok.
