Foreign influence on the architecture of Siam/Thailand has been, so to speak, timeless. In the Sukhothai period when Siam was first mentioned, the architecture was clearly determined by an eclectic mix of Indian, Ceylonese, Mon, Khmer and Burmese style elements.

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In the two previous contributions about foreign influences in Siamese and Thai architecture, I paid attention to the Italians. I like to conclude by taking a moment to reflect on the intriguing figure of the German architect Karl Döhring. He did not produce nearly as much as the aforementioned Italians, but the buildings he erected in Siam are, in my humble opinion, among the most beautiful that the strange mix between local and Farang architecture could produce.

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If you've ever wondered why there are so many classic, Italianate government buildings in the heart of Bangkok, you should read on now…

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With the arrival of the first Europeans in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, it was not long before Western elements appeared in Siamese architecture. The leading class in Ayutthaya looked with surprise and perhaps also some admiration at the strange structures that were erected by these foreigners on the outskirts of the city and especially the craftsmanship with which this was done.

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Now that the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex has been recognized as a World Heritage Site by Unesco for years, Thailand is making a new attempt. This time the Sri Thep Historical Park in Phetchabun province. The application will be submitted next month, which has been amended at the request of the Unesco World Heritage Centre.

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The Panyaden School in Chiang Mai is special. The school, built according to a design by the Rotterdam architectural firm 24H, was awarded a gold medal in the “sustainable” category in 2012 during a Business of Design Week in Hong Kong.

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Whoever visits Bangkok and thinks to find a magnificent historical Asian city will be disappointed. First impressions are not positive. A seemingly endless mass of dull concrete towers, gaudy shopping malls and hideous imitation-classical buildings in an urban jungle dominate the picture. Apart from a number of palaces and temples, the buildings in Bangkok are mostly boring and businesslike.

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