Group of building no.1
Thai Waterworks Museum overview, composed by national working party of: Thailand
depicted item: Thai Waterworks Museum overview
source: Parinya Chukaew
date: 2014
1. Identity of building/ group of buildings/ urban scheme/ landscape/ garden
1.1 current name of building: Thai Waterworks Museum overview
1.2 variant or former name: The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority Of Samsen (MWA)
1.3 number & name of street: 220 Rama VI Road, Samsennai
1.4 town: Phayathai
1.5 province/state: Bangkok
1.6 zip code: 10400
1.7 country: Thailand
1.8 national grid reference:
1.9 classification/ typology: REC
1.10 protection status & date: managed by the Metropolitan waterworks Authority (MWA) and received the Architectural Conservation Awards 2014 from the Association of Siamese Architects Under Royal Patronage.
2. History of building
2.1 original brief/ purpose: PBS
2.2 date commission/ completion: 1909-1930
2.3 architectural and other designers: Italian company designed The Water pumping Station and The Pure Water Station. British architectural company, The United Engineer, designed The Septic Tank Station, The Settling House 1 and 2, and The Filtration House 1 and 2.
2.4 others associated with building: There are 9 buildings, namely, The Septic Tank Station, The Water pumping Station, The Settling House 1 and 2, The Filtration House 1 and 2, The Pure Water Station, The Guest House of Choa Phya Yomarach and Keys collection Tower.
2.5 significant alterations with dates: From 2011 to 2013, The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority Of Samsen (MWA) restored the Waterworks buildings to the museum in order to celebrate the centenary of Metropolitan Waterworks Authority. The restoration is divided into three phrases of restoration. First and second pharses are survey and restoration stages by repainting the external and internal walls with the original colour (yellow) and improving the landscape of surrounding area. Final phrase is to publish the book of the museum and hold the exhibition in 2014.
2.6 current use: museum of Thai Waterworks
2.7 current condition: good
3. Description
3.1 general description: The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority Of Samsen (MWA) was the first water supply service of Thailand which was commissioned by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) in order to provide water at good hygiene standard to the public. The construction was started in 1909 by creating man-made waterway from Chiang Rak to Samsen Canals and built the Waterworks which completed in 1914.
3.2 construction: reinforced concrete and load-bearing walls
3.3 context: The 9 buildings (no. 2.4) worked in the process of water purification.
4. Evaluation
4.1 technical: The Filtration House is built by reinforced concrete and load-bearing walls on the symmetrical rectangular plan and covered by hip and gable roofs. It has presented the innovative construction technology of reinforced concrete structure. Other buildings were simply built by other material such as timber.
4.2 social: The first public service facility to produce clean water in Bangkok.
4.3 cultural & aesthetic: Windows and doors of the Filtration House are aligned and decorate with curved and linear concrete moulding. The Water pumping Station shows perforate wooden decorative ornament which is similar to the art of Gingerbread house in Thailand.
4.4 historical: King Rama VI gave the opening ceremony on November 14, 1914.
4.5 general assessment: Although, the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority Of Samsen is no longer in use to produce clean water as its original function, this valuable group of buildings have been sustainably conserved as the educational center of Waterworks history in Thailand.
5. Documentation
5.1 principal references: Parinya Chukaew and Waeovichian Abhichartvorapan
5.2 visual material attached: Parinya Chukaew
5.3 rapporteur/ date: June 2014
6. Fiche report examination by ISC/R
name of examining ISC member:
date of examination:
approval:
working party/ref. n° :
NAi ref. n°:
comments:
Explanation of selection
The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority Of Samsen (MWA) was the first water supply service of Thailand granted by King Rama V who had a clear vision of the importance of good hygiene. Such waterworks have been vital services at that time. Especially, the Filtration House shows great structural technology. The project of Thai Waterworks Museum can be an example of adaptive reuse in Thailand. It can be suggested that setting the management teams will help the project sustain its values to the future.
