One of the many wonderful attractions that Thailand has to offer visitors is the city’s extremely different architectural styles.
For decades, Thailand‘s people have used buildings to express the significance of community and religion. The nation’s architectural heritage embodies both of these ideas. The traditional and religious structures in Thailand have undergone substantial regional diversity as a result of the architectural traditions of several of the country’s neighbors.
It was impossible to escape Western culture and influence, despite their best attempts to present themselves as a contemporary state. It blends a number of widely used architectural styles, including Indian, Chinese, and Burmese.
Thai architecture is easily recognizable thanks to its stunning hues, elaborate decoration, and multi-layered roofs.
Thai Architecture Varieties
- Thai Traditional Architecture
- Modern Thai Architecture
Thai Traditional Architecture
Religious Buildings
Thailand’s royal dynasties commissioned and built many of the country’s buildings, which included elaborate decoration and minute detailing. Buddha or one of the many Hindu Gods was honored in the majority of the temples that were constructed.
The many symbols employed in the artwork are reflections of the particular culture, religion, and belief system of the followers.
Secular Structures
However, Thai architecture goes well beyond temples and other places of worship. Thailand is full of beautiful homes near rivers that are constantly at risk of flooding.
Thai architecture has developed over time. However, the core concept remains the same. It would be determined by the materials utilized, as well as superstitious beliefs. To keep the evil at bay, it was necessary to have a guardian spirit home in addition to the dwelling.
Modern Thai Architecture
Thailand now features one of the most intriguing structures in Asia. Thailand’s architecture combines modernism with heritage, with soaring skyscrapers and massive multi-story malls.
12 Top Famous Buildings in Thailand
The following are a few prominent Thai sites that are symbolic and effectively display Thai architecture.
- Elephant Tower, Bangkok
- Baiyoke Tower II, BangkokWat Rong Khun, Chiang Rai
- Robot Building, Bangkok
- The Pano, Bangkok
- King Power MahaNakhon, Bangkok
- Wat Chedi Liam, Chiang Mai
- Sanctuary of Truth, Pattaya
- Bangkok University’s Landmark Complex
- Lebua State Tower
- Wat Phra Kaew
- Wat Arun Ratchawararam
Elephant Tower, Bangkok
The Elephant Building has one of the unique designs. Thailand’s national animal is the elephant, which may be why the structure was designed to have that appearance.
Built-in 1997, the 102-meter-tall edifice quickly rose to the top of Bangkok and Thailand’s most talked-about structures lists. It is a complex that includes offices, apartments, a bank, shopping malls, etc.
The structure’s three towers, Towers A, B, and C, form the elephant’s body, with the eyes and tusk of the animal visible along its right trim. The structure now serves as a symbol for both the technological advancements and post-modern architecture of the millennial age.
Baiyoke Tower II, Bangkok
Presently, the highest structure in Bangkok is the Baiyoke Tower II, popularly referred to as the Baiyoke Sky Resort. Plan Architects created it. Following the success of its previous Baiyoke Tower I, the 44-story Baiyoke Tower II was the city’s first structure to stand more than 300 meters.
The Tower, which is conveniently located in Bangkok’s center, adds to this vibrant and vivacious environment. As real a signal as the Empire State Building and other well-known monuments, it may be seen rising above Bangkok’s horizon.
The 673 hotel rooms are located on stories 22 to 64 of the skyscraper, which has 85 stories. The level 84 deck has an observatory that rotates further up. This observatory’s floor rotates 360 degrees in 5 minutes, providing a breathtaking perspective of the city.
The Tower’s structure is impressive given that it was built with highly reinforced concrete and that it once competed to be the tallest concrete structure in the world.
White Temple, Chiang Rai
The Wat Rong Khun, as well as called The White Temple, gets its name from its hue, which is white. The temple shines in the sunshine because of the glass that was utilized in the plaster.
Despite being referred to as a temple, it is actually more of a privately held display with influences from Buddhist design. The glass symbolizes the Dhamma, or teachings, of the Buddha, while the color white stands for his purity.
Visitors must cross a bridge that is encircled by a huddle of helpless hands that represents hell. According to human belief, reaching heaven requires passing through hell.
The interior of the structure is embellished with a variety of vintage and modern statues that demonstrate the sheer talent of the creator. Due to the temple’s ongoing construction, the opulence has continued.
Robot Building, Bangkok
The Robot Building, also known as the Bank of Asia, was built in 1987. The magnificent architectural design of The Robot Building depicts how significantly computer technology has affected the financial sector.
The structure is so named because it has antennae and eyes that resemble those of a robot. The headquarters of the United Overseas Bank is also located there. It is considered a Thai architectural masterpiece, having been voted one of the “50 most important structures of the 20th century” according to the Contemporary Art Museum in Los Angeles.
The Pano, Bangkok
A 57-story riverfront condominium called The Pano may be found in Bangkok. It is Thailand’s fourth highest residential structure and the 13th tallest structure overall. It stands 219 meters tall and has 57 storeys.
It is made up of two wings, the Sky Wing (a high-rise), and the River Wing, and has 397 condominium apartments (low-rise). The Pano came in fourth place for architectural quality in terms of building design and utility in the 2010 Emporis Skyscraper Award.
In recognition of the project, the architectural company WOHA received the Singapore President’s Design Award.
King Power MahaNakhon, Bangkok
King Mahanakhon is another well-known skyscraper and a well-known structure in the nation. It features lodgings, shops, houses, and an observatory deck. This building is near the BRT and Bangkok Skytrain and is located in the Silom commercial sector of Bangkok.
The irregularly shaped structure is designed to take full advantage of the stunning city vistas and tropical environment. MahaNakhon has magnificently created architecture. Thanks to its numerous houses, hotels, and stores, MahaNakhon seems to be a glass-enclosed square with trim spirals all around it.
Wat Chedi Liam, Chiang Mai
The Buddhist monastery Wat Chedi Liam has nestled away in Wiang Kum Kam, one of Thailand’s historic locations. The temple was established in 1288. The settlement where the building is located is old and fortified, having been erected by King Mengrai of the Lanna Empire.
Wiang Kum Kam which was the capital of the Lanna Kingdom until Chiang Mai was discovered in 1296. The temple, which translates approximately as “the temple of the square chedi,” is still operating and housing monks. The edifice, also known as Wat Ku Kham Luang, consists of an ubosot, Mon Dvaravati chedi, and a viharn.
Sanctuary of Truth, Pattaya
The Sanctuary of Truth, a renowned Pattaya sight, is a 344-foot (104-meter) tall teakwood construction. The well-known monument is a tribute to Thai workmanship, with well-detailed depictions of intriguing settings, elephants, people, and figures from ancient tales.
The museum’s architecture is influenced by aspects of Buddhism and Hinduism. It incorporates various statues from Chinese, Cambodian, Indian, and Thai stories and beliefs in each of the building’s four corners.
Bangkok University’s Landmark Complex
Bangkok University’s Landmark Complex was finished in 2010.
Considering the university’s emblem, the building has a diamond-like form. The pool on the foreside of the structure acts as a naturalistic charter, reverberating light and giving it a vivid color. Despite being a part of the academic institution, the structure is a stunning illustration of Thailand’s contemporary architecture development.
Lebua State Tower, Bangkok
Bangkok commercial sector is where you’ll find Lebua State Tower. This Tower gained notoriety after it appeared in the movie The Hangover II when the cast filmed a scene in the Tower’s restaurant and sky bar.
The structure, which is 247 meters (810 feet) tall, has 68 stories and a golden dome that can be seen from afar. The structure houses offices, hotels, and housing.
Wat Phra Kaew
Wat Phra Kaew is composed of many buildings. This edifice has gone through multiple Rattanakosin or old Bangkok-style architectural versions. Indian architectural has affected the whole structure. You can see this beautiful architecture in the same “yakshis” and floral patterns that protect the temple entrances.
Over time, subsequent structures have added frescos depicting the life of the Buddha. They are preserving the original orange and green tile, marble, and mosaic pillars.
Wat Arun Ratchawararam
The Hindu deity Aruna commonly named the God of Dawn, inspired the name of Wat Arun Ratchawararam and also named the Temple of Dawn, Wat Chaeng, or Wat Arun. Thailand’s Chakri dynasty’s King Rama II and King Rama IV rebuilt the majority of the current structure. The view is stunning, especially at daybreak and sunset. During the Ayutthaya Period in the seventeenth century, the temple was built.
The temple is a representation of Mount Meru, the center of the cosmos in Buddhist cosmology. The huge stupa, which stands 70 m high and is exquisitely decorated with colorful crystal and Chinese ceramics, is surrounded by four smaller pagodas. Seashells are used to embellish the smaller pagodas. The temple is hugely affected by Buddhist architecture and features a shrine to the Emerald Buddha.
The temple, which is located alongside the Chao Phraya River, is exposure condition with a beautiful luster.
