Government House of Thailand

Government House

Government House of Thailand in 2009
General information
Architectural style Venetian Gothic
Town or city Dusit District, Bangkok
Country Thailand Thailand
Construction started 1925
Technical details
Size 45,000 m2
Design and construction
Architect Corrado Feroci

The Government House (Thai: ทำเนียบรัฐบาล; rtgs: Thamniap Ratthaban) is the offices of the Prime Minister of Thailand and the appointed cabinet ministers. It also contains conference rooms and is used for state functions and receptions of foreign guests. It consists of several palace-like structures extending over 11 acres (45,000 m2). King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) commissioned the Italian architect Annibale Rigotti to design the main building in 1923, although construction would remain incomplete as Rigotti returned to Italy after the king's death in 1925. Initially intended as a family residence for one of the king's favorite generals, the building became the Prime Minister's seat in 1941. Prime Minister Plaek Pibulsonggram then assigned Italian sculptor and artist Corrado Feroci to complete the construction (also working on the building at this point was the architect Ercole Manfredi). The main building carries a golden dome housing a statue of Phra Phrom (Brahma) and its façade resembles that of the Ca' d'Oro Palazzo in Venice.

During the 2008 Thai political crisis, anti-government protesters besieged the Government House. After a court order, they had to move, but then attempted to block the government house once more and succeeded - the cabinet temporarily moved to Don Mueang International Airport.

The protesters besieged Don Mueang International Airport soon after that, giving the cabinet nowhere to work. On 1 December 2008, after protesting for 3 months, the protesters decided to leave the government house as there were constant attacks of bombs, grenades and gunfire.

Thai-Khu-Fah Building

Thai-Khu-Fah Building is a important building in Thai government house. This building is a symbol of the Thai council of minister and government as a office of prime minister and conference hall for council of minister like The White House of United State of America or 10 Downing Street as a government house of United Kingdom. This building have only two floors with a Neo Venetian Gothic architecture combine with Byzantine arts and have only one stair. On the roof it has a small shire for Bhrama. Downstair of the building have three lounges, first of all, the golden dome room is at the south of the building for prime minister’s visitors next, The Ivory Room is in front of the golden dome room to the righthand it is a lounge for official visitor of prime minister. Third, the purple room is on the lower floor to the righthand of the building. This is a lounge for vice prime minister and minister of cabinet visitors. Furthermore, this building have a small conference room for board of committee conference which have prime minister as a chairperson only. The upper floor of the building is the prime minister office, political officer office and the old cabinet conference room.

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Coordinates: 13°45′46.73″N 100°30′43.24″E / 13.7629806°N 100.5120111°E