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Jim Thompson's House
Located at the end of a nothing special soi (the Thai word for “Side Street”) next to Khlong Saen Saeb, this is a fine model of authentic Thai residential architecture with an extraordinary collection of Southeast Asian art within.
Jim Thompson was an American architect who temporarily served in the Office of Strategic Services (precursor of the CIA) in Thailand during the Second World War, after the war, he decided to return to Thailand. He contributed considerably to the Thai silk industry's development.
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Jim Thompson collected parts of various abandoned Thai homes in central Thailand and had them reassembled in the present location in 1959. The collection of six buildings corresponds to some of the best of traditional Thai architecture.
Many of the houses were at least two centuries old; the buildings were reconstructed and put together in a extraordinarily traditional method, the red paint on the external walls is a preservative usually found on old numerous Thai buildings.
On 1967, Jim Thompson disappeared while on a visit to the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia. His famous Thai house, however, remains as a permanent reminder of his deep love of Thailand. The house quickly became notorious around town, and was eventually opened to the public. Now serves as a private museum showcasing his compilation of Thai and Asian Art, antiques and pottery.
Address: 6 Soi Kasemsan 2, Rama 1 Road, Bangkok
Telephone: +662 216-7368
Web Address: http://www.jimthompsonhouse.com/
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