Open house

Photos by Varuth Hirunyatheb

Take a look inside a historical building.

House No. 1 is one of Bangkok’s most beautiful buildings. Normally, to see inside, you’d have to get invited to one of the exclusive private parties that are regularly held there. But after the recent renovation work was finally completed, House No. 1 was opened to the public for Bangkok Design Week. S Weekly joined the crowds to take a look.

The house is a fine example of European neoclassical architecture. The grounds on Soi Captain Bush, on which the house stands, were given to Princess Saisavali Bhiromya by King Rama V. The house itself was originally built around a century ago by a French distillery who rented the land. The name House No. 1 dates from that time. However, its actual number is 723!

On the same grounds, there is also a warehouse which was used for a wood trading business run by Mr. Louis T. Leonowens. He was the son of Anna Leonowens, the English teacher who tutored the sons and daughters of King Rama IV.

House No. 1 was neglected for many years. But thankfully the Crown Property Bureau decided to renovate it in 2012. The renovation has tried to maintain as much of the original as possible.

The ceilings are decorated with drawings of colourful clematis flowers, a recreation of the original design.

The original teakwood floors on the second floor have been preserved. The imported tiles on the first floor are new, but similar to the originals. All furniture is new.

Pipes used in the production of alcohol can still be seen on the second floor, recalling the house’s origins as a distillery.

The original doors, windows and walls have been maintained.

The one-storey warehouse was built with red brick. During design week, it housed a café and the exhibition Bangkok Objects, arranged by TCDC.