Ananda Samakhom Throne Hall
Encyclopedia
The Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall is a former reception hall within Dusit Palace in Bangkok
, Thailand
. It now serves as a museum and is from time to time employed for certain state occasions.
One year after the completion of the Amphorn Satharn Villa within the Dusit Palace in 1906, King Chulalongkorn
(Rama V) commissioned the construction of a reception hall to replace the one built during the reign of King Mongkut
(Rama IV.).
The building in Italian Renaissance and Neo Classic style was commissioned to the architects Mario Tamagno and Annibale Rigotti. Marble from Carrara, Italy, and other foreign materials were used. Italian sculptor Vittorio Novi, who would later also work on the Mahaiudthit Bridge, was employed with his nephew Rudolfo Nolli
.
The Throne Hall is a two storey construction with a large dome (49.5 m high) in the centre, surrounded by six smaller domes. The domes and walls are covered with paintings by Professor Galileo Chini and Carlo Riguli depicting the history of the Chakri Dynasty, from the first to the sixth reign.
King Chulalongkorn died in 1910 and the building was finally completed in 1915.
It was used as the headquarters of the People's Party
during the four days of the 1932 Revolution
(June 24-27), which transformed the country's political system from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional one. The first National People's Assembly
convened on June 28, 1932 in this throne hall. After that, it was used as the Parliament House until 1974 when the new Parliament House
was opened to the north. However, the old Parliament House is still used for the State Opening of Parliament marking the first assembly in consequence of a general election for the House of Representatives.
Otherwise it is open to the public every day except on Chulalongkorn Day (23 October), the King's birthday (5 December) and the Queen's birthday (12 August).
In front of the Hall is the Royal Plaza with the equestrian statue of King Chulalongkorn
(Rama V).
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. It now serves as a museum and is from time to time employed for certain state occasions.
One year after the completion of the Amphorn Satharn Villa within the Dusit Palace in 1906, King Chulalongkorn
Chulalongkorn
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Chulalongkorn Phra Chunla Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama V was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was known to the Siamese of his time as Phra Phuttha Chao Luang . He is considered one of the greatest kings of Siam...
(Rama V) commissioned the construction of a reception hall to replace the one built during the reign of King Mongkut
Mongkut
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramenthramaha Mongkut Phra Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama IV, known in foreign countries as King Mongkut , was the fourth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 1851-1868...
(Rama IV.).
The building in Italian Renaissance and Neo Classic style was commissioned to the architects Mario Tamagno and Annibale Rigotti. Marble from Carrara, Italy, and other foreign materials were used. Italian sculptor Vittorio Novi, who would later also work on the Mahaiudthit Bridge, was employed with his nephew Rudolfo Nolli
Rudolfo Nolli
Cavaliere Rudolfo Nolli — was a sculptor and architect from Lombardy, who during the first half of the 20th century worked mainly at the gulf of Siam....
.
The Throne Hall is a two storey construction with a large dome (49.5 m high) in the centre, surrounded by six smaller domes. The domes and walls are covered with paintings by Professor Galileo Chini and Carlo Riguli depicting the history of the Chakri Dynasty, from the first to the sixth reign.
King Chulalongkorn died in 1910 and the building was finally completed in 1915.
It was used as the headquarters of the People's Party
Khana Ratsadon
Khana Ratsadon , frequently mistakenly written as Khana Rat , was a Siamese group of military and civil officers, and later a political party, which staged a bloodless coup against King Prajadhipok and transited the country's absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy on 24 June 1932.-The...
during the four days of the 1932 Revolution
Siamese Revolution of 1932
The Siamese Revolution of 1932 or the Siamese Coup d'état of 1932 was a crucial turning point in Thai history in the 20th century...
(June 24-27), which transformed the country's political system from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional one. The first National People's Assembly
National People's Assembly of Thailand
National People's Assembly of Thailand , or, in brief, NPA , is an assembly in Thailand consisting of citizen from various sectors convoked for the purpose of electing some amongst themselves to constitute the Constitution Drafting Assembly...
convened on June 28, 1932 in this throne hall. After that, it was used as the Parliament House until 1974 when the new Parliament House
Parliament House of Thailand
The Parliament House of Thailand currently houses the National Assembly of Thailand, the legislative branch of the Royal Thai Government. The legislature is a bicameral body, consisting of two chambers: the upper house, , and the lower house,...
was opened to the north. However, the old Parliament House is still used for the State Opening of Parliament marking the first assembly in consequence of a general election for the House of Representatives.
Otherwise it is open to the public every day except on Chulalongkorn Day (23 October), the King's birthday (5 December) and the Queen's birthday (12 August).
In front of the Hall is the Royal Plaza with the equestrian statue of King Chulalongkorn
Chulalongkorn
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Chulalongkorn Phra Chunla Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama V was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was known to the Siamese of his time as Phra Phuttha Chao Luang . He is considered one of the greatest kings of Siam...
(Rama V).
See also
- Other buildings by Mario Tamagno] and/or Annibale Rigotti:
- Hua Lamphong Railway Station
- Government House of ThailandGovernment House of ThailandThe Government House in Bangkok houses the offices of the Prime Minister of Thailand and his 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...