Friday, August 28, 2009

Dept says Supreme Court building worth preserving

       The Fine Arts Department has stepped in to the debate over the Supreme Court building, saying it is worth preserving and should not be demolished.
       Grienggrai Sampatchalit, head of the department, raised concern about plans to demolish the structure to make way for a new Supreme Court building, which will rise 32m on the same site.
       The building, though not registered as an historical structure, was still worth preserving for its historical and architectural values, he said.
       The department's move is in response to a call by conservationists who have demanded the court review the project.
       They believe the new building, if it goes ahead, will be an eyesore in the inner quarters of Rattanakosin old town.
       Led by the Society for the Conservation of National Treasures and Environment,they have threatened to file a case with the Administrative Court to stall it.
       Mr Grienggrai said a team of Fine Arts officials is preparing a building assessment report that will reach him soon.
       "The court is obliged to submit the new building's blueprint to the department for consideration," he said, adding the department has the power to reject the construction plan.
       Earlier this year, the Association of Siamese Architects listed the court building as an "ASA conservation structure",an award that is given to old buildings to encourage conservation.
       The court, built by the Pibulsonggram government to commemorate the return of Thailand's judicial sovereignty in 1939,is cast in so-called modern architecture,an architectural style which was popular during the time of the now-defunct People's Party, which rose to power after Thailand switched from an absolute to a constitutional monarchy.
       Mr Grienggrai said if the court really wanted to have the new building, it should downsize the structure to ensure that it is in harmony with the surroundings, in particular the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
       "It must follow the old architectural style and size. That is more agreeable,"he said.
       The court argues the present structure is too old and cramped. However, a study by Chulalongkorn University suggests the building be renovated.
       Restoring the building to its original grandeur would cost 1 billion baht, while the new building would cost 3.7 billion baht, it said.

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