Beneath this seemingly wooden facade lies a secret. We are standing in front of the Phuket Provincial Hall. It is an old construction with intricate architecture. But it is not wood. Closer inspection reveals the elaborate work is actually concrete. The Phuket Provincial Hall was one of the first buildings in Thailand built with reinforced concrete.
Let’s delve into the history of this unique building. The Phuket Provincial Hall is located away from the busy tourist areas. It sits in a quiet neighborhood on the southeast coast of Phuket Island.
In Thailand, the administration is divided into 76 provinces. Each province is ruled by a Governor. The democratically elected central government appoints the Governor. The Governor maintains law and order in the province. The Governor’s office is called the Provincial Hall. In Thai, it is called the Sala Klang Changwat. Most Provincial Halls in Thailand are multi-storied. They are often white-colored buildings designed in Thai style.
As a government office, the Phuket Provincial Hall hoists the Thai national flag. It houses a statue of King Chulalongkorn. King Chulalongkorn envisioned the division of Thailand into provinces. He wanted efficient administration. The Phuket Provincial Hall is no exception to this vision.
Originally, the Phuket Provincial Hall had 99 doors. But it had no windows. The original louvered wooden doors allowed airflow. This design promoted a light and airy working environment. Sadly, the doors have been replaced with glass. Windows were installed with air conditioning later.
In 1910, Tung Ka Compound Company erected the building. Phraya Ratsdanupradit instructed the company to build it. He offered a tin mining concession in exchange. The company hired an Italian builder. The builder designed and oversaw the construction. The European style made this government building different. It differed from government buildings in other provinces.
In 1977, the Phuket Provincial Hall received a national conservation award. The Fine Arts Department gave the award. Within the grounds are other government offices. They include the Or Bor Jor Building.
In front of the building stands a monument of King Rama 5th. Its full name is Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Chulalongkorn Phra Chunla Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua. The people of Phuket erected it in 1982. This honored the 200th anniversary of the Rattanakosin Period.
Inside the Phuket Provincial Hall, there is a picture gallery. It depicts the history of Phuket. You can visit it during weekday working hours. Along the exterior access corridors hang many photographs. These record the history of Phuket Island. It is said that each of these took six years to create.
Just across Damong Road, you can see another fine example of the past. It is fronted by lovely lawns. The building now houses the Office of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. Originally, it was the Tin Mines Department headquarters.
The Phuket Provincial Hall featured in the film ‘The Killing Fields’. It was used as the French Embassy in Cambodia.
Take a moment to appreciate the blend of history and architecture here. The Phuket Provincial Hall stands as a testament to Phuket’s rich past and administrative importance. A visit here offers a glimpse into the island’s governance and heritage. It connects the past with the present.