Wat Po illustrates the richness of form inherent in traditional Thai architecture
Author of this feature, Mr. Bernard J. Cywinski, is a graduate of the Columbia School of Archi- tecture where he earned a Bachelor of Architec- ture degree in 1966. He was a delegate to the International Architecture Students Convention in Stockholm in 1965 and has recently concluded a six month study tour of the Far East on a William Kinne Fellows Fellowship awarded by the School of Architecture. The study was concerned with the conceptual development of cities.
T
o the foreign traveller, Bangkok is the representative of Thailand. It is the home of over two million peo- ple, the seat of government. the residence of the royal family and the site of the national legislature. It is also the headquarters for the South- east Asia Treaty Organization and several U.N. Agencies.
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MONASTERIES
Central Bangkok
RIVER
BANGKOK - an appeal for planning
Inside this city's boundaries, there are over three hundred monasteries and temples, the social and architec- tural value of which are major con- tributions to the Thai people and to the world.
The large university population of many educational facilities provides the technicians and specialists who
PALACE
& GOV'T, BLDGS.
COMMERCIAL DISTRICT
UNIVERSITY GROUND
EMBASSIES HOTELS
& RESIDENCES
by Bernard J. Cywinski
are to serve the rest of Thailand.
At a glance, one can tell that Bangkok is the nucleus of this coun- try: provider of its needs and pilot of its progress. To be a city with so much diversification and activity is unique in the world and worthy of an architectural environment befitting the role.
A sight of the crowded activity in the streets and along the river shows immediately that Bangkok is a lively city, but reveals too the problems that are undermining the workings of this energetic place. One is lead quickly to conclude that Bangkok faces the issues that all mature cities are con- fronted with today.
As in Tokyo, Rome or New York. traffic control, public housing, living standards and maintenance of utilities are all very real concerns of Bangkok. But effective programming for the solutions to these problems is not in evidence here, and perhaps stronger direction is needed to insure the re- moval of these blights on the city.
To take a hard look at Bangkok, while realising its attributes, is to make a critical analysis of its short- comings. This is not being negative, it is being realistic in facing the pro- blems of city growth. Growth means congestion congestion of people. vehicles, products and buildings. How does one deal with them in
Far East Architect & Builder March, 1967
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