If you travel to Bangkok and if you have two or three hours in front of you, go to Jim Thomson House (I had no idea who he was), but the trip was worth it. His house is near one of the many canals in Bangkok, and it is fun to see the boat coming very fast in these tiny aisles of water.
A little history from this place:
This house is the Thai home of Jim Thompson, an American who was born in Greenville, Delaware, in 1906. A practicing architect before World War II, he volunteered for service in the US Army, campaigned in Europe, and was later sent to Asia. However, the war ended before he saw action. He was sent to Bangkok for a short time then as a military officer and fell in love with Thailand. After leaving the service, he decided to return and live here permanently.
The hand-weaving of silk, a long-neglected cottage industry, captured Jim Thompson’s attention, and he devoted himself to reviving the craft. Highly gifted as a designer and textile colorist, he contributed substantially to the industry’s growth and the worldwide recognition accorded to Thai silk. He gained further renown through the construction of this house, combining six teak buildings, which represent the best in traditional Thai architecture. Most of the houses were at least two centuries old and were quickly dismantled and brought to the present site, some from as far away as the ancient capital of Ayudhya.
In his quest for authenticity, Jim Thompson adhered to the customs of the early builders in most respects. The house was elevated a full story above the ground, a practical Thai precaution to avoid flooding during the rainy season. The rock piles were fierce in Ayudhya, employing a design common centuries ago but rarely used today. The red paint on the outside walls is often found in many old Thai buildings. The chandelier was a concession to modern convergence, but even they belong to a past era, having come from 18th and 19th century Bangkok palaces.
All the traditional religious rituals were followed during construction of the house, and on a spring day in 1959, decreed as being auspicious by astrologers, Jim Thompson moved in. The house and the art collection soon became such a point of interest that he decided to open his home to the public with proceeds donated to Thai chapters and projects directed at the preservation of Thailand’s rich cultural héritage.
On March 26th, 1967, Jim Thompson disappeared while on a visit to the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia. Not a single valid clue has turned up in the ensuing years as to what might have happened to him. His famous Thai house, however, remains as a lasting reminder of his creative ability and his deep love for Thailand.
Why I loved this place?
This place is near one of the Bangkok canals, so you can feel the fresh air (and trust me, when you are living in Thailand, you are looking for that). The house is very typical, and it’s always interesting to learn about history and, in this case, about one man who fell in love in Thailand and who created all these fantastic fabrics. Trust me, go there and do a visit, their guides are fantastic and know a lot of details about Jim Thomson’s house
