Kukrit's House reprieved

[Wisarut]

Now, MR Kukrit's House is temporaily closed to be renovated as Museum and Library while Kukrit Foundation is moved to Supreme Artist Hall (http://www.culture.go.th/supreme/main.php) at Klogn 5 (Klong Luang-Thayaburi) near Rama IX National Archieves ... There will be Virtual Reality Museum of Kukrit's House at Supreme Artist Hall .

http://www.komchadluek.net/2007/06/14/a001_122814.php?news_id=122814

[Wisarut]

Kukrit's House in My Memory by Jor Kor
http://www.oknation.net/blog/chakkrish/2007/06/14/entry-4

[Ahoerstemeier]

The article in The Nation (http://nationmultimedia.com/search/page.news.php?clid=2&id=30036830) more sounds like a permanent closure, not just for renovation.

Located in Soi Suan Phlu off South Sathorn Road, the closure stems from a conflict between MR Kukrit's son, Rongrit, and the 80th Kukrit Foundation running the museum, said a Culture Ministry source.

It'd be a pity - I planned to visit there during my recent stay in BKK, but haven't found the chance as it is only open on weekends. Seems like I have to wait longer than just till my next trip to finally visit it.

A nice description of that site:
http://www.tour-bangkok-legacies.com/home-of-m-r-kukrit.html

[GWR]

Reprieve for historic museum

The renowned Kukrit Museum will re-open its doors, but MR Kukrit Pramoj's son, ML Rongrit, will take over management instead of The 80th Kukrit Foundation, which run it for seven years, the foundation said yesterday.

The foundation will move out of the museum, in Soi Suan Phlu off South Sathorn Road, on June 30. The house, in a 5-rai compound, was once a khon (classical masked dance) mini-theatre established by Kukrit - a khon master and writer - who was named a National Artist in 1985. A previous threat of closure came after a disagreement between the foundation and ML Rongrit.

"To celebrate the 100th anniversary of MR Kukrit Pramoj's birth in 2011, the Foundation planned to build a library for MR Kukrit's books and a conference hall behind the museum. The foundation, also established by MR Kukrit, had unofficial permission for the plan and wanted a long-term lease on a four-rai plot of land at the back of the museum to develop the project, which would cost millions of baht," said the foundation's president Amnuey Weerawan.

However, agreement on a long-term rental fee between the foundation and ML Rongrit - the landlord - could not be reached. Therefore the foundation decided to pull out.

But the foundation would continue its mission to promote MR Kukrit's legacy.

The house/museum has received about 30,000 visitors since it opened its doors to the public. Surrounded by skyscrapers in a busy commercial area, it is a popular tourist spot. To help with expenses, tickets were priced at Bt50 and the back lawn rented out for book launches and weddings.

"It was my father's intention to preserve the house as if he was still alive," said ML Rongrit. "I did not want to make any changes. Now I take care of over 50 street dogs in the big garden at the back of the museum where my dad grew trees. Where will the foundation move these dogs to? Like my dad, I really love them."

The house displays some of Kukrit's personal belongings including khon masks and rare pictures. He first bought the plot of land in 1941.


Phatarawadee Phataranawik
The Nation


http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/06/15/national/national_30036910.php

[ncr]

Related News:

Kukrit proposed for Unesco list (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/06/26/headlines/headlines_30037813.php) - The Nation, 26 June 2007

The Culture Ministry is preparing to nominate MR Kukrit Pramoj to the Unesco list of the world's great personalities.

Born in 1911, Kukrit has made great contributions to the country as a politician, a former prime minister, a national artist, a writer, a journalist and a thinker. He passed away in 1995. "The nomination will celebrate his centenary in 2011," Culture Minister Khunying Khaisri Sri-aroon said yesterday. "He was never afraid of speaking up and what he said had influence over top figures in the country," she added. She also pointed out that Kukrit's "Four Reigns" literature had great historical value. "It's well known among Thai and foreign readers," she said. On arts and culture, Khaisri said Kukrit had nurtured Khon, the Thai-classical mask dance, and gave birth to Thammasat University's Khon troupe.

The Culture Minister said she would seriously discuss with relevant officials about the plan to nominate Kukrit to the Unesco list. A handful of Thais have been honoured on the world's great personalities list by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco). Among them are the late revered monk Buddhadasa Bhikku; HRH the Princess Sri Nagarindra, the Princess Mother; former premier Pridi Banomyong; ML Pin Malakul, and writer Kularb Saipradit. Culture Ministry permanent-secretary Vira Rojpojchanarat said a committee would be established to compile Kukrit's history before the information is forwarded to a Unesco committee in Thailand. ML Rongrit Pramoj said he was glad the Culture Ministry had appreciated his father's works and would be nominating him for the Unesco list. Rongrit plans to give Kukrit's traditional Thai house to the state, and put it under the care of the Fine Arts Department.

****

By the way, I visited the Kukrit House the Sunday before last.
So now I have finally seen all major 'traditional Thai house museums' in BKK:
Wang Suan Pakkard; Jim Thompson House; Kamthieng House; and this one.

Or are there more?

[GWR]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kukrit_Pramoj


A legacy in teak at Kukrit House
The ancient wooden Thai of former prime minister MR Kukrit Pramoj remains open to the public

A legacy in teak at Kukrit House

Beyond the function hall of MR Kukrit House, a typically Thai garden leads to the main dwelling, its pathways dappled with Khmer-style figures and a cooling fountain in the centre.

Former Prime Minister MR Kukrit Pramoj's ancient wooden house has been in the news recently, the subject of a conflict between Kukrit's son, ML Rongrit, and the 80th Kukrit Foundation, which has been running the museum for the last seven years.

The foundation had been planning to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Kukrit's birth in 2011 by building a library and conference hall. After failing to reach a long-term lease agreement with ML Rongrit, the foundation pulled out.

Fortunately, closure has been avoided, and the beautiful old house, under the management of MR Kukrit's descendants, is once again open every weekend.

It's hard to imagine what would have happened had Kukrit's family and the foundation been unable to reach an amicable settlement.

Back in late 1999, the former PM's friends, students and descendants collaborated to restore the wooden house to its former glory. It re-opened, under the official name MR Kukrit's Heritage Home, in 2001.

Quite a few Thai traditional houses exist, not as romantic ruins but as living entities. When Kukrit was alive, his house was full of life. Indeed, many papers in those days reported that all roads led to his house in Soi Suan Phlu.

Here he entertained prominent figures from politics and high society, as well as hosted lively discussions on academic issues, art and culture. It was a private residence yet rarely reserved for privacy, a place where he greeted guests from dusk till dawn.

Until the last eight years of his life when he was unwell, the house remained a meeting place for his friends and students.

During the official opening, Rongrit said his father had come to him in a dream, pointing to his neglected house and telling his son he'd find the money to restore it himself.

The following day, Rongrit was approached by the fledging Kukrit 80 Foundation and set about fulfilling his dead father's dream.

Care was taken to retain the colourful nature of the house rather than transform it into a staid museum. The restoration works, covered by the foundation, cost Bt6 million and the Fine Arts department registered the house as a national heritage.

The house has stood in the heart of Phra Pinit lane, just off Soi Suan Phlu on Sathon Tai Road for 48 years.

Kukrit bought the two-acre plot in 1942 in this betel palm neighbourhood, which give the soi its name, paying Bt7 a square wah.

Ten years later, he spotted a ramshackle Thai house in Sao Ching Cha that had been removed by the local municipality and decided to buy it, employing builders from Phak Hai district in Ayutthaya province to reassemble the structure in Soi Suan Phlu in 1960.

Although Kukrit's compound, which features five teak houses of different ages and a couple of other, newer buildings, is not the most authentic of Thai estates in the kingdom, it epitomises this great man's gift for marrying tradition style with modern comfort.

Since opening to the public seven years ago, well-trained volunteer students from Thammasat University have tirelessly acted as tour guides.

Entering the main entrance, visitors can see the function hall on the right, designed as an airy throne hall with a platform in the middle used for classical khon performances.

Colourful khon masks are displayed on shelves while antique and newly made bookcases hold the three Buddhist canons as well as decorative items from Vietnam and China. Kukrit's classic titles are showcased on the other side of the pavilion.

Preserved just as it was during his lifetime, the hall represents the Thai way of life spiced with other exotic cultures.

Beyond the pavilion, a typically Thai garden leads to the main dwelling, its pathways dappled with Khmer-style figures and a cooling fountain in the centre.

The main residence consists of five elevated houses with the open area beneath the houses serving as a multipurpose space, sheltered from rain and sun.

The teak buildings, all antique Thai structures, are connected by a large open veranda, which overlooks the serene garden to the rear.

Each room in the house is filled with artefacts and books collected by the owner. Additions to the original Thai house include air conditioning, a modern bathroom and a lift, which was installed when Kukrit became too frail to climb up and down stairs.

The first to be built was the reception house where a wooden bed belonging to King Rama II is placed together with cabinets displaying bowls for betel nuts, foods and desserts popular during that era. To the left of the reception room are a living room and the shrine room for Buddha images.

Kukrit's bedroom is next to the open veranda, and the library is right opposite. The library is filled with the English books used by Kukrit during his days at Queen's College, Oxford University. A number of momentous political meetings are believed to be have held in this room during some crises in Thai politics.

The rear garden has a big pond, and a music pavilion where many students come to study traditional Thai music instruments at the weekends.

Kukrit's house is not so much a museum, but a home that pays tribute to the memories of this great man.

Surrounded by skyscrapers, the former prime minister's home provides a rare peaceful haven in this bustling city.

MR Kukrit Heritage Home is at 19 Soi Phra Pinit, South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120, Tel. (02) 286 8185. BTS Chong Nonsi.

Vipasai Niyamabha

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/07/10/travel/travel_30039518.php