View Full Version : Tallest:Past, Present & Future
Just an invitation to everyone:
If anyone happens to have photos of the construction of Baiyoke II Tower, why not share them with all of us and post them on 2bangkok.com? I guess Ron will be pleased to accept your submissions!
BTW, the site could also make use of some Skytrain construction pics.......
Some B2 construction pics at the Bangkok Highrises site
http://www.geocities.com/topsyturvy_6051/Baiyoke2_con.html
Khun Pas,
thank you very much for the link. That's a nice start at least. So, maybe someone else still has some similar pics hidden in a box at home and would now like to make them public?
:rolleyes:
ducky454
27-09-03, 06:53 AM
i have an picture off the constriction of B2 but its on film, but ill try digitalize it later, just need an scanner first :-)
The picture is taken in frbruary 1996 when they finnhised the upper levels of the building, as far as i can remeber there was an shoppingsenter at the lower flors at that time.
Bangkok's Highest Buildings over the course of the years
1.Dusit Thani (1970) 82m
2.Royal Orchid Sheraton (1978) 101m
3.Bangkok Bank [Silom] (1982) 134m
4.Baiyoke I (1987) 151m
5.Sinn Sathorn Tower (1993) 195 m
6.Jewelry Trade Center (1996) 221m
7.Baiyoke II (1997) 304m
>and in an era long gone by: Phra Ya Sombat Phaisan Bldg. [Yaowarat] (~1920-30) 9 storeys (?)
>by the way: Wat Arun: 85m
Sources: 2bangkok.com, skyscrapers.com
Anyone has more information? Corrections?
That also means that next year, Baiyoke II will be holding the record for 8 years, as long as only the venerable Dusit Thani before. Time for a new highest building for the City of Angels???
We were actually compling a list like this to post on 2B.
Some other points/questions:
* 1992(?) - United Center
* 9-storey Phra Ya Sombat Phaisan Building on Yaowarat Road (http://www.2bangkok.com/2bangkok/MassTransit/tall.shtml) built in the 1930s (?)
* Wat Arun is about 85m / 200ft
Wisarut
15-05-04, 03:35 PM
Khun Ron,
There was Nai Loed Building near Saphan Phitthayasathian (Saphan lek Lang) -> 7 floor building constructed around 1925-26 as the HQ of Nai Loed Co.Ltd... Nai Loed Setthabut (Phraya Phakdee Noraset -> 1872 - 1945) was the pioneer of Bangkok Bus as Boat system as well as the agency for sellign Esso Oil (then Socony Oil)....
Now, the children and grand children of Nai Loed Setthabut (Phraya Phakdee Noraset) has used that building for comemrcial lease .... After selling the bus and boat service to the government, Nai Loed company is exclusively dealign with land lease around Pratoonam, Saphan Lek Lang and of course British Embassy at Ploenchit.
* 1992(?) - United Center
United Center is indeed higher than Baiyoke I, but was only completed in 1995. So Sinn Sathorn came first (and still is the highest building on the Thonburi side of Bangkok, by the way). No honors for those who come late........ The same can be said for Empire Tower (227m) and State Tower (247m), which are respectable highrises, but were finished after Jewelry Trade Center and Baiyoke II, respectively.
The succession 1993-96-97 can also be seen here:
http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/ci/bu/?id=100454
And here:
http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/ci/bu/sk/li/?id=100454&bt=2&ht=2&sro=1
Also there is a top 20 list with beautiful building diagrams at Bangkok Highrises:
http://www.geocities.com/topsyturvy_6051/20tallest.html
To add to this list:
the 10 storeys AIA (American International Assurance) building on Surawongse Rd, completed in June 1966
the 12 storeys Cathay Trust Building (Esso Building) on Rama IV Rd, Silom, completed in February 1970
There seems to be a big gap to fill between the 1930s and the 1960s.
United Center was completed in 1992.. so I think it was briefly the tallest building in Bangkok :)
I also have doubt about completion date of Thai Wah 2. I believe it was finished in 1994/1995. I have a clip from a newspaper ad from 1995 which advertises Thai Wah II as the tallest building in Bangkok.
Jewelry Trade Center definitely constructed after Thai Wah 2, I remember the building was about 2/3 built in Feb '95.
The Enforcer!
23-06-04, 05:25 PM
The Emporis website says that Royal Orchid Sheraton was built in 1982, thus after Bangkok Bank.
I suppose different websites use differing data.
When I first starting coming here in 1984, there was one other 'tall building' on Sukhumvit, I think it was called Chokchai Building. I recall being told it was taller than Bangkok Bank.
The view from the top of The Dusit in those days was breathtaking.
The Enforcer!
Originally posted by The Enforcer!
The Emporis website says that Royal Orchid Sheraton was built in 1982, thus after Bangkok Bank.
I suppose different websites use differing data.
When I first starting coming here in 1984, there was one other 'tall building' on Sukhumvit, I think it was called Chokchai Building. I recall being told it was taller than Bangkok Bank.
The view from the top of The Dusit in those days was breathtaking.
The Enforcer!
Chokchai Tower used to be the tallest building in Sukhumvit area, but it is definitely shorter than Bangkok Bank which is 33 storeys / 130m tall. Chokechai tower is now the headoffice of UOB Radanasin Bank.
here's a photo taken in 1990 (Chokechai is the cream coloured building in the distance)
http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~passean/sk90.JPG
another pic taken in 2003 (note the new facade)
http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~passean/uobradnasin.JPG
The view from the Dusit Thani hotel would have been nice. Did you took any photos from up there? :)
The Enforcer!
25-06-04, 08:07 AM
Well the good news is that I did take photos back then, the bad news is that they are somewhere in the loft in my UK home - a place I have not been to in two years!
The Dusit asked me for pictures of their pre-1987 Lobby (as you may know they are doing their second Lobby refit at present) and friend looking in UK could only find one!
The Enforcer!
Hi,
This is my first post on 2B Forum. So, hello everyone.
When growing up in Bangkok in Silom-Sathorn Area, my friends and I were always interested in high rises in Bangkok and we spent a lot of time discussing about them. So, I'm pretty sure that the following buildings were once the tallest building in Bangkok:
(1). Chan Isara Tower, near Robinson Dept. Store, Silom
(2). Suphakarn Building, on Charoennakorn Rd (Close to the Peninsula Hotel)
(3) The United Center on Silom Rd.
(4) Thaiwa 2 Building on Sathorn Rd.
I can't remember the exact dates when they were the tallest though, but I'm pretty positive. Too bad I was not smart enough to take photos or notes about them at the time. And I don't whether the names for Chan Isara, or Suphakarn have changed lately.
Thanks,
Sup
Hi sup - welcome to the forum!! :)
I totally forgotten about the Supakarn building which must be one of the first highrise buildings in Thonburi?? Yep it's still called Supakarn, the name hasn't changed.
Charn Issara is also a big building back in those days and if I remember correctly it was completed around the same time as Wall Street Tower which is just around the corner.
Welcome from me, too!
We are always happy about new members here on this forum.
As for (1) and (2).... interesting suggestions, though I don't have the slightest idea about their height or when they were constructed. Pas is right. Their names haven't changed.
United Center and Thai Wah II can be/have already been ruled out as former highest buildings.
Khun NCR
I found this old advert for Thai Wah 2 in the Bangkok Post. Note on the top of the page it is dated (in Thai) Tuesday 17th January 1995
http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~passean/tw2ad.JPG
ThaiWah 2 was probably completed in late 1994 after Sinn Sathorn (completed April 1993). The 195m height of Sinn Sathorn may not be accurate because that included the antenna.
Thai Wah 2's height has been quoted by various sources as 194m, 196m, 198m - depending if one measures the height to the "roof" or the parapet roof (ie structural top). But I have no doubt Thai Wah 2 was for a little while the tallest building in Bangkok.
BTW the office part of Thaiwah 2 was occupied in Jan'95, the Westin Hotel (Banyan Tree) opened for service in August '96. :)
but Emporis says Thai Wah II is 1996
http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=107145
Oh! And your site says:
Height : 197m (647ft) *194m to top of parapet wall
Floors : 60
Floor Area : 57,000mē
Completion Date : 1993
(http://www.geocities.com/topsyturvy_6051/thaiwah2.html)
The Enforcer!
21-08-04, 11:40 AM
Originally posted by admin
but Emporis says Thai Wah II is 1996
http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=107145
Oh! And your site says:
Height : 197m (647ft) *194m to top of parapet wall
Floors : 60
Floor Area : 57,000mē
Completion Date : 1993
(http://www.geocities.com/topsyturvy_6051/thaiwah2.html)
As a close friend of the architect I can assure you it was 1996.
The Enforcer!
Originally posted by admin
but Emporis says Thai Wah II is 1996
http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=107145
Oh! And your site says:
Height : 197m (647ft) *194m to top of parapet wall
Floors : 60
Floor Area : 57,000mē
Completion Date : 1993
(http://www.geocities.com/topsyturvy_6051/thaiwah2.html)
oops..typo error on my webpage!!: it's embarassing :D
it's interesting to see how different sources got their info from..
emporis probably got it from my website..I probably got it from this webpage:
http://www.thaiwah.com/new_web/history.html
then I updated my webpage once I read this book "Tall Buildings of Asia & Australia" (I wonder where the editor got his info from?)
http://www.imagespublishinggroup.com/new/tall.html
I stood in front of this building in Jan 95 and saw it with my very own eyes and it was only a few days before the Kobe earthquake!! then I got the newspaper clip from Bangkok Post paper.. which you can see is clearly dated BE 2538(1995).
http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~passean/tw2aa.JPG
misleading advertising?
:confused:
The hotel section of TW2 was open in 96 but the office section was occupiable in January 1995.
A building can be considered completed even the interior is not fully finished, for example Baiyoke 2 was topped out in 1997 (concrete on top floor poured in August 1996). The interior fit-out didn't finished until much later. The hotel wasn't officially opened until 2 years later in June 1999 ..but the building was completed in 1997.
Emporis's definition if you're interested
Completed
An existing building whose construction is finished and which is not being demolished.
Under construction
A partially completed building which is progressing towards completion. This status begins with the first placement of structural foundations, and ends when the exterior design is fully realized and the interior is occupiable. Raw or unfinished interior space is generally considered occupiable when the general contractor or developer has left its completion to the tenants. The exterior is considered complete when the interior is fully enclosed and major design details are in place. A building may revert to U.C. status when a significant vertical addition begins construction, or when an adjoining addition of major size, which will ultimately become part of the original building, has begun construction. If a portion of a prior building is incorporated into a new building, the older building shall be ignored for purposes of the start date unless its remaining above-ground portion contributes to the structural support of the newer building.
From the main page, 24 June 2005:
Singaporean firm to build highest condo - Bangkok Post, June 23, 2005
...Situated on the seven-rai former site of the United States Information Service, The Met will have six buildings and become the highest residential project in Bangkok, with 66 floors housing 370 units ranging from 92 sq m each to a 546 sq m-triplex penthouse and priced between 10 million and 60 million baht a unit or 120,000 baht per sq m.
.........the link to the Post article is broken (as usual) - can somebody tell me where the "former site of the United States Information Service" is?
Yappofloyd
25-06-05, 11:57 PM
Khun ncr, go to the Post site and then click on the Recent Editions button at the top of the page to access the full articles of the past week. I found it in Buisness section here (http://www.bangkokpost.com/230605_Business/23Jun2005_biz53.php) (this link will last until 30th before disappearing into Posts archival summary.
The article says it is on Sathorn road. The US has a joint intelligence, read 'spy' facilyt on Th. Sathorn South between the subway entrance and the French Allianse building. Hard for me to remember exactly but it is almost the first of second plot (white 2/3 storey blgs) just near German embassy so I assume you have been around there.
It may be this site which I understands extends back somewhat.
Thanks.
Well, I know the German Embassy and I know the JUSMAG (Joint US Military Assistance Group) facility next to it, if that is what you mean. However I thought they were still operating (whatever their shady business is).
By the way, the construction of (long delayed, former ghost building) Q House Sathorn at the corner of Rama IV has made a dramatic progress in the last months.
The Enforcer!
26-06-05, 09:17 AM
Sorry Guys,
1) METROPOLITAN
JUSMAG is not the USIS. USIS was in between the Panjabhum building and the (old, now new) Singapore Embassy, directly opposite The Evergreen laurel Hotel.
This is where the Metropolitan is being constructed!!
2) CORNER SOUTH SATHORN/RAMA IV
This is Q-House Lumpini, not to be confused by Q-House Sathorn which is between the German Embassy and the BKI building.
Regards,
The Enforcer!
Khun Enforcer,
thanks for the clarifications.
Yappofloyd
27-06-05, 12:21 AM
Thank you for both of your clarifications.
Yes I did mean JUSMAG and yes I am sure there are lots of 'shady' dealings going on in there. I wasn't sure if it had shut down or not and I can't just pop down the road to check it out at the moment.
Thankfully we have the ever knowledgable Khun Enforcer to help us.
The Enforcer!
28-06-05, 08:10 AM
Yes I did mean JUSMAG and yes I am sure there are lots of 'shady' dealings going on in there.
Yes a friend of mine works then (US Marines) and he wears dark shades on his spectacles!
Thankfully we have the ever knowledgable Khun Enforcer to help us.
Do I get just the tiniest hint of sarcasm here?
The Enforcer!
Yes a friend of mine works then (US Marines) and he wears dark shades on his spectacles!So just what is it that they are doing in there (or is it a secret)???
The Enforcer!
29-06-05, 09:39 AM
So just what is it that they are doing in there (or is it a secret)???
He is a Narcotics Officer I believe ... he rarely says anything about work.
The Enforcer!
Yappofloyd
29-06-05, 03:08 PM
Yes a friend of mine works then (US Marines) and he wears dark shades on his spectacles!
Do I get just the tiniest hint of sarcasm here?
The Enforcer!
Khun Enforcer, although I am prone to such expression, there was no sarcasm intended. It was a genuine statement.
However, it must be said that it matters of sarcastic, witty postings on the forum, I do think that you do lead the pack!
The Enforcer!
30-06-05, 09:11 AM
However, it must be said that it matters of sarcastic, witty postings on the forum, I do think that you do lead the pack!
Much obliged!
The Enforcer!
This is an interesting residential project indeed, only rival in scale by the State Tower (which would have been the undisputed tallest residential building in Bangkok had it not been occupied by the Meritus Suites hotel)!!
Never knew what JUSMAG is. I always thought it's a peace corp, aid organisation.
The Enforcer!
02-07-05, 09:47 AM
Never knew what JUSMAG is. I always thought it's a peace corp, aid organisation.
I am told that it is a throw back from the Viet Nam war, when the USA used Thailand as its local base.
The Enforcer!
I'm creating some 2B Fact Files with various stats... For Bangkok's tallest buildings over the years (http://2bangkok.com/bangkoktallest.shtml), it seems that the Chokechai Building is often cited as Bangkok's tallest building ("a wonder") in the early 1970s...
Does anyone know the chronology of the tallest during this time?
^Ron, I have some doubt about the actual completion date of Chokechai International tower. I believe it was completed in the late 70s or even 1980. It was mentioned in the book "Bangkok by Design". Unfortunately I don't have the book with me.
The Dusit Thani hotel would have been the tallest building during this time, before Chokechai Tower was completed.
The Enforcer!
15-07-05, 01:43 PM
The Dusit Thani (at 82m high) was completed in 1969 and opened in 1970. It reigned as Bangkok's tallest building until 1978 when the Royal Orchid Sheraton (at 101m high) was completed.
I have no records of the Chokechai building ever being Bangkok's tallest!
The Enforcer!
All I have is a Nation article from July 1991 that says "It was little more than two decades ago when Bangkokians were awed by the sight of the first and only high-rise, the 22-storey Chokechai Building..."
Wisarut
15-07-05, 09:51 PM
I got information from Manager Monthly that
"Chokechai Buiding [26 floor] used to be the highest buiding in BKK
since 1968 and it was the building which CIA and US Embassy had
leased the space form Mr Chokchai Boolkul ... There are sill some evident
of the old and high TV Tower on that building"
"At that time, Chokechai had run the contractors for US Armed
Forces ... After Chokechai Building, Choke chai Dary Farm at
Pak Chong is the next biggest thing in Thailand ... Mr Chokechai
hadasked for Loan from Mr Chamnarn Phenchart [owner of Union Bank whcihnow Bank Thai PCL] ...with Chokechai Building as a collateral"
"However, everythign falled apart after october 14, 1973 ...and the
withdrawal of US Troops in 1975 ... all the business of Chokechai Collapsed.
Mr Chamnarn got into financial trouble after Mr Chokechai has default his debts ... Chokechai Building has become an abandoned building after
the US Embassyhad removed theri staffs in that building."
The Building eventually have been sold to Mr Sura Chansrichawala
[the founder of Laemthogn Bank - now Rattanasin Bank] in 1981
with a price tag of 125 million Baht in cash and certificate from KTB
(then about US$5 Million).
The Enforcer!
16-07-05, 09:16 AM
Not wishing to counter our illustrious Wisarut but if Chokechai was built in 1968 it would have been the tallest building for about one year. However, I notice that Chokchai Farm website calls their building the tallest in Bangkok in 1971 which cannot be true as The Dusit Thani is and was taller!
The Enforcer!
.....where is this Chokechai Building located, anyway? :confused:
Sukhumvit Road... not sure of the soi though...
The Enforcer!
17-07-05, 09:46 AM
Isn't it opposite Soi 39 at the foot of the Phrom Phong Skytrain stairs?
The Enforcer!
So it's that gleaming building with gold-coated windows (nowadays HQ of UOB Radanasin Bank or something), mentioned somewhere here before?
A drawing (http://www.skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=37284) and a design study (http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57480&papass=&sort=1) of The Met on Skyscraperpage.com. Proposed height: 210m.
Will be Bangkok's fifth tallest when completed: diagram (http://www.skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?c592)
The Enforcer!
18-07-05, 10:01 AM
So it's that gleaming building with gold-coated windows (nowadays HQ of UOB Radanasin Bank or something), mentioned somewhere here before?
Think so.
The Enforcer!
Thanks for the information khrab Khun Wisarut. Here's a couple of photos I posted earlier. yes Nils, the building is now the head office of UOB Radanasin Bank. photos:
1. circa 1990 - Chokechai is the cream coloured building in the distance
http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~passean/sk90.JPG
2. photo taken in 2003 (note the new facade) http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~pa...uobradnasin.JPG
I'm pretty sure that Rangsan Torsuwan was involved somehow. The Bangkok by design book mentioned that he designed glass facade for the building. May be this was done in 1981 when the new owners took over?
edit: links to second photo doesn't work.. i'll try to upload new photo :)
edit: links to second photo doesn't work.. i'll try to upload new photo :)
It's the "..." in the link that prevents it from working.
Try this... http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~passean/uobradnasin.JPG (http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~passean/uobradnasin.JPG)
planedrummer449
21-07-05, 11:59 PM
I dont know exactly when it was the tallest however I can assure you it was the tallest building at one point in time. My father has told me stories about visiting there when he was young (Note he was born in the 50s..so my guess would be this place the Chokechai record hold in the 60s) and eating steak there.(Not the most exciting story of his life but I found it highly interesting) Oh and I'm not entirely sure about this but I keep hearing from my family that the now Emporium is actually the old Chokechai Building or at least sitting on its former land.....could someone correct me if I'm wrong..so at least I can tell my family that.
-Bo-
The Enforcer!
22-07-05, 09:30 AM
I dont know exactly when it was the tallest however I can assure you it was the tallest building at one point in time. My father has told me stories about visiting there when he was young (Note he was born in the 50s..so my guess would be this place the Chokechai record hold in the 60s) and eating steak there.(Not the most exciting story of his life but I found it highly interesting) Oh and I'm not entirely sure about this but I keep hearing from my family that the now Emporium is actually the old Chokechai Building or at least sitting on its former land.....could someone correct me if I'm wrong..so at least I can tell my family that.
-Bo-
The Chokchai farm site says "The first Chokchai Steak House, established in 1971 on the 23rd floor of Chokchai building, which at that time, was Thailand's tallest building" ... however we know that The Dusit Thani was taller by then as it was opened in 1970!
The Enforcer!
By his own admission, Chokchai was adopted by a very affluent woman. He was at one point employed to work in a West-Coast milking parlor alongside Mexicans.
I half suspect that his fortune did not come from milk, beef & breeding stock alone. None of these occupations are exactly known for their capacity to generate a quick buck:-
http://www.farmchokchai.com/index_e.html
planedrummer449
22-07-05, 10:34 PM
Ahhh ok thanks! But if they say the Chokechai building was taller than the Dusit Thani building at one point....with the stakehouse inside of it there has to be a catch here. According to my father it was the tallest building in 1975 when I asked him. This brings a lot of questions to my mind......is the height of the Dusit Thani including or excluding its spire.... and since I cant find it how many stories tall is each building without any added antennes, spires, etc....and my father makes the suggestion that the Chokechai building wasn't completed until after the Dusit Thani.....but thats from my dad don't yell at me if its incorrect :confused: Hope something in there helps.
-Bo-
The Enforcer!
23-07-05, 10:02 AM
Well The Dusit Thani has a top floor numbered 24, but as with most places has no floor 13, the Floor 1 is called LL (Lower Lobby) but is at road level with Silom and Rama IV so I think it has 23 floors by US numbering and 22 by UK!
The Enforcer!
ajahndon
30-07-05, 12:29 PM
I lived in Thailand 69-76 - I worked for ITT and our main office I believe was on the 14th floor. The military had offices on several surrounding floors and we maintained all the communications for the military (mostly US Army). As someone else posted, I also remember eating steak at the restaurant on the top, and buying some of the best-ever pork at the meat shop on the groundfloor at the entrance to the parking garage behind the Chokchai. Mr. Chokchai also raised Great Danes, or at least had one champion, and he had a statue of his great dane at the entrance - about 2x life size. Later they filmed the James Bond movie, Man With The Golden Gun in Bangkok, the groundfloor was setup as an AMC Car Dealer. The old southern sheriff is test-sitting in a car when Bond jumps in and steals it to make a getaway -- he breaks through the glass front of the building and tears down Sukhumvit Rd. I also remember the small earthquake in Bangkok - which opened a crack in the stairwell of the 13th floor - you could see daylight through. They came and patched it with some plaster --"No sweat, GI".
I have been trying to find the Chokchai Bldg on http://www.earth.google.com (http://) (try it!! It's an amazing program) but its been 29 years and alot about Bangkok has changed. I lived awhile almost in the shadow of the bldg on Soi 26 (I think). If anyone can locate the building on "google earth", please let me know.
It's here (http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=13.729422,100.570489&spn=0.004941,0.007522&t=k&hl=en) on Google Maps (the building with the greenish roof between Phromphong Station and the passing Skytrain).
Somewhat dwarfed by the Emporium nowadays....
So you haven't been here since 1976, ajahndon? (If so, why not?)
By the way, any of the Bangkok veterans have a photo of how Chokechai Bldg. looked back then?
ajahndon
31-07-05, 09:33 AM
Thanks NCR!! And no I haven't been back since 76. My wife has been back several times to see her family in Korat. It just seems we never were able to have enough vacation and enough money all at the same time. Raising 3 boys to be engineers took its toll on time and finances. But they're grown and doing fine now, so we are planning a trip (hopefully all 5 of us) in another year or two. I'm sure it will be great and I expect I'll be like a kid in a candy store - just like I was when I first arrived.
One more story I heard about Chokchai bldg was that during construction, they were driving 10 meter concrete pilings (3 in succession - end to end) into the basement floor as footing. As they drove one, and loaded the 2nd or 3rd in the pile-driver, they often could not hit the top of the last one driven - they would shift that much in the mud&rocks. If they couldn't hit the last one, they'd just keep driving until they did get 3 before moving the driver over. In one case as the 3rd one was just about driven in, the 1st one burst up through the floor of a tailor shop just down the block. Its hard to believe they would shift and bend that much.
I'm sure I don't have any pics of the old building. Most of my pics from that time are on slide film and scanning them into the PC is just one of many things on my to-do list..
With Google Earth, I did find my wife's old house in Korat and the big tamarind tree out front that she used to climb as a kid. Even she was amazed at that!
Thanks again for pointing out the old Chokchai haunt..
Later they filmed the James Bond movie, Man With The Golden Gun in Bangkok, the groundfloor was setup as an AMC Car Dealer. The old southern sheriff is test-sitting in a car when Bond jumps in and steals it to make a getaway -- he breaks through the glass front of the building and tears down Sukhumvit Rd.Oh yes, that grumpy "Sheriff J.W. Pepper", played by Clifton James (compare here (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071807/)). During the car chase, they also pass the square in front of City Hall and you get to see Wat Suthat and the Giant Swing. Damn, we should get stills from that movie and contrast them with current photos!
ajahndon
31-07-05, 07:44 PM
Our receptionist at ITT knew someone in the movie production co. and sweet-talked her way into a small part for herself - as the sheriff's wife. It's been years since I've seen the movie, but there was a scene where the sheriff slips off one of the long-tailed boats and falls in the river - followed by a close-up of her looking shocked and saying "Oh JW!!" or something. Watching the chase scene produced an odd feeling for anyone who knew the city - street scenes from all over the city were strung together as if going down one route. Remember the people jamming the sidewalks in nearly every street scene? All trying to get a glimpse of Roger Moore.. it must've been a nightmare for the director.
Our receptionist at ITT knew someone in the movie production co. and sweet-talked her way into a small part for herself - as the sheriff's wife. It's been years since I've seen the movie, but there was a scene where the sheriff slips off one of the long-tailed boats and falls in the river - followed by a close-up of her looking shocked and saying "Oh JW!!" or something.Yeah, I seem to remember the scene.... thanks for all the anecdotes and insider stories from the past!
Watching the chase scene produced an odd feeling for anyone who knew the city - street scenes from all over the city were strung together as if going down one route.How true. Apart from that, I'd sure want to know which khlong it was that Bond jumped over with his car (while the bad guys following him plunged into it, of course)......
fauster
22-09-05, 12:50 AM
I spent 1972 to 1975 living in the shadow of the Chokechai building on soi 26, Aree Court (if my memory is not failing me) I was told that Chokechai was the tallest in Bangkok and southeast asia. I have no idea if that's true but it's what I was told. My father worked in the Chokechai building with the military contract administration office. I think it was on the 15th floor. I also remember an earthquake around this time period. I was in school at ISB Bangsue campus, (which I hear is gone now) when it hit. My Dad said it was kind of scarry in the building but it was a nice ride! I have pictures of the building from this time, some are in slide form some prints. I will try to find them and post them. :)
I have pictures of the building from this time, some are in slide form some prints. I will try to find them and post them.Oh yes, please! Would be great for everyone to see. :)
All the latest news about what's to rise on the British Embassy plot on the Skyscrapercity forum (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=373608&page=1&pp=20), incl. intense speculation about its height.
The current consensus seems to be that it will be higher than Baiyoke II, but not as high as Pattaya's new supertall condo (http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=1625), Ocean 1 (or Majestic Tower?) (also here (http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=264315); 367 m apparently confirmed), and thus not Thailand's tallest.
Other planned/envisioned BKK developments still in contention for the title:
-Ploenchit Arcade Plot
-Suan Lum Night Bazaar
-Khlong Toey / Port Authority
-Makkasan Complex
One of those could as well snatch back the record from Pattaya if built.
rodfaithai
02-08-06, 11:27 AM
BANGKOK'S 20 TALLEST BUILDINGS - OFFICIAL HEIGHT RANKING
http://www.geocities.com/topsyturvy_6051/20tallest.html
This list will need updating soon with a number of recently completed projects and new projects currently under construction.
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