Museum in Pattaya damaged in fire

By The Nation

 

 

Baan Sukhawadee, an iconic building in Pattaya city, Chonburi province, was damaged by a fire on Wednesday (July 1). Police are investigating the cause of the fire.

 

The building, now converted into a museum, belongs to Dr Panya Chotithewan, owner of one of the country's largest chicken farm, Saha farms.

 

The museum contains a beautiful collection of antique arts, iconography, architecture and statues in various styles including Thai, classical European, Catholic, Hindu, Buddhist, Islamic and Hollywood.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30390598

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-07-01

 

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Is that not the place where there was no planning permission and the owner (chicken farmer) has been told to demolish it ?

14 minutes ago, canopus1969 said:

Is that not the place where there was no planning permission and the owner (chicken farmer) has been told to demolish it ?

 

Driven past that place a hundred times, I knew a rich chicken farmer lived there but had no idea it was also a museum open to the public. Was there the usual double-pricing to get in?

There is a museum in Pattaya?

 

I thought the places of collected old things was the beer bars.

Live near there and saw the smoke ,funny you saying its arson ,because the wife was talking to a neighbor just now and she said its more than likely they burnt it themselves to get insurance as no tourists .

Troll post removed

Fire destroys Pattaya tourist attraction Sukhawadee House

By Pattaya Mail

 

Fire destroyed major sections of Pattaya tourist attraction Sukhawadee House on Wednesday.

 

Fire destroyed major sections of Pattaya tourist attraction Sukhawadee House on Wednesday, just as it was preparing to reopen from shutdowns forced by city hall and the coronavirus.

 

The blaze began before 10:30 a.m. in the ornate Buddhabaramee building, spreading along the carpeting to plush furniture, up the walls and across the ceiling. The building showcases invaluable Buddha figures and relics.

 

Crews from 20 fire trucks battled the inferno for more than four hours. From there the fire spread to the 5,200-sq.-meter domed structure acclaimed for its wooden architecture and raced across the upper floors. Flames and intense heat caused catastrophic damage, including to the building’s superstructure.

Full story: https://www.pattayamail.com/featured/fire-destroys-pattaya-tourist-attraction-sukhawadee-house-306070

 

 

-- © Copyright Pattaya Mail 2020-07-02

 

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Hats off to the fireman and their pre-WW2 fire engines !

12 hours ago, Guderian said:

Driven past that place a hundred times, I knew a rich chicken farmer lived there but had no idea it was also a museum open to the public. Was there the usual double-pricing to get in?

There was a time you could get in at the thai price by just showing a driving licence 

 

 Bye bye world class museum of Kitsch.

 

 

 

Edited July 1, 20206 yr by Enoon

Last April the city went in to bulldoze buildings "b" and "c" as those were built on public land. The 2 buildings demolished in April were a small (75 sqm) shed and a single story, 1,400 sqm building.

Not sure which building the museum is. However the Pattaya Mail article claims the fire did the "city's work for them".
Supposedly the city had cited khun Chotitawan last December over two 5 story buildings that were built on land he didn't own. I"m guessing this building was one of those two.

"Damage to the property initially was estimated at 200 million baht with untold more to religious artifacts. It is insured for 2 billion baht."

According to the story, the staff turned on the power and heard an explosion. 

It will probably be determined that the fire started in an electrical panel. Maybe something eroded while the place was shut down and then went "pop" when the power was turned back on.
Nothing suspicious to see here. Move on.

It's kind of a win/win situation though. The city gets rid of the building and the owner gets an insurance settlement to compensate him. Which he wouldn't have gotten if the city had moved in and demolished the place themselves.

15 hours ago, Guderian said:

Driven past that place a hundred times, I knew a rich chicken farmer lived there but had no idea it was also a museum open to the public. Was there the usual double-pricing to get in?

For many many years it was completely free, and quite an interesting visit. The pay requirements were introduced about when mass Chinese became the norm.

16 hours ago, canopus1969 said:

Is that not the place where there was no planning permission and the owner (chicken farmer) has been told to demolish it ?

That fire is referred to in Germany as a 'hot demolition', one is saved the demolition costs and you even get money from the insurance company. In England you could say it was an act of god in the nick of time.

Edited July 2, 20206 yr by soalbundy

1 hour ago, Kerryd said:

"Damage to the property initially was estimated at 200 million baht with untold more to religious artifacts. It is insured for 2 billion baht."

 

1 hour ago, Kerryd said:

It's kind of a win/win situation though. The city gets rid of the building and the owner gets an insurance settlement to compensate him. Which he wouldn't have gotten if the city had moved in and demolished the place themselves.

That's an interesting comment.

Makes you wonder if there was perhaps some forward-planning involved?

 

 

Also from the Pattaya Mail article:

"Mayor Sonthaya Kunplome has made prosecuting Panya, a billionaire poultry baron, a priority, arguing that the law must be applied both rich and poor, regardless of social class."

 

If the legal arguing carries on, Panya might eventually become 'a pawltry baron'.

17 hours ago, canopus1969 said:

Is that not the place where there was no planning permission and the owner (chicken farmer) has been told to demolish it ?

Right on the money; I just hope the chicken farmer was wisely advised as far as fire insurance is concerned. Reminds me of the "Big Bell" with some offices of the finance ministry -  which reopened after extensive "renovations" - without finance ministry offices ???? 

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

For many many years it was completely free, and quite an interesting visit. The pay requirements were introduced about when mass Chinese became the norm.

Yes we live quite close and used to visit it ,went to the museum last time when they had one of Bhuddas bones there ,but once they started charging didnt bother ,you used to be able to walk through to the seafront ,they stopped that as well ,to all chicken lovers ,they have been selling two roast chickens for 155 baht for ages ,just drive in .

19 hours ago, canopus1969 said:

Is that not the place where there was no planning permission and the owner (chicken farmer) has been told to demolish it ?

Certainly is must be looking at some way to recuop some money.

Libelous post removed

It would seem the Thai insurance industry is complicit in unlawful activities, they sell policies for properties with no planing permission.

On 7/2/2020 at 4:00 AM, webfact said:

The building showcases invaluable Buddha figures and relics.

Not a problem. Replacements can be had at Chatuchak.