The Italians who came to Thailand 100 years ago.

[Thermopylae]

For a while (briefly, very briefly) Italians dominated the expat scene in Thailand.

They came here about 100 years ago. They were some of the most talented expats ever to have worked in Thailand.

Who were they?

[Maestro]

Welcome to ThaiVisa.

It is customary on ThaiVisa to give a link to a credible source when making a bold statement such as your statement "For a while (briefly, very briefly) Italians dominated the expat scene in Thailand."

The fact that, in the words of Italy's current ambassador to Thailand, "some of Bangkok’s most famous landmarks were designed and built by his fellow countrymen" in the late 19^th century does not necessarily mean that "Italians dominated the expat scene in Thailand"

In a way, you are contradicting yourself. First you state as a fact that "Italians dominated the expat scene in Thailand" and in the next sentence you profess ignorance about the subject by asking the ThaiVisa members at large who these Italians were.

If your intention is to run a quiz, please say so and this topic can be move to the appropriate forum, ie Farang Pub - fun, entertainment and Expat life

[AlexRRR]

Yes bold statement indeed we all know what nation has had the most influenced in Thailand.

[Jingthing]

Spaghetti kee mao?

[Forethat]

Yes bold statement indeed we all know what nation has had the most influenced in Thailand.

I dont...

[Deserted]

Can I suggest that we create a 'Dire threads' category and that this be moved to it?

[Mossfinn]

crikey, there would be nothing left in General

[Jingthing]

Can I suggest that we create a 'Dire threads' category and that this be moved to it?

Is that pronounced

Die-er

or

Dee-ray?

[Briggsy]

OK, I'll assume it is a guessing game.

I will guess they dominated the Italian restaurant field.

[Deserted]

crikey, there would be nothing left in General

You are right there, often avoid this category, and was quickly reminded why once more

[WhingeingMoaners]

Corrado Feroci (Silpa Bhirasri) - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silpa_Bhirasri

We Thais are truly grateful for everything this gentleman did for us.

[Deserted]

Can I suggest that we create a 'Dire threads' category and that this be moved to it?

Is that pronounced

Die-er

or

Dee-ray?

13298037_640.jpg

Die -er

[Slip]

Can I suggest that we create a 'Dire threads' category and that this be moved to it?

Is that pronounced

Die-er

or

Dee-ray?

13298037_640.jpg

Die -er

Considering the forum rules demand English, it could be nothing else.

[Thermopylae]

Welcome to ThaiVisa.

It is customary on ThaiVisa to give a link to a credible source when making a bold statement such as your statement "For a while (briefly, very briefly) Italians dominated the expat scene in Thailand."

Step 1

Google: "the italians still dominated foreign employement in siam"

Step 2

Check out: "Power, Identity, and the Rise of Modern Architecture: from Siam to Thailand".

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Power-Identity-Rise-Modern-Architecture/dp/1581122012#reader_1581122012

Page 252 discusses the Italians. They were mainly architects, civil engineers, artists, painters, sculptors, etc.

They started coming to Thailand after about 1850. They came in greater numbers following King Chulalongkhorn's visit to Italy in 1898.

This trend to employ Italians (in preference to other Europeans) continued under the reign of King Rama V1 until the early 1930s.

Step 3

Open this PHD thesis. The last paragraph on page 48 is taken from "Power, Identity, and the Rise of Modern Architecture: from Siam to Thailand".

http://www.thapra.lib.su.ac.th/objects/thesis/fulltext/thapra/Nantawan_Muangyai_Doctor/Fulltext.pdf

Step 4

The Faculty of Arts at Chulalongkhorn discusses King Chulalongkhorn's visit to Italy

http://www.arts.chula.ac.th/~italian/members-neungreudee-en.htm

Step 5

Volunteers at the National Museum in Bangkok give an overview of the Italians and their accomplishments.

http://www.museumvolunteersbkk.net/pdf/2011/news/2011/NMVMay_2011.pdf

Step 6

The Tourism Authority of Thailand describe the train station in Hua Hin as the "country's most beautiful".

http://www.tourismthailand.org/See-and-Do/Sights-and-Attractions-Detail/Hua-Hin-Railway-Station--218

ThailandWeb mentions the Italian architect (Ferdinando Canova).

http://www.thailandwebhotel.com/blog/too-close-for-comfort/

Here is a stock photo of the station.

Step 7

One of the best known Italians was Mario Tamagno. He was Chief Architect on a number of projects.

http://www.italyworldsfairs.org/wf_database/mortals/public/57?layout=brief

Step 8

This is where I was hoping for feedback. Apart from Hualamphong, Hua Hin and Songkhla, were any other railway stations designed by Italian architects?

I've written to SRT, but had no real luck. All we got were the architectural drawings for Songklha station (1913).

[pilm]

Did they die upon witnessing a sachet of ketchup on each pizza slice?

[hellodolly]

Did they die upon witnessing a sachet of ketchup on each pizza slice?

Why would they care Pizza came from Greece.

[chickenslegs]

Did they die upon witnessing a sachet of ketchup on each pizza slice?

Why would they care Pizza came from Greece.

I hope they gave the delivery lad a good tip.

[ETatBKK]

Silpakorn University (Thai: ****Thai language removed****) is a well-known public university in Thailand. The university was founded in Bangkok in 1943 by Italian-born art professor Corrado Feroci, who took the Thai name Silpa Bhirasri when he became a Thai citizen. It is the leading Thai university in the fine arts and archaeology^{[citation needed]} and now includes many other faculties as well. It has about 28,000 students.

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

[Forethat]

Did they die upon witnessing a sachet of ketchup on each pizza slice?

Why would they care Pizza came from Greece.

Pffft...chuck a few olives with onions and feta cheese in a Pita bread and you'll get a tasty snack, but it is just as much pizza as the noodles on Soi 8 is Spaghetti Carbonara.

[philw]

Welcome to ThaiVisa.

It is customary on ThaiVisa to give a link to a credible source when making a bold statement such as your statement "For a while (briefly, very briefly) Italians dominated the expat scene in Thailand."

Step 1

Google: "the italians still dominated foreign employement in siam"

Step 2

Check out: "Power, Identity, and the Rise of Modern Architecture: from Siam to Thailand".

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Power-Identity-Rise-Modern-Architecture/dp/1581122012#reader_1581122012

Page 252 discusses the Italians. They were mainly architects, civil engineers, artists, painters, sculptors, etc.

They started coming to Thailand after about 1850. They came in greater numbers following King Chulalongkhorn's visit to Italy in 1898.

This trend to employ Italians (in preference to other Europeans) continued under the reign of King Rama V1 until the early 1930s.

Step 3

Open this PHD thesis. The last paragraph on page 48 is taken from "Power, Identity, and the Rise of Modern Architecture: from Siam to Thailand".

http://www.thapra.lib.su.ac.th/objects/thesis/fulltext/thapra/Nantawan_Muangyai_Doctor/Fulltext.pdf

Step 4

The Faculty of Arts at Chulalongkhorn discusses King Chulalongkhorn's visit to Italy

http://www.arts.chula.ac.th/~italian/members-neungreudee-en.htm

Step 5

Volunteers at the National Museum in Bangkok give an overview of the Italians and their accomplishments.

http://www.museumvolunteersbkk.net/pdf/2011/news/2011/NMVMay_2011.pdf

Step 6

The Tourism Authority of Thailand describe the train station in Hua Hin as the "country's most beautiful".

http://www.tourismthailand.org/See-and-Do/Sights-and-Attractions-Detail/Hua-Hin-Railway-Station--218

ThailandWeb mentions the Italian architect (Ferdinando Canova).

http://www.thailandwebhotel.com/blog/too-close-for-comfort/

Here is a stock photo of the station.

Step 7

One of the best known Italians was Mario Tamagno. He was Chief Architect on a number of projects.

http://www.italyworldsfairs.org/wf_database/mortals/public/57?layout=brief

Step 8

This is where I was hoping for feedback. Apart from Hualamphong, Hua Hin and Songkhla, were any other railway stations designed by Italian architects?

I've written to SRT, but had no real luck. All we got were the architectural drawings for Songklha station (1913).

Nice one and factually correct.

Wasn't Chitralada Palace designed by an Italian ??

[Thermopylae]

Welcome to ThaiVisa.

It is customary on ThaiVisa to give a link to a credible source when making a bold statement such as your statement "For a while (briefly, very briefly) Italians dominated the expat scene in Thailand."

Step 1

Google: "the italians still dominated foreign employement in siam"

Step 2

Check out: "Power, Identity, and the Rise of Modern Architecture: from Siam to Thailand".

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Power-Identity-Rise-Modern-Architecture/dp/1581122012#reader_1581122012

Page 252 discusses the Italians. They were mainly architects, civil engineers, artists, painters, sculptors, etc.

They started coming to Thailand after about 1850. They came in greater numbers following King Chulalongkhorn's visit to Italy in 1898.

This trend to employ Italians (in preference to other Europeans) continued under the reign of King Rama V1 until the early 1930s.

Step 3

Open this PHD thesis. The last paragraph on page 48 is taken from "Power, Identity, and the Rise of Modern Architecture: from Siam to Thailand".

http://www.thapra.lib.su.ac.th/objects/thesis/fulltext/thapra/Nantawan_Muangyai_Doctor/Fulltext.pdf

Step 4

The Faculty of Arts at Chulalongkhorn discusses King Chulalongkhorn's visit to Italy

http://www.arts.chula.ac.th/~italian/members-neungreudee-en.htm

Step 5

Volunteers at the National Museum in Bangkok give an overview of the Italians and their accomplishments.

http://www.museumvolunteersbkk.net/pdf/2011/news/2011/NMVMay_2011.pdf

Step 6

The Tourism Authority of Thailand describe the train station in Hua Hin as the "country's most beautiful".

http://www.tourismthailand.org/See-and-Do/Sights-and-Attractions-Detail/Hua-Hin-Railway-Station--218

ThailandWeb mentions the Italian architect (Ferdinando Canova).

http://www.thailandwebhotel.com/blog/too-close-for-comfort/

Here is a stock photo of the station.

Step 7

One of the best known Italians was Mario Tamagno. He was Chief Architect on a number of projects.

http://www.italyworldsfairs.org/wf_database/mortals/public/57?layout=brief

Step 8

This is where I was hoping for feedback. Apart from Hualamphong, Hua Hin and Songkhla, were any other railway stations designed by Italian architects?

I've written to SRT, but had no real luck. All we got were the architectural drawings for Songklha station (1913).

Nice one and factually correct.

Wasn't Chitralada Palace designed by an Italian ??

Yes. But I can't remember the architects. I know that a fairly large team was involved.

Some of my favorite buildings include:

1. The Railway Hotel in Hua Hin (Chief Architect: Antonio Rigazzi)

2. Mareukatiyawan Palace. Chief Architect: Ercole Manfredi. Chief Engineer: Emilio Gollo

3. The old Customs House in Bangkok (I think this was Joachim Grassi)

4. The original HQ for Siam Commercial Bank. (This was a Tamagno-Rigotti collaboration).