Architect blasts plan to alter parliament building

National artist urges respect for designers' blueprint and vision, writes Aekarach Sattaburuth

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Chatree Ladalalitsakul, National Artist and chief architect of the new parliament building, has opposed several plans to renovate it, calling the structure a major national artwork that should not be altered without the original designers' consent.

"For 10 years, we have remained silent despite the defamation. The parliament is one of the most important architectural works of the nation in the past century. As the designer, I’ve defended this work for a decade at great personal cost. Now that the project has been handed over, I can no longer protect it.

"I was asked to remain quiet, but I find it deeply frustrating," Mr Chatree said on Thursday when he was in parliament to submit a letter to the Senate subcommittee on creative arts opposing plans for modification.

He noted that four national artists contributed to the design. In architecture, post-completion modifications are rare due to their aesthetic and functional implications. Any such changes must be made with the consent of the original designers.

"This building is a piece of national art. You can’t just tack something on wherever you like," he said.

INSUFFICIENT PARKING

Mr Chatree recalled past accusations that the architects failed to comply with legal requirements. In fact, the design adhered to the Terms of Reference (ToR), which were drafted by legal experts, including the then president of the Association of Siamese Architects and officials from the Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning. These experts knew from the outset that 2,000 spaces would not suffice.

Parking was always intended to be supplemented by nearby military facilities and Wat Kaew Fah.