Parliament's costly legacy

Many years ago, national artist Theeraphol Niyom was one of the architects who helped design the current parliament building, Sappaya-Sapasathan, which is situated on the Chao Phraya River, On one occasion, he told the media that the parliament's blueprint was drawn to inspire elected members and senators to do good things and fear bad deeds.

- 

To that end, the team’s architects were inspired by classic literature, specifically Trai Bhum Phra Ruang, a Thai epic about the three worlds: earth, heaven, and hell, which included lessons about karma.

While parts of the building are modern and built for environmental conservation reasons, it incorporates a structure that connotes moral and spiritual concepts.

At the heart of the building, the golden krueang yot finial pagoda decorative spire is meant to look like Mount Sumeru, part of heaven.

The valid question is whether the Thai parliament can serve its noble goal.

Hopefully, it is.

Yet, at this stage, just four years after its opening, Sappaya-Sapasathan has regrettably become a symbol of how taxpayers’ money has been spent irresponsibly and lavishly.