The So Heng Tai Mansion (Thai: บ้านโซวเฮงไถ่, from Chinese: 蘇恒泰) is a nineteenth-century Chinese courtyard house in the historic neighbourhood of Talat Noi in Bangkok. It was built by Phra Aphaiwanit (Chat, of the So (蘇) clan, 1813–1849), a Hokkien Chinese bird's nest tax farmer with ancestry from Fujian who eventually joined the nobility under King Rama III.[1][2][3] His descendants include many prominent Thai businessmen, celebrities and politicians including Korn Chatikavanij. The house has continuously been inhabited by his descendants, including one branch who now form the Poshyachinda family. It is one of the last remaining traditional Chinese houses in Bangkok and claims to be the oldest private residence in the city. A Thai Chinese tycoon reportedly offered to buy the residence for 2 billion baht, an offer turned down by the family.[4] Today, it also operates as a diving school, a pool having been built in the courtyard in 2004. The house has at times been opened to the public, especially since 2014 when the Talat Noi area was promoted as a cultural tourism destination. Multiple organizations have offered assistance in its restoration, though lack of government support has largely left maintenance of the house to the family's own expense.[5][6][7][8]
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See also
edit- Wanglee House, a Chinese courtyard house in Khlong San District
References
edit- ^ Wancharoen, Supoj (14 June 2014). "A beautiful family history". Bangkok Post.
- ^ Teerapan Leelavansuk (7 May 2018). "Dive me home: จากคฤหาสน์แบบจีนโบราณสู่โรงเรียนสอนดำน้ำกลางเมืองเก่า ที่ยังคงคุณค่าของคำว่า 'บ้าน'". The Cloud (in Thai).
- ^ Khetsirin Pholdhampalit (2 June 2012). "A house of many stories". The Nation.
- ^ Tibor Krausz (24 March 2020). "Bangkok mansion, city's oldest private residence, still owned by family that built it 200 years ago, who say 'Selling it would be like selling out'". South China Morning Post.
- ^ "Sol Heng Tai Mansion". Bangkok River. Bangkok River Partners. 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
- ^ Tanmanasiri, Natanit; Bunphen, Wanphen (3 January 2018). "Old means Gold: The Renewal of 3 Old Districts in the Heart of Bangkok". TCDC website. Thailand Creative & Design Center. Retrieved 16 December 2018. Originally published as "Old means gold: 3 ย่านเก่าทำใหม่ใจกลางกรุงเทพฯ". คิด: Creative Thailand (in Thai). 9 (4): 24–27. January 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
- ^ Wattanasukchai, Sirinya (5 January 2017). "Heritage property owners deserve support". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
- ^ ภัทรียา พัวพงศกร (26 September 2014). "แสงสุดท้ายของบ้านโซวเฮงไถ่". Sarakadee Magazine (in Thai).