Guardians of heritage

Overlooking the Chao Phraya River as it follows its majestic course under the iconic Rama VIII Bridge, the portico balcony of Tamnak Yai -- the principal building of Devavesm Palace in Bangkok -- provides a view that is serene and spectacular.

"Not many people get to enjoy this view every day," said Sumaivadee Mekasut, assistant director for Learning Center Management at the Bank of Thailand (BoT) -- the present owner of Devavesm Palace. Sumaivadee has worked at the BoT for 37 years, the first 17 of which were spent as an archivist before she devoted herself to caring for precious collections at the BoT Museum and giving bespoke heritage tours for special guests.

Now approaching retirement, Sumaivadee recollects fond memories of Devavesm Palace, such as how the third-storey bedchamber at Tamnak Yai once served as an office for BoT Museum staff. Pointing to the far corner of the room, she said: "I used to sit right there."

She also recounted that during dress rehearsals for the royal barge procession, exquisitely ornate barges would assume their fleet formation not far upriver from the Floating House, one of the four subsidiary buildings of Devavesm Palace still extant today. Finishing her work in the late afternoon, Sumaivadee would find time to behold them from the vantage point of Tamnak Yai as they made their graceful journey to Wat Arun. She explained that distinguished guests -- among them the late Queen Elizabeth II, who visited Thailand in November 1996 as part of the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of King Rama IX's accession to the throne -- could witness the procession up close from the Floating House itself.

Devavesm Palace was constructed between 1914 and 1918 at the behest of King Vajiravudh (Rama VI). The palace was a gift to the king's uncle, Prince Devawongse Varopakarn (1858–1923), whose distinguished tenure as foreign minister spanned the reigns of Rama V and Rama VI.

Prince Devawongse was personally involved in the construction and selection of decoration materials for Tamnak Yai. For instance, according to Saranya Buranavittayawut, associate director for Facilities Engineering Systems Management at the BoT, the prince was initially offered white roof tiles, but he refused them and insisted on red ones. 

"The architectural design reflects the prince's outlook," observed Saranya. In contrast to the exuberant Neo-Baroque style of nearby Bang Khun Phrom Palace, the Neoclassical balance and elegant simplicity of Devavesm Palace perhaps reveal something of the prince's analytical mind -- the very mind responsible for developing Thailand's first solar calendar, in which the name of each month is suffixed according to its number of days.

"The Neoclassical style of Tamnak Yai was appropriately adapted to our tropical climate, featuring windows that were designed to provide good ventilation during the summer," Saranya explained.

"Few people are aware that the panels underneath the windows can be opened as well," Sumaivadee remarked before proceeding to open one. "And when it rained, I would rush to help the housekeeping staff close all the windows," she added good- humouredly.

Upon Prince Devawongse's death in 1923, his heirs inherited Devavesm Palace and resided there until the Ministry of Public Health bought the land and buildings in 1950. When the BoT acquired ownership of the estate in 1987, a master plan was devised whereby the two riverside palaces of Devavesm and Bang Khun Phrom would be preserved as scenic landmarks, while a new BoT head office building (Building 1) would be expressly designed to serve as a modern backdrop to complement the combined heritage sites.

Saranya said she fell in love with the place as an undergraduate student at Silpakorn University, where she majored in architecture and thus had a chance to accompany a professor on a visit to neighbouring Bang Khun Phrom Palace.

"It was so beautiful," she said. "I wanted to work here." Her big chance arrived in 1993 when the BoT was seeking an architect to oversee the massive revitalisation project of Devavesm Palace grounds and buildings. Saranya jumped at the opportunity and joined the restoration effort at Tamnak Yai. "The BoT worked closely with the Fine Arts Department to ensure authentic restoration," said Saranya. At Tamnak Yai, every minutia was scrutinised. The provenance of handles and hinges for doors and windows was ascertained. Hair dryers were brought in to carefully melt away accumulated layers of repainting and expose the original colour. Moreover, Sumaivadee mentioned that any new addition, such as the air conditioning system, was installed in an unintrusive and aesthetically thoughtful way.

Every aspect of the restoration process was meticulously documented, and permanent exhibits dedicated to the conservation project as well as to Prince Devawongse's life and work are now housed in two rooms on the ground floor of Tamnak Yai.

The impressive restoration of Tamnak Yai received an Honourable Mention in 2005 as part of the Unesco Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation, which has recognised the successful conservation of structures, places and properties of heritage value in the region over the past two decades. The award citation highlighted the "sophisticated research into the historic building fabric, deployment of appropriate building materials and techniques, and sensitive adaptations for modern use".

Today, Devavesm Palace continues to be fastidiously maintained. "The ground floor of Tamnak Yai is cleaned every morning, and the upper floors every afternoon," noted Sumaivadee.

One key issue that required close attention was the gradual leaning of Tamnak Yai, which likely resulted from its soft riverside foundation. Indeed, an incline towards the Chao Phraya River is markedly perceptible when one stands on the 2nd floor balcony. Nevertheless, Saranya affirmed that measures have been taken to mitigate the impact of the leaning, and Tamnak Yai is regularly monitored to ensure its stability and safety.

The spirit of a place may be preserved and honoured through material authenticity and integrity. But ultimately, that spirit becomes imbued with human significance when it is rendered expressive by people who cherish and lovingly look after the place -- those dedicated few whose own life stories and aspirations have become closely intertwined with the heritage that they strive every day to safeguard for future generations.

This story is originally published on Bangkok Post