Tucked away on a quiet, narrow street two blocks from Bangkok's chic Siam Square shopping mall is the Jim Thompson House. A military officer in Bangkok following World War II, the American Jim Thompson fell in love with Bangkok and decided to return and live there permanently.
Jim Thompson, an architect by trade, constructed his house by combining six teak buildings representing the best of Thai architecture. Many of these buildings were over 200 years old at the time and were easily dismantled and moved from places such as the old capital of Ayudhya. Adhering to customs of traditional Thai homes, Thompson had his houses elevated a full story above the ground so as to avoid flooding during the rainy season. Just beyond the thick foliage of the property is the river, still used for efficient transportation. The fired roof tiles also follow the old style. The red paint we see is a preservative typical of old Thai buildings.
Inside, the house is a mixture of traditional and Western styles. A large flat sofa in the living room provides an area for a nap or meeting guests. Statues of Buddha and rare Buddhist paintings adorn the walls. Chinese commodes cleverly disguised as ceramic frogs and cats sit in the bedrooms. Elevated thresholds prevent babies from crawling out and evil spirits from entering. Jim also added some modern amenities such as a full table with chairs, chandeliers, and toilet.
Jim Thompson moved into his house on a spring day in 1959, the date designated as auspicious by an astrologer he visited. Thompson began amassing a collection of Asian art that began to draw considerable interest, enough so that he opened his house to the public. Donated funds went to Thai charities and projects that aimed to preserve Thailand's rich cultural heritage.
Aside from the homes, art collection and beautiful garden, Jim Thompson is credited with reviving the ancient Thai craft of silk handweaving. Combining his design and textile coloring skills, Thompson directed the creation of high-quality silk products that are still highly revered today.
While on a trip to the highlands of Malaysia in 1967, Thompson mysteriously disappeared without a clue or trace. In 1976 the James H.W. Thompson Foundation was established, continuing the preservation of Thailand's rich artistic and cultural heritage. The Foundation supports research, publications, and seminar projects to further its mission.
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