Samphraeng Community Museum

Samphraeng community is situated in old town Bangkok. It is comprised of three phraengs (intersections); Bhuthon, Nara, and Sanphasat. Worawan Palace, built in the reign of King Rama V is one of the oldest historic building in the center of phraeng Nara. It was used as a theater for the first exclusive Thai opera group. Later on, it was transformed into a school and lastly to a law office, but is now abandoned. 

To restore its prosperous days of art and culture, the main concept is to bring back the ambience of Thai civilization era (Westernized Thai) and convert into a museum that tells stories about its rich culture and  history up until Samphraeng as a community today.

Historic timeline of the building usage

Existing architecture

The museum flow starts from the inner court, connected to the outdoor stairs, to enter the building on the second floor. Visitors face a reception that leads to the ‘Theater Area’ with Thai opera performances and information about its primary stage of the opera house for aristocats and royalties in Thailand. Afterwards, the interior stair leads visitors down to ‘History of Samphraeng’, ‘Humans of Samphraeng’, ‘Samphraeng today’, and ends with a museum cafe and store. In between the flow, one can go out to the veranda overlooking large outdoor space below that can be held temporarily for the community’s street food market.