• 
• 
• 

Suratchai Kuenghakit, 47, managing director of The Emperor House, a top-rated builder of luxury residences, has long been a champion of neo-classical architecture in Thailand.|Over the past two decades, he has built more than 40 mansions for Thai individuals with high net worth and his current construction project is the most expensive to date.

"We've been working on this project for nearly two years. The mansion is being built on a seven-rai plot on the Thon Buri side of Bangkok.

"It will cost a total of Bt250 million when it's finished, excluding the cost of land. The place has a total space of 2,500 square metres with six rooms, a swimming pool, a spa etc.

"It's not a sprawling place, but the interior design and decor are of the best quality. The owner is a highly successful 40-year-old businessman in the energy-saving light-bulb business.

"Of the Bt250-million price tag, the building's structure itself costs around Bt70 million, while interior design and decor account for Bt120 million.

"Italian marble, best-quality teakwood and other imported materials, including gold-leaf paint, are being used, while all the furniture is imported and costs around Bt40 million.

"I can say that the quality of interior design and decor of this place is better than those of some old palaces in Thailand. In addition, the gardens and spa etc will cost another Bt20 million to Bt30 million.

"It's probably the most expensive project of its kind in Thailand at the moment. Five years ago, I built another mansion which cost about Bt217 million, slightly cheaper than the current one," says Suratchai, a civil engineer by training.

From the outside, Suratchai's mansions often feature Roman columns and other neo-classical architectural elements.

This style has long been popular among some rich businessmen in Thailand largely because of its long-lasting beauty.

"In my opinion, it's a status symbol, especially among Thai business people whose predecessors came from China.

"They worked very hard to become successful so they now want to pamper themselves. For many of the older generation, possessing a Mercedes, a Rolex or a neo-classical mansion appears to satisfy this need.

"They want to be somebody special after spending most of their lives making money.

"I'm often asked why the neo-classical style is so popular in a tropical country like Thailand. Why not traditional Thai architecture or post-modern styles?

"In my opinion, the neo-classical style, which includes elements of Roman, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture, is enduring. It's never out of date.

"My first clients are still happy with houses I built for them 20 years ago as most of these places remain a symbol of their social status.

"However, there has also been criticism, largely because the style is often misused and out of place. For example, I often run into small buildings whose Roman columns are not in proportion to the size of the overall structure.

"Such low-quality copying has hurt the reputation of this market segment, so I ensure that we never compromise on the ratios and proportions of our work.

"You cannot stick one or two Roman columns in front of a row of shop houses regardless of the entire structure's overall proportion. Sadly, that's often done here," he says.