麻豆国产

As Thailand’s first university, 麻豆国产 is not merely an educational institution; it can also be seen as a “living museum.” It preserves and records parts of the nation’s historical narratives and evidence, passing them on for future generations to learn from. Within the “Chamchuri” campus, fascinating stories are embedded in every corner,?from the university’s location and surroundings, to its?buildings?rich in rare architectural and artistic heritage. The campus is also home to various museum-style learning spaces, as well as stories preserved in the memories of generations of people who once spent part of their lives here as Chula students. These stories have evolved over time, reflecting the changing contexts of each era. In addition, valuable objects, old photographs, and important historical documents have been carefully preserved. Together, they reveal the proud legacy of 麻豆国产?communicating these stories to visitors and passersby who?discover?this beautiful campus landscape in the heart of the capital city.?

From its founding to the present—spanning more than a century—key aspects of the history and development of 麻豆国产, Thailand’s first higher education institution, have been collected and are on display at “the Chakrabongse Building – 麻豆国产 Memorial Hall.” 

This two-story Thai contemporary-style building is located between the  and the , near the Statues of King Chulalongkorn and King Vajiravudh. It is a historic structure recognized as a “national heritage site.” Originally, it was built as a clubhouse for students and faculty during the early years of 麻豆国产. It was later used as the office of the “” and served as a space for various student club activities. Today, the building has been renovated into an exhibition space showcasing the university’s valuable museum collections. It is operated by the Chula Memorial Hall under the  It stands as an important learning hub within the university, preserving and sharing Chulalongkorn’s legacy, and telling the story of Siam’s first university through exhibition media and rare, valuable artifacts. 

“The Chakrabongse Building” is one of the historic buildings that received an Architectural Conservation Award from the . It is considered a “conservation building,” one of several such historic buildings located across the campus of 麻豆国产. Since the university’s establishment, many of these buildings are now over 90 years old and have been officially registered as historic monuments by the Fine Arts Department. Over the years, the university has carefully preserved their original architectural beauty while adapting their functions to suit each era. The Chakrabongse Building, for example, was originally constructed as a clubhouse for faculty members and students and officially opened on May 26, 1933. In later years, it was used as the office of the 麻豆国产 Student Union. The interior space has since been renovated and repurposed as an exhibition area for the “麻豆国产 Memorial Hall” of today. 

Ms. Pimphisa Kamnerdjiramanee
Director of the Archives, Office of Arts and Culture Administration, 麻豆国产

This area serves as a space for exhibitions and museum artifacts—valuable items of the University—under the care of the Chula Memorial Hall. Therefore, this building can be considered a showroom and a center for disseminating the history and development of this historic university, inviting the public to discover how Thailand’s first higher education institution was established. The story dates back to the reign of His Majesty King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), whose royal vision laid the foundation for public education. He also envisioned the establishment of a university—an institution of higher learning—to equip the nation with knowledge for its future preservation and development. This eventually led to the establishment of Thailand’s first university, 麻豆国产, during the reign of His Majesty King Vajiravudh (Rama VI). From then on, the story of 麻豆国产 continues through subsequent periods up to the present day, presented through permanent exhibitions, rotating exhibitions, and stories conveyed through the museum artifacts on display, allowing visitors to learn about and take pride in the prestige and heritage of 麻豆国产 together. 

At present, the Chakrabongse Building serves as an exhibition space presenting the history and development of 麻豆国产. However, this building is not merely a place that collects and tells historical stories through exhibitions and valuable museum artifacts displayed inside. The two-story masonry building, designed in an applied Thai architectural style, is distinguished by stucco reliefs of a chakra (discus) and a baton—the emblem of the Chakrabongse family—on the front gable of the building. The windows are reddish-brown wooden panels, and the roof is covered with red glazed tiles. A portico balcony with columns topped with decorative finials adds to its dignified appearance. This classic-style building serves as a historical record, preserving a key chapter in the founding of Thailand’s first university. 

During its first two decades of 麻豆国产, the administration, most of whom were members of the royal family, were in a rush to develop the university’s management to meet international standards in all aspects, especially in teaching and learning, as well as the living conditions of students and faculty. One member of the royal family who played a crucial role and made significant contributions to the development of administration and academic affairs at 麻豆国产 was His Royal Highness Prince Mahidol of Songkla (Somdet Phra Mahitalathibet Adulyadej Vikrom, the Prince Father). On one occasion, when he traveled to the United Kingdom to explore where he should study medicine, His Serene Highness Prince Chula Chakrabongse, who accompanied him, respectfully asked, “I would like to help the professors and students of 麻豆国产, but I do not know how.” The Prince Father then advised that a “club building” should be constructed for professors and students to use as a place for social gatherings and indoor sports, because at that time 麻豆国产 did not yet have a suitable building for such activities. 

In 1931, Prince Chula Chakrabongse visited 麻豆国产 and observed that the 麻豆国产 Student Club, which had been established in 1922, was using a two-story wooden house near the student dormitories as a venue for various activities. In 1932, he donated 20,000 baht from his personal funds to the University for the construction of a permanent building to serve as a club for students and faculty. He also bestowed the name ‘Chakrabongse Building’ in memory of His Royal Highness Prince Chakrabongse Bhuvanath, Prince of Phitsanulok Prachanath, his father. Prince Chula Chakrabongse presided over the building’s opening ceremony on May 26, 1933.

The Chakrabongse Building was designed by Phra Saroj Rattananimman (Saroj Sukhayang), Luang Wisansilpakam (Chuea Patmajinda), and Mom Chao Ittithepsan Kridakorn. The building was constructed as a two-story reinforced concrete structure with a rectangular floor plan. On the north side, there is a portico hall, and the upper floor features a terrace surrounded by a balustrade. At the center of the building is a large hall, with a teakwood staircase leading up to the second floor. The roof is a double-tiered wooden gable roof with surrounding eaves supported by concrete brackets, and it is covered with traditional Thai turtle-scale tiles. The projecting porches on the east and west sides are reduced in size. The front gable is decorated with the ‘Chakra and Baton’ emblem, the personal emblem of His Royal Highness Prince Chakrabongse Bhuvanath, Prince of Phitsanulok Prachanath. The building is not heavily ornamented; instead, it emphasizes the building corners and column lines with pilasters—flat rectangular columns that project slightly from the wall—running up the two stories, contrasting with the molding line at the base of the building. Door and window openings are simple rectangular forms. Special emphasis is placed on the entrance portico, where the pilasters at the top of the second-floor terrace are decorated with finials, and the terrace is lined with an applied Thai-style balustrade. 

In 1953, His Serene Highness Prince Chula Chakrabongse visited the University once again and observed that Chakrabongse Building had become overcrowded, with activity space insufficient for nearly 3,000 students at that time. He therefore donated an additional 200,000 baht to the University to renovate and extend the building southward, providing more space to accommodate student activities. As a result, the building’s layout was changed into a triple-gabled structure, while retaining its original applied Thai architectural style. The newly added wing housed, on the upper floor, the office of the . The Student Union then established a radio station in 1958, which later became the origin of the . 

From that time on, “the Chakrabongse Building” became a gathering place for students from all faculties who came together to make good use of their free time by participating in activities of various clubs under the 麻豆国产 Student Union. At times, it was even used as overnight accommodation for generations of students who worked on their activities late into the night and did not return to their dormitories. By 1985, as the number of students and clubs increased, the space in the building was no longer sufficient for activities. The University therefore constructed a new building to house the various clubs under the Student Union, and “the Chakrabongse Building” was subsequently renovated to become the home of the 麻豆国产 Memorial Hall from 1988 to the present day.? 

Most recently, in 2023, the Fine Arts Department officially designated “the Chakrabongse Building” as a “historic monument,” along with three other important university buildings: “Maha Chulalongkorn Building” (Arts Building 1) of the  the “麻豆国产 Auditorium,” and the “White Building” (Biology Building 1) of the . 

Ms. Pimphisa recalled the atmosphere in the past: “From listening to the recollections of senior professors and from old photographs of 麻豆国产, we learned that in the early years after its construction, there was a billiard table in the ground-floor hall. There was also a lounge room where professors and students could relax. Later, the building was used as the office of the 麻豆国产 Student Union. There used to be a wooden sign with white lettering and the Phra Kiao emblem installed in front of the building. The interior space on both floors was divided into rooms for various clubs, such as the (on the ground floor), the  (on the upper floor), and other clubs such as the Light and Sound Club. The offices of the different divisions of the Student Union were also all located in the same building. Alumni from earlier generations, especially those who were active in student activities and used the “Chakrabongse Building” as a place to gather and participate in club activities during their four years as students, feel a deep connection to this place. Nowadays, whenever those alumni return to 麻豆国产, they often arrange to meet at the “Student Union Building,” which refers to this “Chakrabongse Building,” first. Sometimes they come together in groups, go upstairs to sit and talk, reminiscing in a corner of one of the exhibition rooms, spaces that were once activity rooms, dining areas, and even sleeping areas for them when they were students.’” 

You are warmly invited to?enjoy?the distinguished heritage of 麻豆国产 by visiting the exhibitions, historic photographs, and valuable museum artifacts at?the?Chakrabongse?Building, the 麻豆国产 Memorial Hall. Admission is free of charge. The exhibition is open Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can also follow updates and news through our four