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Jim Thompson House

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Kathy
Kathy
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4 out of 5
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Editor Pick

Peace and Tranquility in Bangkok

  • October 12, 2009
  • Rated 5 of 5 by garymarsh6 from Gravesend, United Kingdom
Peace and Tranquility in Bangkok

Jim Thompson Thai House.

Who was Jim Thompson?

Jim Thompson was an American entrepreneur born in 1906 in Greenville, Delaware. He attended university and trained as an architect. He volunteered to join the Army and became a member of the OSS a forerunner of the CIA and served in France, Northern Africa and Asia. He was trained in jungle warfare and jungle survival.

At the end of the war he was recalled to the USA and discharged from the forces but he knew that with the development of air travel tourism to Asia would take off but there was very little accommodation suitable for Westerners in Bangkok with the exception of the famous Oriental hotel which had seen the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Somerset Vaughn and Noel Coward as patrons. It was a meeting place for the European community out in the East. He became involved in the development of hotels suitable for visiting Europeans.

He noted that the silk was of the finest quality being produced in cottage industries around Thailand and sent to Bangkok for spinning and dying but it was a floundering
Business and the silk produced was only used for ceremonial occasions. This is where he stood in by supporting the weavers and encouraging the industry by setting up the Jim Thompson silk company.

He introduced traditional weaving and a number of new innovations to improve the quality and amount of silk produced. Some of his inventions are still in use today for example he introduced foot pedals to increase the speed of spinning thereby increasing output. He also introduced strict quality control measures to improve the standard of silk production and also instead of vegetable dyes that were used he replaced them with Swiss dye fast dyes.

In 1948 he sold 500 shares to Thai people 51% to the Thais and the remaining 49% to western businessmen raising $25,000. By the 1960’s the annual turn over was in the region of $1.5 million.

Silk became a very sort after commodity and was brought in great amounts to furnish the Suites in the London Savoy hotel, the Canaletto room at Windsor castle the ballrooms and suites at the Hong Kong Hilton and all the costumes used by the actors in Ben Hur. Many fashion houses in the west from Paris to New York bought Thai Silk for producing clothing in colours of the finest of silks.

The main theory and plans was that the majority of the profits made should be invested in improving lives for the people of Thailand and in the 1960’s was awarded an honour of the white elephant by Royal Thai government. Today the industry supports 20,000 Thai weaving families.

He travelled extensively and regularly throughout Burma, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia collecting fine artworks which he brought back to Bangkok with him and displayed in his house.

In 1967 Jim Thompson accompanied friends on holiday to the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia. One afternoon he went out alone into the jungle never to be seen again! Search parties were unable to locate his whereabouts and eventually he was deemed as being missing. There were different theories about his disappearance but without proof none can be substantiated. Bearing in mind he was trained in jungle warfare and jungle survival in the OSS it seems strange that he disappeared without trace . No body has ever been found.

The House.

Today it is a museum displaying many of the antiques he acquired during his life in the Far East. He built a house out of six traditional Thai houses beside one of the canals on the opposite banks where the silk production took place and it is one of the most visited places in Bangkok. The house is built on stilts and cooler air is drawn up from below and the hot air escapes through slots in the roof keeping the house cool. During its construction no metal nails were used only jointing and wooden pegs.


Entering the house grounds you find yourself in a large courtyard surrounded with traditional Thai teak buildings with ornamental ponds and statues. There are trees and exotic foliage landscaped to resemble a jungle setting and exotic orchids in the grounds. You are free to explore some of the smaller rooms around the courtyard that houses some of his artwork and silk work. All visitors to the house have to join a tour which is conducted in English, Japanese and Thai in groups of approximately 10 people which leave every 15-30 minutes.

The house comprises six houses from various parts of Thailand put together to form one large house. Starting at one end of the house you mount the stairs to the guest bedroom which is furnished with many antiques and overlooks the canal. You then pass through the master bedroom and a further guest bedroom after which you come to a gallery that overlooks the massive drawing room. Walking across the gallery you come to another large room that houses more art work and object D’art. The house is tastefully decorated and furnished throughout with fine art works, traditional Asian art and porcelain. Some of the statues date from the 14th century.

You then descend another flight of stairs to the ground floor. You enter an antechamber before walking into the vast drawing room and at the other end of the drawing room there is a library. At the front of the drawing room leading out to a wide terrace that over looks the landing stage on the canal and then you come across the dining room overlooking the Saan Saab canal.

Jim Thompson loved to entertain and frequent entertainments occurred in the house with Traditional Thai dancing displays on the terrace accompanied by local Thai bands. It became a quite prestigious occasion to be on the guest list to one of his evening events and dining on Traditional Thai banquets and drinking cocktails on the terrace before the entertainment began.

The Saan Saab Canal is one of the longest in Bangkok and is quite a busy waterway. The house although in the heart of Bangkok is very peaceful and relaxing and a relief from the hubbub of the noise and excitement of the busy traffic.

Since Jim Thompsons untimely death a foundation was set up and this pours profits from the silk industry to improve the lives of the Thai people. The foundation supports and overlooks the running of his companies, the house and an educational facility for the blind.

Visiting the house.

It is quite easy to reach as it is just opposite the Sky train station at the stadium.
You can also reach it by Tuk tuk or by taxi but I would recommend using the sky train as it is only about 200 meters from the station.

It is open from 09:00 to 18:00 daily the last tour is a 17:00. You are not permitted to visit the house unaccompanied and the guides are very well informed and able to answer all questions without any difficulty.

Price of Admission is 100 Bhat.

Facilities include a shop, restaurant and toilet facilities.
Not suitable for people with mobility problems.

Address:

Jim Thompson House
6 Soi Kasemsan 2,
Rama 1 Road,
Bangkok.

From journal Thailand

Editor Pick

The Jim Thompson House

  • August 15, 2008
  • Rated 5 of 5 by barbara from Atlanta, Georgia
The Jim Thompson House

While we visited the Grand Palace, I have to say I enjoyed the tour we had at the Jim Thompson House more. I think this was because it was a much more intimate site with small tour groups, so it didn't feel overwhelming. Instead, I learned a few things here and felt the time was well spent.

Who was Jim Thompson? He was an American serviceman who worked in Asia as a military intelligence officer during WWII. After the war he returned to Thailand to live and became instrumental in reviving the Thai silk industry. His designs were used for the costumes in The King and I, thus he made his fortune. My son was persuaded to visit Mr. Thompson's house because the gentleman's end is shrouded in intrigue. No one knows what happened to the man, but he disappeared in Malaysia in 1967. His home was opened to the public to raise funds for the James H. W. Thompson Foundation that is focused on preserving Thai heritage.

Where is the house and museum? Near the National Stadium Sky Train station, which is only a stop away from Siam Square, the house is at the end of small and quiet side street, pressed up against the water.

Is there a charge to visit? You can only go through the house on a tour, but the cost of admission is slight. Adults pay 100 baht (less than £2 or $4) and children/students pay half that. You're then given a time for the next tour in your language and allowed to walk around the gardens until the slot comes up.

What was the tour like? As stated, I found the tour fantastic. I do have an interest in architecture, so I loved walking through the traditional Thai buildings that Mr. Thompson had combined to suit both tradition and an American need for space. While he was a Christian, Mr. Thompson adhered to many of the local customs in constructing his house, and we learned about things like why there was a partition over which you had to step in each doorway. According to tradition, this was to keep bad spirits from moving on the floor into new rooms. We also learned that Thai people always remove their shoes when entering buildings because they eat on the floor; therefore, the floor must be kept very clean. Mr. Thompson adhered to Western tradition here though and had a dining room table. Each of the rooms was well thought out and punctuated with the business-man's obvious sense of style. The whole tour took less than an hour, and our guide was pleasant and full of good information.

Is there anything else to do on-site? There is a nice gift shop to visit that sells some Thai silk, of course. I loved some of the patterns used, so I bought my mother-in-law an insanely cute hat for her birthday.

Bottom line? I'd definitely recommend this attraction.

From journal Balmy Bangkok

The Jim Thompson House is One of the Highlights

  • July 27, 2008
  • Rated 4 of 5 by NiceGinna from Evanston, Illinois
Jim Thompson, born in Delaware in 1906, was an American OSS operative in WWII who settled in Thailand following the war. He was an architect with an interest in all art. He promoted hand woven Thai silk and gave the craft a world-wide market. He was a designer and textile colorist, and with these talents he enhanced the growth of this cottage industry.

His simple house and landscaped gardens are a must-see for visitors. Traditionally Thai houses are single rooms built of teak. He took six of these houses, most of them over 2 centuries old, and had them joined together into a large and beautiful home with fabulous furnishings. A Buddhist monk determined auspicious dates for commencing the construction according to astrological elements. The houses were raised on stilts to protect them from the flooding in rainy seasons. Once the home was completed, a monk again determined an auspicious date to move in in the spring of 1959.

In 1967 Thompson disappeared in Malaysia. No trace of him has ever been found.

From journal Two Weeks in Thailand

Editor Pick

Jim Thompson's House - Surprisingly Cool!

  • July 8, 2008
  • Rated 4 of 5 by bettybetty10 from Dallas, Texas
Jim Thompson's House - Surprisingly Cool!

We were not that excited to go to Jim Thompson’s house, but we felt like we should make a stop since we were planning to go to Siam Square. We didn’t really know who he was, and we weren’t sure how interesting his house would be. It was, surprisingly, a very cool museum!!

You are required to go through the house with a tour guide. They’ll put you in groups according to language. The English language tour is quite popular, so there were about 12 people in our group. The tour takes about 30 minutes, and we walk through his garden, living area, bedroom, and more. We’re also given some history of the art that he collected (which is quite antique) and some of the unusual aspects of the house. Then we have some freedom after the tour to wander through two other teak houses, the gardens, and of course, the gift shops and restaurants. There is an upscale restaurant on the premises that was not open in the morning, and its décor, wine list, and menu rivaled any upscale restaurant in New York!

There is also an area for various art exhibitions. At the time of our visit, there was an exhibition featuring various contemporary Thai and Japanese artists who have traveled, lived, studied in both countries. There was a hilarious interactive video game installation, a pillow mountain to climb and slide down, and other paintings and photographs. It’s not a huge area, but it was a fun exhibition to go through (AND there was A/C!)

Next door, there is an art seller who claims that she is deaf, and will communicate to you via notes. The art is actually worth looking at, and very affordable. Although she is deaf, she has a sense of humor and it was fun to interact with her. She also puts on the hard sell, so don’t be afraid to walk away. I recommend stopping by, if only to look!

From journal Hot Hot Hot Bangkok

Editor Pick

Jim Thompson's House

  • January 20, 2008
  • Rated 5 of 5 by SeenThat from Tel Aviv, Israel
Jim Thompson's House

The quick transition from Siam Square – a central commercial quarter – to the quiet alley ending at a narrow, romantic canal contributes to the magic of seeing a wooden hut emerging from a lush tropical garden with lotus ponds at walking distance from the BTS Skytrain and ultramodern Bangkok.

The place is the perfect noon break during a busy shopping day at Bangkok’s main commercial districts.

Teak Houses

Traditional Thai teak houses are becoming a rarity due to the modernization of the cities and the ban on teak logging. A wonderful model of that architectural style - as Thompson’s House is - should be visited and cherished.

Admission

Thompson’s House is open daily, between 9am and 5:30pm; the admission fee is 100 baht. The house includes nowadays a shop and museum which offers – among other items - a broad choice of literature related to its owner and Thai silk.

The Missing Owner

This specific house once belonged to Jim Thompson, officially an American silk entrepreneur, though other stories about the owner are usually told. Apparently, Thompson was a New York architect and agent of the OSS (later to become the CIA), which was involved in clandestine operations in the Far East during the Second World War, before settling in Bangkok at the end of the war and disappearing mysteriously in Malaysia's Cameron Highlands in 1967.

What is known for certain is that after settling in Bangkok, he built up a worldwide clientele for Thai silk; a skill that may have died out otherwise.

He was awarded the Order of the White Elephant, a decoration bestowed upon foreigners for having rendered exceptional service to Thailand, for his contribution to the development of the Thai silk industry.

The Garden

The house is surrounded by a lush garden, probably unmatched in downtown Bangkok in its lushness. The house wood structure seems to naturally emerge from the greenery.

The Canal

Traditionally, Thais lived next to water; thus, Thompson’s House was built next to Klong Maha Nag. In the past the weaving village of Ban Krua was across it, adding hence to the location’s symbolism.

The House

The impressive Thompson’s House complex was constructed without nails from six 200-year-old teak houses which Thompson shipped to Bangkok from all over the kingdom and is a feast to the eyes; its construction was completed in 1959 by carpenters brought from Ayuthaya.

The house walls and columns lean slightly inwards, creating an elegant illusion of height. The roof is curved and includes the traditional spirits’ exits in the shape of curved wood sticks at the roof’s corners.

The tasteful interior has been left as it was during Thompson's life and is nowadays a museum that displays Thompson's fine collection of Asian art, artifacts and antiques.

From journal Bangkok's Attractions

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