The demolition of the Scala Theatre, Dusit Thani Hotel and Siam Intercontinental Hotel had widespread media coverage. However, many people may not know that other important modern structures such as the old parliament building, Arkanmai at Suan Amporn and the Telephone Organization of Thailand building in Chidlom were also demolished. As time passes, more examples of modern architecture are gradually vanishing without the attention and knowledge of most people.
Since 2016, Weerapon Singnoi, an architectural photographer, has been photographing significant structures of Thai modernism and posting them on foto-momo.com, facebook.com/fotomomo.project and instagram.com/foto_momo in an attempt to capture these buildings before they are demolished. In addition to photos, facebook.com/fotomomo.project provides knowledge about modernism and news of global modern architecture.
"The objective of the fotomomo website and the other social media is to be an archive of Thai modern architecture. When I started creating these online platforms, I did not have much information about modernism, so I searched for information and found docomomo.com, which is a database of modern buildings around the world in which many architectural academicians are involved. The website inspired me to call my website fotomomo, but I am not an academician. I am just a photographer, so fotomomo concentrates on images," Weerapon explained.
Weerapon said architectural academicians have different opinions about the time period of the modern movement.
"Some academicians say modernism started in 1919 when Germany's Bauhaus art school, famous for its aesthetic design, was established. Some historical academicians said it began with the Crystal Palace, which was part of The Great Exhibition of 1851 in London. The Crystal Palace had a glass structure that was extraordinary at that period. Some people believe that modernism ended in 1972 when many apartments were demolished in Missouri, USA. As for Thailand, I think the modernism period is between 1932 and 1977," said Weerapon.
Life spoke to Weerapon about modern architectures and his online platform fotomomo.
Can you tell us about Amorn Sriwong, the late architect who inspired you to establish fotomomo?
I went to take photos of the pumpkin building designed by Amorn at Prince of Songkla University in 2016. I was impressed with its unusual structure, which had a sci-fi vibe. I was surprised because the pumpkin building was built in 1967. I searched more about Amorn and discovered that he was a self-taught architect who started his career in the construction field. Amorn designed many university buildings including for Chiang Mai University, Khon Kaen University and Prince of Songkla University during the early period of establishment of universities in Thailand.
What do you find attractive about modern architecture?
Its structures. The idea behind those architectural structures was that architects wanted to make their lifestyle more modern, so they used construction technology to create a beautiful engineering structure.
How did you choose which buildings to post on fotomomo?
I took photos of buildings that were constructed from 1932 to 1977. The buildings are not traditional Thai style; they have more of an international design and were built with concrete, which is a prominent material of the modernism period. I also selected buildings that I personally like. I sometimes mistook buildings to be of the modern period, but they are not. Two examples are the elephant building and robot building in Bangkok. Academicians told me these buildings are post-modern because their designs have specific shapes, which is a feature the modernism period does not have.
Is Hua Lamphong an example of modern architecture?
Members of Docomomo Thailand voted that Hua Lamphong is modern architecture. I personally think modern architecture should have a plainer structure; Hua Lamphong has pillars with Roman design. However, it can be considered a part of modernism because of its construction technology. Its curved roof is very wide, so modern technology to build its steel structure to support the roof was required.
Is there any important modern building that you did not photograph?
Yes. I did not photograph the Siam Intercontinental Hotel and Arkanmai at Suan Amporn. I was a student when Siam Intercontinental Hotel was demolished in 2002. I did not think about photographing it, but when I saw its photos from other sources, I became aware of its value. My greatest regret is not taking photos of Arkanmai at Suan Amporn. It was a building with a folding concrete roof, but it was not open to the public.
How did you gather information about modernism to post on your online platforms?
I know Rerkdee Potiwanakul, a guest lecturer at the Faculty of Architecture, Silpakorn University. He collects clippings from print media and other sources and he gave me access to his collection. I follow Facebook accounts of university lecturers and academicians and read their posts.
I also collect journals of architecture. An unusual source is commemorative books that are given away at funerals. I bought them from second-hand book stores. These books are about deceased people who were millionaires who owned buildings like malls, hotels and theatres, or architects.
What are some challenges in photographing architecture?
Unlike portrait photography, I cannot tell the buildings to turn their angles. Hence, I have to move around to find intriguing angles and outstanding features of the buildings. Taking photos on weekdays and weekends will have different results. I sometimes had to return to a building for a reshoot because cars were parked in front of it. I sometimes arrived at a venue at the wrong time and the images turned out to be silhouettes, so I had to go back again.
Can you tell us more about Vann Molyvann, the late Cambodian architect, since his work appeared on fotomomo?
He was a world-renowned architect who graduated in France. His design combined Cambodian art with Western style. He designed structures to be suitable for tropical weather. His projects were massive, such as the National Olympic Stadium Phnom Penh, Chaktomuk Conference Hall and Preah Suramarit National Theatre. The National Olympic Stadium Phnom Penh was built when Cambodia aimed to be a candidate to host the Olympics.
Why should we preserve modern architecture?
Architecture is another kind of art that has value. By the time people realise the value of these modern buildings, they may no longer exist. When tourists visit other countries, they like to take photos of old buildings. I understand that we do not have to preserve all of them because many people do not find these buildings beautiful, but some should be preserved.
After the demolition of Scala Theatre, is it possible that all modern architecture in Thailand will be demolished too?
It is possible. Everything changes with time. After the demolition of Scala Theatre, I realised that voices from small groups of people are not enough to make changes. I saw many comments online that said they did not see the value of modern architecture.
How do you benefit from the establishment of fotomomo?
It has broadened my horizons. I participated in a project, mASEANa [modern Asean architecture], which was organised by Tokyo University. I travelled to Southeast Asian countries to participate in seminars about modernism and had opportunities to visit places that are not open to tourists, such as a parliament building in Malaysia. I held photo workshops for architecture students in Cambodia and Malaysia.
I was invited by the Embassy of Mozambique to take photos of the embassy office in Mozambique in southern Africa. Mozambique used to be a Portuguese colony, so there are many art deco buildings. I discovered that in other countries, modern architecture is also being demolished, so we are not alone.
