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City
aesthetics
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| Contemporary art centre | |||
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Mr Samak enraged art lovers when he announced he was overturning a plan initiated by the Bhichit administration to build a contemporary art centre near Siam Square. Mr Samak's plan was to allow Japan's NISSEI Build (Parking) Co Ltd, a car park operator, to invest around 700 million baht to build the art centre in exchange for the right to build a pay-car park with a 600-vehicle capacity. He said his plan would spare the city the need to invest 300 million baht of its own to develop the project. The company plans an 11-storey building with six floors for parking, four for a shopping plaza and only one floor for the art centre. Civic groups have criticised Mr Samak's idea. The original plan was to have used a contest-winning design |
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| The National Theatre | |||
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The Committee for Conservation and Development of Krung Rattanakosin and Old Towns in May proposed a plan to move the National Theatre near Sanam Luang to the foot of Rama VIII bridge in Bang Yi Khan, in bid to improve the view of the ancient Wang Na palace. Mr Samak objected, arguing that the building did not block the view. He said it would be inappropriate to place the theatre under the bridge and its presence would affect the city's plan to build a parking lot there . |
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| Sanam Luang underground car park | |||
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Mr Samak first proposed an underground car park in 1997, as a deputy prime minister and chairman of the Rattanakosin conservation committee. As Bangkok governor, Mr Samak revived the project, claiming that the 12-metre-deep car park would relieve a shortage of parking, especially for tour coaches. The lot would have two sections, one with two 5m-high levels to accommodate 250 coaches, and the other 3m-high levels for 500 private cars. Private firms would be invited to bid for the construction contract. Srisakra Vallibhotama, a scholar and former lecturer at Silpakorn University, said the plan was harmful to the landscape of Old Bangkok. "The car park will destroy the image of the original Phra Meru grounds, which personifies Old Bangkok,'' he said. The building would clash with the area's ancient structures and end the "life" of Sanam Luang. Atcha Kawbuakesorn, a lecturer at Burapa University's department of geography, said the plan could result in increased traffic congestion. That may harm the existence not only of Sanam Luang, but other surrounding historical sites as well. |
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| National convention | |||
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Mr Samak envisages a new convention centre with a tower, restaurants and historical museum, capable of holding 10,000 people at once. Industry leaders praise his vision, saying it would help promote Bangkok's tourism and service industry. But critics said Bangkok already has three convention halls that are not fully booked: Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, Bitec and Impac . |
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