# Sappaya-Sapasathan

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Parliament building of Thailand

Sappaya-Sapasathan สัปปายะสภาสถาน The "Chulamani Chedi" on the center of Sappaya-Sapasathan in 2023 Interactive map of the Sappaya-Sapasathan area General information Architectural style Thai Contemporary Location Kiakkai, Thanon Nakhon Chai Si, Dusit, Bangkok, Thailand Coordinates 13°47′45″N 100°31′02″E / 13.795823°N 100.517282°E / 13.795823; 100.517282 Construction started 8 June 2013 Completed 1 May 2021; 5 years ago (1 May 2021) Client National Assembly (2019–present) Technical details Floor count 11 Floor area 424,000 m2 Grounds 300,000 m2 Design and construction Architect Theerapol Niyom Website www.parliament.go.th

**Sappaya-Sapasathan** ([Thai](/source/Thai_language): สัปปายะสภาสถาน, [RTGS](/source/Royal_Thai_General_System_of_Transcription): **Sappayasaphasathan**, pronounced [\[sàp.pāː.já(ʔ).sā.pʰāː.sā.tʰǎːn\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Thai)) is the third and current meeting place of the [National Assembly of Thailand](/source/National_Assembly_of_Thailand), the bicameral legislative branch of the [Government of Thailand](/source/Government_of_Thailand).[1] It is located in [Bangkok](/source/Bangkok) on the east bank of the [Chao Phraya River](/source/Chao_Phraya_River) in [Kiakkai](/source/Kiakkai) neighbourhood of the [Dusit District](/source/Dusit_District). It is the world's largest parliament building with 424,000 m2 of floor space.[2]

Once completed, [Parliament House MRT station](/source/Parliament_House_MRT_station) on [MRT Purple Line](/source/MRT_Purple_Line) will serve the area.

## History

The Thai parliament has changed its venue several times. Its first site was [Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall](/source/Ananta_Samakhom_Throne_Hall), used from 1933 until 1974. It then moved to the [Parliament House of Thailand](/source/Parliament_House_of_Thailand), but the building was soon outgrown. In 2008, three sites were considered for a new building. They were the [Dusit district](/source/Dusit_district), the [Mueang Nonthaburi district](/source/Mueang_Nonthaburi_district), and the [Khlong Toei district](/source/Khlong_Toei_district). The Dusit district was chosen by the [Samak Sundaravej](/source/Samak_Sundaravej) government,[3] resulting in relocation of [Yothinburana secondary school](/source/Yothinburana_School) and some communities.[4]

## Name

There are slightly different interpretations of the building's name.

The title of the winning design was *Sappaya Sapha Sathan*. The architects who submitted it said that the Buddhist term *sappaya* means "comfortable in [dharma](/source/Dharma)", and the title is supposed to mean "a place for doing good deeds or good karma".[5]

The building's design was inspired by a classic Thai Buddhist tale, *Trai Bhum Phra Ruang*, and was made to look like a temple as a reminder to officials of "[Thainess](/source/Thainess)" and morality, making it truly a *Sappaya Sapasathan*, "peaceful parliament".[6]

*Sappaya-Sapasathan* is a word combination with *sappaya* or the *seven of Sappaya*, meaning "comfortable", "conducive conditions", "supportive", and the "right thing";[7] and the word *sapasathan*, meaning "council of the peaceful".

## Design

Sappaya-Sapasathan in 2023, viewed from Yanhee Hospital

Sappaya-Sapasathan was designed by a team led by Theerapol Niyom, who was the winner in the building's design competition.[5] Built to provide more than 424,000 m2 [4,600,000 square feet] of floor space, at a budget of approximately 23 billion [baht](/source/Thai_baht),[8] it can accommodate more than 5,000 people and parking for 2,000 cars. Its main features are a Thai pagoda in the center of the building, [Surya](/source/Surya) Hall (Hall of the Sun) for [House of Representative](/source/House_of_Representatives_(Thailand)), [Chandra](/source/Chandra) Hall (Hall of the Moon) for [Senate of Thailand](/source/Senate_of_Thailand), and the use of 5,018 [teak](/source/Teak) trees as they represent the "[DNA](/source/DNA) of Thailand".[9]

It also [houses museums](/source/Thai_Parliament_Museum), a convention center, a seminar room, a banquet hall, and offices. The design has been criticised for being "religious architecture", embracing "elements of Buddhist and Hindu cosmology".[10]

## Construction

Sappaya-Sapasathan during construction in July 2019

It was contracted for in 2013 and was scheduled to be opened in 2015. It sits on a bank of the [Chao Phraya River](/source/Chao_Phraya_River) in [Kiakkai](/source/Kiakkai) neighbourhood of the [Thanon Nakhon Chai Si Subdistrict](/source/Thanon_Nakhon_Chai_Si_Subdistrict), Dusit District, occupying 300,000 m2 of land. The site of the previous parliament building was returned to its owner, the [Bureau of the Royal Household](/source/Bureau_of_the_Royal_Household), at the end of 2018.[11] Construction of the new building has been delayed for four years. The project budget has ballooned from 14 billion [baht](/source/Thai_baht) to 23 billion baht.[10] Parliament has levied no penalties on the developer for missing the deadline. As the land where the old parliament building sits was already returned to the [Crown Property Bureau](/source/Crown_Property_Bureau), Parliament met in an auditorium rented from telecom firm [TOT](/source/TOT_Public_Company_Limited) at a cost of 11 million baht per month from May 2019.[12]

Since August 2019, Parliament now meets in Sappaya-Sapasathan, although parts of the building remained unfinished.[13] The building was officially opened on 1 May 2021 after significant delays.[2]

## Gallery

		- Phra Suriyan Chamber

		- Chantra Chamber

		- Committee meeting room

		- View of Sappaya-Sapasathan from Chao Phraya River

## See also

- [National Assembly of Thailand](/source/National_Assembly_of_Thailand) – legislature of Thailand - [Senate of Thailand](/source/Senate_of_Thailand) - [House of Representatives of Thailand](/source/House_of_Representatives_of_Thailand)

- [Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall](/source/Ananta_Samakhom_Throne_Hall) – previous home of the National Assembly (1933–1974)

- [Parliament House of Thailand](/source/Parliament_House_of_Thailand) – previous home of the National Assembly (1974–2018)

- [Government House of Thailand](/source/Government_House_of_Thailand) – home of the executive branch of the Royal Thai Government

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["รัฐสภาแห่งใหม่ (สัปปายะสภาสถาน)แลนด์มาร์ค ริมเจ้าพระยา"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210909071123/http://www.realist.co.th/blog/%e0%b8%84%e0%b8%ad%e0%b8%99%e0%b9%82%e0%b8%94-%e0%b8%a3%e0%b8%b1%e0%b8%90%e0%b8%aa%e0%b8%a0%e0%b8%b2%e0%b9%81%e0%b8%ab%e0%b9%88%e0%b8%87%e0%b9%83%e0%b8%ab%e0%b8%a1%e0%b9%88/). *Realist*. Archived from [the original](http://www.realist.co.th/blog/%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%82%E0%B8%94-%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%90%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%A0%E0%B8%B2%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%AB%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%83%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%A1%E0%B9%88/) on 2021-09-09. Retrieved 2017-07-25.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:11_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:11_2-1) ["Eight years and billions of baht later, world's largest Parliament opens in Thailand amid controversy"](https://www.thaipbsworld.com/eight-years-and-billions-of-baht-later-worlds-largest-parliament-opens-in-thailand-amid-controversy/). *Thai PBS World*. 29 April 2021. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210512060301/https://www.thaipbsworld.com/eight-years-and-billions-of-baht-later-worlds-largest-parliament-opens-in-thailand-amid-controversy/) from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["โครงการก่อสร้างอาคารรัฐสภาแห่งใหม่ – ความเป็นมาของโครงการ"](http://www.parliament.go.th/ewtadmin/ewt/parliament_parcy/main.php?filename=history_newsapa) [New Parliament House Construction – Project background]. *parliament.go.th* (in Thai). [Parliament of Thailand](/source/Parliament_of_Thailand). Retrieved 20 December 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["โครงการก่อสร้างอาคารรัฐสภาแห่งใหม่ – การเตรียมการ"](https://www.parliament.go.th/ewtadmin/ewt/parliament_parcy/main.php?filename=prepare_newsapa) [New Parliament House Construction – Preparation]. *parliament.go.th* (in Thai). [Parliament of Thailand](/source/Parliament_of_Thailand). Retrieved 20 December 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-PE-20091215_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-PE-20091215_5-1) ["Design of new parliament focuses on morality in politics"](https://prachatai.com/english/node/1541). *Pratchatai English*. 2009-12-15. Retrieved 2018-12-06.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-AC-20160726_6-0)** ["A 'symbol of Thainess': Thousands of teak trees to be cut down for Thailand's new parliament building"](https://web.archive.org/web/20181206192615/https://asiancorrespondent.com/2016/07/thailand-teak-trees-parliament-building/). *Asian Correspondent*. 2016-07-26. Archived from [the original](https://asiancorrespondent.com/2016/07/thailand-teak-trees-parliament-building/) on 2018-12-06. Retrieved 2018-12-06. ["A 'symbol of Thainess': Thousands of teak trees to be cut down for Thailand's new parliament building"](https://web.archive.org/web/20181206192615/https://asiancorrespondent.com/2016/07/thailand-teak-trees-parliament-building/). Archived from [the original](https://asiancorrespondent.com/2016/07/thailand-teak-trees-parliament-building/) on 2018-12-06. Retrieved 2018-12-06.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [*ความหมายของสัปปายะ*](https://books.google.com/books?id=hm9RCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA209). 1995. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9789748357898](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9789748357898).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-EIA_8-0)** [Environmental Impact Assessment (summary version for the executives)](http://www.cabinet.soc.go.th/doc_image/2554/9922849918.pdf) The Secretariat of the House of Representatives. April 2011

1. **[^](#cite_ref-KE-20160725_9-0)** Mokkhasen, Sasiwan (2016-07-25). ["No, 2,000 Teak Trees Won't Be Cut For New Parliament – More Like 5,000"](http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2016/07/25/no-2000-teak-trees-wont-cut-new-parliament-try-5000/). *Khaosod English*. Retrieved 2018-12-06.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Nation-20190608_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Nation-20190608_10-1) Phataranawik, Phatarawadee (8 June 2019). ["Bless this house"](https://www.nationthailand.com/detail/politics/30370725). *The Nation*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190608010339/https://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30370725) from the original on 8 June 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["NLA seeks temporary venue for parliament"](https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1588262/nla-seeks-temporary-venue-for-parliament). *Bangkok Post*. 2018-12-06. Retrieved 2018-12-06.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["The Stupidity Has to Stop"](https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1666040/the-stupidity-has-to-stop). Opinion. *Bangkok Post*. 24 April 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["รัฐสภาใหม่ "สัปปายะสภาสถาน" เปิดใช้แล้ว แต่ไม่พร้อม ก่อสร้างและตกแต่งไม่เสร็จหลายจุด"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190825092625/https://workpointnews.com/2019/08/07/new-parliament-not-ready1/) [New parliament building "Sappaya-Sapasathan" now opened but unready; Construction and furnishing still unfinished at many points.]. *Workpoint News* (in Thai). 7 August 2019. Archived from [the original](https://workpointnews.com/2019/08/07/new-parliament-not-ready1/) on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019. ["รัฐสภาใหม่ "สัปปายะสภาสถาน" เปิดใช้แล้ว แต่ไม่พร้อม ก่อสร้างและตกแต่งไม่เสร็จหลายจุด | Workpoint News"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190825092625/https://workpointnews.com/2019/08/07/new-parliament-not-ready1/). Archived from [the original](https://workpointnews.com/2019/08/07/new-parliament-not-ready1/) on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Sappaya-Sapasathan](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Sappaya-Sapasathan).

- [Parliament of Thailand](http://www.parliament.go.th/)

- [Senate of Thailand](https://web.archive.org/web/20081207023355/http://www.senate.go.th/th_senate/English/index.htm)

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