{{Infobox building | name = Vimanmek Mansion <br /> {{langx|th|พระที่นั่งวิมานเมฆ}} | former_names = | alternate_names = | image = VimanmekMansion.jpg | alt = | caption = Vimanmek Mansion, built in 1900 by King [[Chulalongkorn]]. | pushpin_map = Thailand | pushpin_map_alt = | map_caption = | altitude = | building_type = | architectural_style = Victorian-Thai | structural_system = [[Dusit Palace]] | cost = 15 million [[Thai baht|Siamese baht]] | ren_cost = | client = | owner = | current_tenants = | landlord = | address = | known_for = | location_country = Thailand | coordinates = {{coord|13|46|26|N|100|30|46|E|display=title,inline}} | construction_start_date = 1897 | completion_date = | inauguration_date = 27 March 1901 | renovation_date = 2019 | demolished_date = | destruction_date = | dimensions = | antenna_spire = | status = | top_floor = | other_dimensions = | floor_count = | floor_area = | seating_type = | seating_capacity = | elevator_count = | main_contractor = | architect = | architecture_firm = | structural_engineer = | services_engineer = | civil_engineer = | other_designers = | quantity_surveyor = | awards = | ren_architect = | ren_firm = | ren_str_engineer = | ren_serv_engineer = | ren_civ_engineer = | ren_oth_designers = | ren_qty_surveyor = | ren_awards = | url = | references = }} The '''Vimanmek Mansion''' ({{langx|th|พระที่นั่งวิมานเมฆ}}, {{RTGS|''phra thi nang wimanmek''}}) is a former royal villa in [[Bangkok]], [[Thailand]]. It is in the [[Dusit Palace]] complex in [[Dusit District]]. {{as of|2019}} it has been dismantled to allow for foundation repairs and will be rebuilt upon its completion.
==History== In 1897 [[Chulalongkorn|King Rama V]] paid a royal visit to Europe, visiting many royal palaces. Upon his return he appropriated land for the construction of a royal garden which he named "Dusit Garden".<ref name="PalaceWebSite">{{cite web |url= http://www.palaces.thai.net/index_vm.htm |title= Palace Web Site |date= 20 May 2012 |access-date= 23 September 2005 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120630213947/http://www.palaces.thai.net/index_vm.htm |archive-date= 30 June 2012 |url-status= dead }}</ref><ref>''Royal Gazette'', พระบรมราชโองการ ประกาศพระบรมราชโองการสร้างพระที่นั่งวิมานเมฆ, เล่ม ๒๗, ตอน ๒๔, ๙ มิถุนายน พ.ศ. ๑๙๐๐, หน้า ๓๐๓</ref><ref>''Royal Gazette'', การก่อฤกษ์สร้างพระที่นั่งวิมานเมฆ, เล่ม ๑๗, ตอน ๒๔, ๙ มิถุนายน พ.ศ. ๑๙๐๐, หน้า ๓๐๒</ref>
Vimanmek Palace was constructed in 1900 by having the Munthatu Rattanaroj Residence in [[Phra Chuthathut Palace]] at [[Ko Sichang District|Ko Sichang]], [[Chonburi Province|Chonburi]], dismantled and reassembled in Dusit Garden. It was the first permanent residence in the garden. Nails were used in its construction. The interior decoration combines European [[Neoclassical architecture|neo-classical]] style with traditional Thai motifs and architecture and early-20th century modernisation. Vimanmek Mansion is Victorian-style, with Western influences combined with Thai architecture. Golden [[teak]] was the primary building material. The mansion is L-shaped, 60 meters by 20 meters. It has three levels and the residence is octagonal and has four levels. The lowest level is made of brick and cement and the upper levels are constructed of golden teak. The color of the roof is cream and red in Thai architectural style and the pattern of the window and ventilators is called ''kanom pang khing''. Each room of the mansion has a distinctive color—light blue, green, pink, ivory, or peach—and each room shows belongings of King Rama V and other noblemen.
The 72 room Vimanmek Palace was inaugurated on 27 March 1901. It was used as a royal palace by King Rama V for five years until the completion of [[Amphorn Sathan Residential Hall]] in 1906. In 1932, Vimanmek Palace was used only as a storage place by the [[Bureau of the Royal Household]].<ref name="Guideto">Guide to the Dusit Palace (brochure).</ref>
In 1982 [[Sirikit|Queen Sirikit]] asked [[Bhumibol Adulyadej|King Rama IX]], on the occasion of the Royal Bicentennial Celebrations of Bangkok, to renovate Vimanmek Palace for use as a museum to commemorate King Rama V by displaying his photographs, art works, and handicrafts, and to serve as a showcase of the Thai national heritage. The palace is now a tourist attraction and is the world's largest golden teakwood mansion.<ref name="Guideto" />
Vimanmek Mansion has been closed to visitors since 21 July 2016.<ref>{{cite web |title=Close visits to perform repairs [sic] |url=http://www.brh.thaigov.net/brh-2011/content/%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%82%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%A1-%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%B7%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%B3%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%8B%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A1%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%8B%E0%B8%A1 |website=Bureau of the Royal Household |access-date=27 July 2019 |archive-date=2 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802170837/http://www.brh.thaigov.net/brh-2011/content/%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%82%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%A1-%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%B7%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%B3%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%8B%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A1%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%8B%E0%B8%A1 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2018, based on the satellite image from Google Maps, Vimanmek Mansion was demolished and stored in tents on the grounds of the adjacent parliament.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dpt.go.th/eprocurement_v3/special/attach/bn16_Application1(2017-11-7)0001.PDF |title=Archived copy |access-date=2019-07-24 |archive-date=2019-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724135733/http://www.dpt.go.th/eprocurement_v3/special/attach/bn16_Application1(2017-11-7)0001.PDF |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In July 2019, an official in the [[Bureau of the Royal Household|Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary]] clarified that the building had been disassembled to allow for the replacement of its deteriorating wood and metal [[pilings]] with steel pilings and a concrete foundation, and would be "rebuilt exactly as it looked" with the addition of a large fishpond to its north. However, it was also disclosed that it would be permanently closed and not re-opened to the public. According to documents, the cost of the construction works are estimated at 81 million [[Thai baht|baht]].<ref name="KhaoSod_2019">{{cite news |last1=Charuvastra |first1=Teeranai |title=Khaosod English Visits 'Demolished' Vimanmek Palace |url=http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2019/07/25/khaosod-english-visits-demolished-vimanmek-palace/ |access-date=26 July 2019 |work=[[Khaosod English]] |date=25 July 2019}}</ref>
== Architecture == Vimanmek Mansion is one of the best examples of [[Gingerbread house (architecture)|gingerbread house]]s in Thailand that gained popularity during the reign of King Rama V. It is a European and Thai-Contemporary architecture that uses elaborate [[fretwork]] on windows and air passages to create detailed embellishment.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Siriwan |first1=Patravadee |last2=Sattahanapat |first2=Rungpassorn |title=The Study of Gingerbread Houses in Thailand Case Study: Bangkok, Vicinity and Phrae |journal=6th International Symposium on Fusion of Science and Technology |date=2017 |access-date=22 February 2021 |url=http://www.rdi.rmutsb.ac.th/2011/digipro/isft2017/CA/1.%5BCA001%5D_F.pdf |archive-date=5 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705192140/http://www.rdi.rmutsb.ac.th/2011/digipro/isft2017/CA/1.%5BCA001%5D_F.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Na Thalang |first1=Jeerawat |title=A crumbling gingerbread house |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/special-reports/828504/a-crumbling-gingerbread-house |access-date=22 February 2021 |work=Bangkok Post |date=17 January 2016}}</ref>
==Gallery== {{multiple image | align =center | direction =horizontal | image1 = พระที่นั่งวิมานเมฆ.jpg | width1 = 280 | image2 = Palais Vimanmek (détail).JPG | width2 = 250 | image3 = Autel Rama V dans le parc du palais Vimanmek.JPG | width3 = 250 }}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== Further reading == {{Commons category}} *{{Citation | title=Museums of Southeast Asia| last=Lenzi| first=Iola| year=2004| publisher=Archipelago Press| location=Singapore| isbn=981-4068-96-9| page=200 pages}} *{{Citation |year=2007|title= Guide to the Dusit Palace (brochure)|place=Bangkok}} *{{Citation |year=2001|title= Thailand|work=National Geographic Traveler}}
{{Royal palaces in Thailand}} {{Museums in Bangkok}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Dusit Palace]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Bangkok]] [[Category:Former royal residences in Bangkok]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in Bangkok]] [[Category:Museums in Bangkok]] [[Category:Government buildings completed in 1900]] [[Category:Houses completed in 1900]] [[Category:Historic house museums in Thailand]] [[Category:Dusit district]] [[Category:Wooden buildings and structures in Thailand]] [[Category:Unregistered ancient monuments in Bangkok]]