“Despite local initiatives and a few existing laws, big gaps remain that continually let valuable architecture be lost. Old buildings that are not considered national monuments, especially those privately owned, typically receive no protection under our outdated Ancient Monuments Act.”

The Siam Society Under Royal Patronage is delighted to share with you today the 23rd article from “Heritage Matters”, a monthly series aimed at identifying the challenges and opportunities of cultural heritage conservation published by The Siam Society in the Bangkok Post.

In the absence of a comprehensive ecosystem for heritage protection, Thailand faces a “quiet national crisis” marked by irreversible losses of its built cultural heritage. In this article, Dr. Wimonrart Issarathumnoon urges legislative and regulatory reforms that adopt a unified approach—bringing together local communities, government agencies, and the private sector—to safeguard the nation’s historical and cultural identity, the roots of the nation’s soft power.

The full article can be read here.

Wimonrart Issarathumnoon is a practising architect and associate professor at the Faculty of Architecture, Chulalongkorn University.