Bangkok's brand new B3.7 billion Thailand Cultural Center on Ratchadaphisek Road is almost complete, with contruction set to finish on Apr 3. 

Designed by A49 Architects, the project features what was intended to be the country's first major museum dedicated to contemporary art before construction delays held it back one year—allowing Chiang Mai's Maiiam to beat it to that title. (While also discounting MOCA, the private museum of DTAC founder Boonchai Bencharongkul which opened in 2013.)

Called the Asean Cultural Gateway, the project is of colossal importance to the Thai art world. The ministry owns over 700 contemporary artworks, and, in the last year, the Office of Contemporary Art Department, along with Cultural Ministry's office, put a lot of money into expanding that collection.

Though the project is slated to finish on Apr 3, it remains uncertain when the museum will open to the public (as well as exactly which works will feature inside).

News of the Asean Cultural Gateway comes at a period of rejuvenated cultural acitivity across the capital. The Thailand Creative and Design Center's (TCDC) move to Charoenkrung's formidable old Grand Postal Building is almost complete, while co-TCDC founder Duangrit Bunnag has also announced a new art-and-design project for the series of World War II-era warehouses beside the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel. 

And it's not just central Bangkok which is seeing a cultural reboot. The giant Chang Chui project of Flynow director Somchai Songwattana is set to introduce pioneering exhibitions to Thonburi. 

Credit: A49 Archiects