The Bureau of the Royal Household has announced that Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall will officially close to the public on Oct 1. 

 

Built during the reign of King Chulalongkorn during the years 1908-1915, the former royal reception hall has long operated as a public museum.

 

The reason for the closure, says the Royal Household, is for repairs, with the last day of public visitations on Sep 30. For now, they will not say when the museum will reopen to the public, though online sources including Nation TV, Sanook and The Standard are reporting that it may be closed permanently.

 

The current exhibition, called The 7th Arts of the Kingdom, will be relocated to Bang Sai Royal Folk Arts And Crafts Center in Ayutthaya.

 

The only pure white Italian marble hall in Thailand, the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall was designed by Italian-born architect Mario Tamagno. The spectacular building feat emulates that of the Renaissance; a large copper dome, framed by six smaller domes, stands atop a mass of marble and Romanesque pillars.

 

Ancient Thai art and antiques line the walls, while craning your neck up reveals the domed ceiling’s fresco paintings depicting the history of the Chakri dynasty. The hall’s name translates to “the place of immense gathering.” 

 

During the historic 1932 political revolution and the end of absolute monarchy in Thailand, the people council commandeered the building and turned it into Thailand's first parliament hall.