Siam Inter-Continental Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand, Mr. Neal Prince, AIA, ASID

This earlier image is another example of the detail graphics and designs that were created by the talents of Charles R. Alvey and Richard Simpson, of the InterContinental Hotel Corporation's Department of Interior & Graphics Design. This image is another example of InterContinental Hotel's competitors copied for their own Graphic's applications. In some hotels, this image is used to this day.

STATEMENT

InterContinental HOTEL

INTERIOR AND GRAPHIC DESIGN

POLICY

NEAL PRINCE, ca. 1961

The approach to hotel design differs greatly from interior design for an individual. The latter is dictated by the aesthetic environmental pleasures of one particular person or family, whereas hotel design is a coordinated effort between the functional requirements if IHC Hotel Management and Operations, the architectural concept and space allocation, the desires of the local hotel company, the limitations of restrictive budgets, and the harmony and market of the country in which a hotel is located – all combined to produce a profit marking plant reflecting the current international tastes of a widely diversified market.

Although standardization would appear to be desirable in a rapidly growing industry, experience indicates the most successful efforts are based on individuality related to the country of origin rather than standardization of design, but with an overlying emphasis of international standardization of quality and service.

Each hotel in each location produces its own surveyed, conceptual, and operational requirements of IHC, its own local interior designers, and its own problems of local availability and manufacturing; however, the following outline of goals is generally applicable:

A. To produce good design based primarily on the functional needs and requirements of IHC Operations in order that Management can merchandise fully the facilities provided and develop a high quality of service; this design to be approached simultaneously along the following avenues:

1. Concept (objectivity) – initiated by IHC Operations and local Hotel Company (where applicable).

2. Function (utility) – based on past experience and current consumption of practical innovation.

3. Construction (fabrication) – utilization of local market facilities and methods wherever possible.

4. Budget (feasibility) – dictated by market surveys indicating the initial expenditure warranted by projected profits.

5. Beauty (design) – a conglomerate result of the thinking and ideas of all parties involved coordinated into a smooth, compatible result.

B. To insure that the original design concept and subsequent development of each project is based not on the likes and dislikes of any one faction but expresses the taste and insures the comfort of the international guest; and also utilizes, wherever possible, the trades, manufactures and craftsmen as well as the arts and crafts, ornamentation, styles, and traditions indigenous to the country in which a project is located.

End of the Siam Intercontinental Hotel

Built on 26 acres of Sra Paduma Palace gardens in the 1960's, the Siam Intercontinental Hotel was a well-know Thai landmark. It won an award from the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment for its environmental protection work in 1999. However, when the hotel's 30-year lease expired, it was torn down to make way for another shopping center. The 26-acre gardens will be reduced to a few acres.

Siam Paragon, a mega luxury shopping center, is planned for the site of the Siam Intercontinental Hotel. The Paragon will create an unbelievable chain of shopping centers along Phloenchit Road starting with Mahboonkrong Center, Siam Square (across the street), the "Art Museum Shopping Center" (former site of a planned art museum which has been replaced with plans for another shopping center), Discovery Center, Siam Center, Paragon, Wat Padumavanaram (a temple), World Trade Center (a shopping center in financial trouble--a rusting, unfinished tower looms over the site and the adjacent wat), Gaysorn Plaza (another failed shopping center now under renovation), Erawan Sogo, etc, etc. There's also lots of new shopping center construction north on Ratchadamri Road as well. More on Bangkok's Crucible of Construction.

The Siam Intercontinental Bangkok sent us some official info on the history of the hotel: The Siam Intercontinental Bangkok stands on 26 acres of prime property in the heart of Bangkok, belonging to the Royal Family. During the fourth reign (1851-1868) of the present Dynasty, King Mongkut ordered the construction of a small palace for royal recreation which was built in this area and named by His Majesty as "Pathumwan palace" meaning lotus palace. The property was inherited by Prince Mahidol of Songkhla, father of the present King, who had Sra Pathum Palace (Lotus Pond Palace) built. Of the 43 acres of the Royal Estate, Sra Pathum Palace is located on 17 acres, with the remaining 26 acres leased to the Siam Intercontinental. One side of the Palace shares the same wall with the hotel and the hotel (shares a wall with) Wat Padum Vanaram, a temple built over 100 years ago. On December 11, 1964 at exactly 10:00am (the hour designated by the Royal Astrologer as being auspicious), Her Royal Highness the Late Princess Mother unveiled the foundation stone of the hotel. At that time, the Siam Intercontinental was one of the first international hotels in Bangkok.

Source: 2Bangkok.com

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