QSNCC Unique Feature
Unique Feature
About Us | History | Construction | Architecture | Facilities | Location |
Floor
Plan | Services | Event
Calendar
Cosmopolitan, Cost-conscious, Gregarious, Peaceful, Scenic, Kaleidoscopic.
Many demands were made upon the designers of the QSNCC. They
were expected to produce a building that was not simply
highly functional but cosmopolitan, cost-conscious,
gregarious, peaceful, scenic, kaleidoscopic - above all else
unmistakably Thai. Visitors to the QSNCC are always aware of
being in Thailand.
The QSNCC is bisected by two axes. The first runs
north-south, loosely linking public areas that have been
created to highlight aspects of Thailand's quite distinct
regional cultures -the North, Northeast, Central Plains and
the South. Lanna Thai banners, or
'tung' from the North hang from the ceiling of
a large Atrium above a traditional pulpit fashioned from
teak. The 'tung' were
produced by northern folk artists.
Central Plain architectural themes are pick up again inside
in the substantial restaurant, which has been decorated to
reflect more classical architectural influences, and the
cafeteria, which includes turn-of the century influences,
such as the gingerbread wooden fretworks on the service
pavilions.
The QSNCC's second axis is purely linear, and runs east-west
straight through the unique 'Lokuttara'
sculpture that illuminates the areas in front of the Center.
The axis continues through an 'axis
mundi' in the main reception area, which is
marked by a four-head Elephant Post crowned by a Universal
Globe that derives its inspiration from ancient Sanskrit
mythology. The Elephant Post, or 'Gaja
Stampa' was specially created by Thanee
Klinkhajorn
The linear axis continues its straight projection through
the midpoint of sixteen superbly lacquered doors which
provide the main entrance into the Plenary Hall and bear
magnificent bronze, 'naga'-shape
handles specially created by Paivate Vangbon. During the
World Bank/IMF Annual Meeting, the axis on the west wall of
the Plenary Hall is marked by the
'Una-lome', a small golden flame similar in
some ways to the 'Lokuttara'
outside at the front.
This inspirational flame has been mounted on special plenary
stage which is to be dismantled for safekeeping after the
World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings.
The QSNCC is already one of the largest repositories in the
world of Thai art, most of it traditionally inspired but
produced specially for the Center. The most important items
include two special portraits of Their Majesties the King
and Queen painted by Sanit Disatapundh, who has been honored
as a National Artist. The paintings hang above the east-west
'cosmic' axis along which most people entering the Plenary
Hall must pass.
The final art collection will amount to some 1,500 items.
The largest among the dozen most important specially
commission pieces is the 'Indrabhisek',
a wooden carving depicting the Coronation of Indra. Created
by Jaroon Mathanom, it overlooks the main security area in
front of the Plenary Hall and is guarded by a giant
'yaksa' of suitably
fearsome demeanor. The carving is the product of many
thousands of man-hours and covers a phenomenal 140 square
meters.
The QSNCC's most widely recognized treasure stands
outside.
It is the evocative 'Lokuttara',
which can be translated as
'Beyond Worldliness'. This superb gilded piece
was specially created by Professor Chalood Nimsamer, a
National Artist and retired professor of the Faculty of
Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Arts at Bangkok's Silpakorn
University.
Themes that the sculpture evokes include a
flame, a bundle of lotuses rising above water, and multiple
hands joined in a 'wai',
the traditional Thai form of greeting. The
'Lokuttara' has been
created to exude a positive symbolism and provide a
welcoming beacon to arriving visitors as they prepare to
pass along an enlightening path.
Near by hotels
Nearest to BITEC
Along the Sukhumvit Road
Central Business District
Along the Chao Phraya River
BITEC Information
Queen Sirikit Information
IMPACT Arena Information
