Sappaya-Sapasathan
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| Sappaya-Sapasathan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Sappaya-Sapasathan |
| Native name | สัปปายะสภาสถาน |
| Location | Bangkok, Thailand |
| Architect | Boonma Architects |
| Owner | National Assembly of Thailand |
| Groundbreaking | 2013 |
| Completed | 2021 |
| Opened | 2019–2022 (phased) |
| Cost | 23,000,000,000 baht (reported) |
| Style | Thai architecture, Modern architecture |
Sappaya-Sapasathan is the current parliamentary complex housing the National Assembly of Thailand and the Parliament of Thailand in Bangkok. The complex serves as a legislative center for members of the House of Representatives (Thailand) and the Senate of Thailand, replacing the Parliament House of Thailand (1974). Designed to embody elements of Thai culture and Buddhism in Thailand, the building has been linked to major political developments including the 2014 Thai coup d'état aftermath and the drafting of related Constitution of Thailand provisions.
History
The site selection followed deliberations involving the National Assembly of Thailand, the Office of the Prime Minister (Thailand), and the Royal Thai Government. Origins trace to proposals during the administrations of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and later Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, with formal approval occurring under the caretaker of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. Construction was delayed by budgetary reviews by the Ministry of Finance (Thailand), legislative oversight by the Constitutional Court of Thailand, and debates in sessions presided over by the Speaker of the House of Representatives (Thailand). The relocation involved coordination with the Royal Thai Police and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration for infrastructure and transport planning near the Chao Phraya River and historic districts such as the Grand Palace and Rattanakosin Island.
Architecture and Design
Architectural motifs draw on Thai architecture, influences from the Ayutthaya Kingdom and Sukhothai Kingdom, and symbolic references to Buddhist cosmology and works like the Traibhumikatha. Designers cited inspiration from King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s patronage of cultural projects and consulted academics from Chulalongkorn University and Thammasat University. Structural planning involved collaboration with engineering firms linked to projects such as the Bhumibol Bridge and consultation with conservationists from the Fine Arts Department (Thailand). The complex includes sculptural programs referencing figures from the Ramayana and iconography associated with the Monarchy of Thailand.
Facilities and Layout
The complex contains plenary chambers for the House of Representatives (Thailand) and the Senate of Thailand, committee rooms, and offices for MPs and senators. Ancillary facilities include a library modeled after institutions like the National Library of Thailand, meeting halls comparable to those at United Nations Office at Geneva for interparliamentary liaison, archival storage akin to the National Archives of Thailand, and media centers paralleling the Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS). Grounds incorporate landscape elements like those at the Suan Luang Rama IX Park and service infrastructure interfacing with Don Mueang International Airport and Suvarnabhumi Airport transit routes.
Construction and Cost
The construction contract involved state entities and private contractors similar to those who built the Bang Sue Grand Station and the King Power MahaNakhon tower. Financial oversight engaged the Budget Bureau (Thailand)], the Office of the Auditor General of Thailand, and legislative budget committees. Reported expenditures were compared with other national projects such as the Thai–Chinese high-speed rail deliberations and urban development projects managed by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand. Cost estimates sparked parliamentary inquiries and statements from officials including the Minister of Finance (Thailand) and the Prime Minister of Thailand.
Function and Usage
Beyond hosting legislative sessions of the National Assembly of Thailand, the complex accommodates diplomatic receptions involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Thailand), state ceremonies with representation by the Monarchy of Thailand, and educational programs with institutions like Mahidol University and Kasetsart University. The venue is used for committee hearings on laws affecting entities such as the Bank of Thailand, the Royal Thai Army, and policy oversight related to agencies including the National Anti-Corruption Commission (Thailand). International parliamentary exchanges have involved delegations from bodies like the Inter-Parliamentary Union and bilateral visits from legislatures such as the United States Congress and the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
Controversies and Criticisms
Criticism focused on alleged cost overruns and procurement transparency, prompting debates in committees chaired by figures from parties such as Pheu Thai Party and Palang Pracharath Party. Concerns about cultural representation and the role of Buddhist symbolism led to commentary by scholars from Silpakorn University and activists associated with civil society groups like Human Rights Watch's Thailand observers. Legal scrutiny involved institutions including the Constitutional Court of Thailand and the Administrative Court of Thailand, while media coverage was carried by outlets such as The Bangkok Post, The Nation (Thailand), and international press like BBC News and Reuters. Security arrangements and access policies were contested by opposition figures and parliamentary watchdogs affiliated with organizations such as Transparency International.
Category:Buildings and structures in Bangkok Category:Politics of Thailand