Hua Hin Muncipality, in collaboration with Office of Policy and Plans on Natural Resources and Association of Tourism Business in Cha-Am/Hua Hin, will conduct preservation for old buildings in the city and give their owner an honorary certificate to foster and promote the unique image of Hua Hin as a tourist city with architectural heritages.
According to Hua Hin Mayor Mr. Nopporn Wutthikhun, the project’s organizers are collecting data on 25 old buildings in the city, most of which were built from 1932 – 1957 in traditional Thai style with hip roofs or in western style, known locally as the colonial.
They are situated in Hua Hin, Nong Kae, Takiab and Khao Tao communities. Each of the buildings found by the project coordinators tells a very interesting history. For instance, the house of Mr. Mac Farland which is located in the same compound of Hyatt Regency Hotel was built in 1932. Built in the western colonial style, this house belonged to a foreign missionary who taught medical science in Thailand introduced the first Thai typewriter.
Mr. Mac Farland was later promoted as Khun Phra At Witthayakhom thanks to his great contribution for Thai people. Apart from the house of Mr. Mac Farland, there are many houses built in traditional Thai style, particularly those of the former Hua Hin Mayor Mr. Fuen Krasaesin and the now ‘Casa Blanca’ of M.J. Phanuphan Yukhol which was built with hip roofs. Each of the old buildings is now registered by Hua Hin Municipality and their owner will receive an honorary certificate.
All of them will be put in a tourist map of Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) so that Thai and foreign visitors will know the location and go to see them. Mr. Nopporn added that many foreigners visited Hua Hin every year, so the city had to offer them more than natural wonders.
Old buildings, which reflect long-standing and unique identity of Hua Hin, are one of the city’s cultural heritages that needs to be preserved and introduced to the tourists. Owners of old buildings in Hua Hin which have not yet been registered can inform municipal officials to do so from now.
