The development of the Building of the Immaculate conception church in Bangkok, from Vilanda style to Neo – Romanesque.

Abstract

The present building of Immaculate Conception Church in Bangkok was founded by Bishop Jean-Baptiste Pallegoix in 1837 A.D., in the style of Vilanda, the architectural blending of Siamese building and the style of Baroque, which was flourishing pattern during the late Ayutthaya to the early Bangkok period. In the reign of King Chulalongkorn, the Neo-Romanesque masonry bell tower at the western façade was added in 1883 by Joachim Grassi, the famous Austrian architect who founded numerous numbers of the western buildings in Bangkok. 

Nowadays, the traces of reconstruction can still be found in the different styles of stucco; the style shown on the church is Siamese, while the one on bell tower is Neo - Romanesque. This marvelous building can undoubtedly exemplify the mixture of western and eastern arts. Also, The present building of the Immaculate Conception Church could be considered as the oldest catholic church in Thailand that is still employable until now.