Preserving the past through heritage homes

A century-old house, Villa Mungkala, in the heart of Bangkok’s historic neighborhood, Trok Sin, has been meticulously restored by Siriwat Mungkalarungsi. This project is just one of over 100 heritage properties he has brought back to life.

He mentioned that he personally favours the Art Deco style, architecture from between the First and Second World Wars. It is, though, quite rare to see this style in Thailand, with only a few examples, such as Ratchadamnoen Klang Road, the National Stadium (Suphachalasai Stadium) and Saphan Phut (Memorial Bridge).

When asked what factors he considers when purchasing heritage houses, he replied that he selects them for their historical and architectural significance. Some of these houses often carry unique narratives and their design reflects the ideas and values of their time.

Siriwat Mungkalarungsi

Challenges in home renovation

During his time studying in London, Siriwat felt incredibly fortunate to be immersed in a city so rich in architectural heritage, spanning from the Middle Ages to modern times.

This environment allowed him to absorb diverse influences, simply by being there, experiences and knowledge that have since become deeply ingrained within him.

After earning his degree in economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in 2008, Siriwat returned home and pursued his passion for renovating houses. Today, he has established himself as a recognised expert in heritage house restoration.

When it comes to home renovation, Siriwat said that the greatest challenge isn't sourcing materials, because substitutes can usually be found, but rather the scarcity of skilled labour, an issue especially critical in the restoration of historic houses. Such projects require strict adherence to preservation principles.

To overcome this, Siriwat took matters into his own hands. He personally trained the workers, to ensure the craftsmanship met the necessary standards.

“The real challenge lies more in the technical knowledge, such as woodworking techniques or the measurement systems used in traditional house construction”, said Siriwat.

Since most tradespersons today are accustomed to the metric system, it poses a unique issue. This is because the construction of pre-World War II houses often used imperial measurements, such as yards, feet and inches for lengths. Even seemingly small details like this can have a significant impact.

Siriwat gave an example case of houses styled to mimic colonial or vintage designs, he can immediately tell when the proportions are off, noting “If we don’t understand the imperial system, it can affect the accuracy of a house’s restored proportions.

Newer-generation architects often overlook the fact that the proportions aren’t based on the metric system.”

The rising trend of home renovation

Siriwat pointed out that there is a real value in renovating older homes, and it's not just because they're usually in great locations in the city, unlike most new houses that are built further out, a key factor that buyers consider when weighing both location and overall value.

Restoring an old home is also environmentally beneficial, as it reduces the need for new materials, thereby lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

This line of work is, however, often associated with conflicts between homeowners and workers, particularly due to the high value of these projects, which increases the possibilities of disagreements.

Siriwat emphasises the importance of assembling a skilled and reliable team of artisans for anyone considering renovating an old home.

He suggested that “Sometimes, price isn’t the ultimate deciding factor. Don’t focus solely on that. You also need to pay close attention to the contract details. Yes, there are contractors who offer extremely low prices, but the project ends up unfinished. So, don’t make price your main consideration.”

In addition to thoroughly vetting contractors, Siriwat stresses that homeowners should acquire a basic understanding of home renovation themselves.

“You cannot rely entirely on the workers and you must have your own knowledge. There’s plenty of information online, some true, some false. It’s crucial to distill the accurate facts,” he advises.