King Chulalongkorn Memorial Building, Thai pavilion in Utanede, Sweden
The King Chulalongkorn Memorial Building is a pavilion with 24 white concrete pillars supporting a roof with four entrances, measuring ten meters on each side. The structure reaches a height of 28 meters and rests on a deep foundation adapted to the region's special soil conditions.
The memorial was built approximately 100 years after King Chulalongkorn of Thailand visited the region during his European tour in 1897. The construction marked the lasting impact of this historical visit on Swedish-Thai relations.
The building displays traditional Thai architectural elements that represent the connection between Thailand and Sweden through its design. Visitors can see how these Far Eastern features stand out in the Nordic landscape.
The building required special construction techniques to adapt to the challenging soil conditions of the northern Swedish location, including an unusually deep foundation. The site is easy to reach on foot and works well as a stop while exploring the surrounding landscape.
The building sits on the foundation of an earlier structure that collapsed under its own weight before this reinforced version was built. This rocky construction history shows how challenging it was to create Thai-style architecture on Nordic ground.
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