Old wooden houses in Mahakarn Fort dismantled

After 26 years of resistance against eviction by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the Thai-style wooden houses in the Mahakarn Fort was demolished by workers from the City Hall.

Mr Pornthep Buranabureedet, deputy head of Mahakarn Fort community, said workers started demolishing the houses on Friday (April 20) at about 10 am and by 5 pm the demolishing work was still under way.

The Association of Siamese Architects recently proposed to spare the demolition of 18 wooden houses, reasoning that they should be conserved due to their architectural values. But the City Hall insisted that all must be removed to pave way for the creation of a new public park.

Mr Pornthep said that there are still 11 houses that are yet to be demolished and there are still about 30 people in the community.  However, all were told to leave within April 25 deadline.

Mahakarn community today (April 22) held an activity to bid final farewell to their community.

As for himself, Mr Pornthep said he would move out to live with a friend in Nonthaburi after which he will have to find a place for himself and family. But he added that he would need to get a housing loan first to buy a plot of land in Buddha Monthon area where several residents of the community would live together.

“It is very sad, we have done our best and we are now at the end of the road,”  said Mr Pornthep.