Sino-Colonial Architecture on Phuket

Green Shuttered house in Thalang Rd. Phuket Town

Blue Shutters, Phang Nga Rd.

One of the wonderful surprises in life is to experience the unexpected, Phuket's Sino-Colonial buildings is one of those surprises. Sometimes  referred to as Sino- Portuguese due to the early involvement of Portugal in this part of the world, but the buildings draw very much on Classical and Renaissance references. The early examples have grown out of the Chinese shophouse, a traditional building style brought to Phuket by the early migrants for 19th cent. tin mining. Many of these early building were constructed with a colonnade walkway no doubt to allow a dry free passage during the monsoon season. On my many walks around old Phuket Town, taking photos and doing some hundred drawings of these structure, I would come upon some of the early survivors. Many unfortunately have been bricked up to create larger shops. These Walkways were called Koh Kald Which means a five foot way in the local dialect.

Phuket Wiring in Thalang Road

Art Nouveau releif with Chinese decoration on ground floor

Traditional Chinese house

Most of the current buildings are of a Neo-Classical or Art Nouveau design, with floral relief. These structures were erected during what the locals call the second stage and have been greatly influenced by architecture in Penang and Malay with whom Phuket carried out intensive trade after British colonisation.Generally the ground floors retain many Chinese influences, particularly in door design and wall features. The upper floors present a far more European face to the world with their french window shutters, arches and fan windows above, while the facade is broken up with pilasters, keystones and relief sculpture. Much of this relief has Art Nouveau influence, while the capitals on columns and pilasters present an Asian European mix.I took great delight in drawing the many varied fan windows much to the amusement of the locals. Some shop offered me a chair to sit on the narrow pavement, they seem to take much pride in the towns architecture.

Colonial upper floor with Chinese ground floor.

Art Nouveau relief sculpture

Phang Nga Rd. converted lower floor for comercial use.

During the 1930's Art Deco concepts were introduced which add another variant to the rich textured facades. With the introduction of "modern" architectural practice reinforced concrete offered many new possibilities with a more cubist feel to the buildings.One of the most pleasing features of Phuket's architecture has been the consistent reference to the older generation of buildings, so the total appearance of the old town has a harmony that is often lacking in so many 20th cent. cities.

Classical window features on commerical building, Phang Nga Rd.

Commerical Building in Sino-Classical style.

Luckily the citizens of Phuket are very proud of their architecture and many have been newly painted and restored, while others await restoration. I only hope this trend continue as the diverse, but harmonious unity add considerable charm to the town and must greatly add to their tourist value. I have included several working drawings I made along with a few photos .

Typical Fan Window Design.

Girl at the window Krabi Road.

Typical upper story.

Clock Tower Phuket Town. in much need of renovation.

Cleaned up image of clock tower.

Phuket streetscape.

Art Deco version of Sino-Colonial.