9. Chit-Chat with the Curator: Our Heritage

Chavanich Building  and Warehouse 30   How it Began 

The plot of  land where Warehouse 30 is located was previously owned by “Nai Lert” or  Lert Sreshthaputa  who received  the title“Chao Phraya Bhakdi Noraset” or “Beloved Millionaire” from Rama VI. In 1922 he had introduced the first ice factory on Charoenkrung Road, had built the tallest commercial building and started importing motor cars.  He had so many claims to fame!

But on December 8, 1941 the Japanese invaded Thailand  and World War 2 reached  these shores. Whatever the invading forces wanted, they took, including his land, commandeered  for the construction of these warehouses. They  were used during the war to store goods and equipment for distribution to the soldiers, it was not a weapons depot, no arms or ammunition kept there so it was not targeted for allied bombing. The truss work supporting the roofs is considered noteworthy  and the overall construction was very sturdy. The warehouses were undamaged by the war. 

The property, including these warehouses, was returned to Nai Lert after the war but he was nearing the end of his life and didn’t want it anymore. One of his friends, Chuan Chavanich did have a use for the warehouses and he  offered to buy the property.

Chuan Chavanich had started Chavanich Co., Ltd. in the post-war period in  a rented shophouse in Talat Noi near the Sieng Kong  Zone. He was selling minerals and raw materials to the USA  and needed space for their storage before export. As soon as he had bought the land with these warehouses, he used them to  store seed lac and minerals  including tin, wolfram, scheelite (tungsten ore), and manganese.  He used a small wooden structure at the end of the lane of warehouses as the new Chavanich office (this was later torn down and replaced by the cement structure which now houses the trendy restaurants.    By  1946 , he had Chavanich Building erected on the present site. The  2-storey art deco style office had enough space for Chavanich Company and  other interested foreign tenants (such as Johnson & Johnson).  

In the 1960s, the business had shifted to government tender work related to the various national development plans. Acting as the sole  agent for International Harvester,  Chavanich Company did need space  to store and display all kinds of tractors and agricultural equipment.  Clay Pump and Industrial Supplies  was  another line which required showroom   and storage space.  As agent for Hitachi rolling stock, the warehouses  also stored  locomotive engine parts as well as furniture for railway stations and an endless variety of other items supplied to the State Railway of Thailand. 

By  the 1970s, the company was more involved with real estate than trade and almost all of the warehouse space could be rented out.  Michelin Tires, Triumph, a construction supply company, a copper manufacturer were long term tenants.  and  with the entry of River City to the neighborhood,  antique dealers, bronze smiths and furniture makers were attracted to the low rents. The warehouses remained full for the next couple of decades! They were never “abandoned” but they were only repaired to maintain functionality, and rental provided a steady but low income. 

Skip forward a couple of decades to when the property came to belong to the eldest surviving son, Prida Chavanich. The new owner initially  thought of tearing down the  old fashioned warehouses and in 2006 drew up plans for a new 3-story commercial center.  The plans were dropped because construction costs were way too high. Nobody would be able to afford the rent! 

it was during this period that the famed architect Duangrit Bunnag expressed interest in “saving” the warehouses for repurposing. 

 To make a long story short, Duangrit Bunnag worked his magic here, just as he had done at the Jam Factory across the river.  He  did an amazing conversion of the industrial space, which you can see for yourself.  When you explore Warehouse 30 now, you will not find piles of minerals, tractors or locomotive spare parts.  Instead, you  will  find a variety of  shops, which you are welcome to visit  anytime!