Gallery: Picturing the world via Bangkok's embassies

Once upon a time, foreign diplomatic missions were the central point of expatriate communities the world over. While officially the eyes, ears and trade promoters of their sponsoring nations, foreign embassies have also been a place where foreign nationals have sought refuge in times of crisis, or gathered for social events and news of happenings back home.

While the mere mention of the word embassy might conjure up romantic visions of sprawling manicured lawns, secure behind high compound walls with legions of public servants committed to upholding the rights of their nations’ citizens and endless diplomatic soirees, modern foreign diplomatic missions are far removed from this.

In a time of global belt-tightening many countries have done away with the traditional embassy compound, opting instead to rent office space in downtown high rises.

For those countries that maintain traditional embassy compounds, the days of being a warm and welcoming place for weary or troubled expatriates is long past, with many developing what can best be described as a siege mentality. Very few of the foreign diplomatic missions in Bangkok could be described as warm and welcoming, while one can only wonder at the brief provided to the architects of some.

We sent freelance photo-journalist John Le Fevre out onto the streets of Bangkok to see how the various diplomatic missions reflect the countries they represent.

 

United States

Tel: +66 2 205 4000

The embassy of the United States of America is located at 95 Wireless Road in the heart of Bangkok. The embassy comprises two sprawling compounds located on both sides of this busy thoroughfare, plus equally spacious (expensive) sprawling grounds for the ambassador’s residence. As can be seen from the photos the embassy appears to be on a war-like footing, with security guards at both locations becoming quite agitated about the embassy being photographed.

 

Australia

Tel: +66 2 344 6300

Situated at 37 South Sathorn Road on the fringe of Bangkok’s financial district, the Australian embassy is one of the nicer looking foreign diplomatic missions in Bangkok, its 252 acre grounds comprising not only the distinctive colored building, but also ponds, waterfalls and towering palm trees. However, as with the American Embassy, security guards at the Australian embassy were extremely zealous and aggressively tried to stop the building from being photographed.

 

Myanmar

Tel: 66 2 233 2237

The Embassy Of The Union Of Myanmar (formerly Burma) is situated at 132, Sathorn Nua Road Bang Rak. While other Bangkok embassies try to soften their appearance, there is no such attempt here, with the Myanmar embassy resembling the entrance to a prison, or something one would expect on the border between the two Koreas.

 

China

Tel +66 2 245 0088

Situated at 57 Ratchadapisek Road, the embassy for the People’s Republic of China is situated in a heavily treed expansive compound, its entrance dominated by two large lion statues -- one with its mouth open and the other with it closed, and a large rock. The main building glimpsed through the trees reflects the austere and business-like nature of the country it represents.

 

France

Tel: +66 2 657 5100

When it comes to old-world charm and gracefulness it’s hard to go past the French embassy and ambassador’s residence, tucked away at 35 Soi Charoen Krung 36 in Bang Rak. The colonial-era structure oozes class and reflects the long-standing French presence in Thailand, which dates back to 1887.

 

Japan

Tel: 66 2 207 8500

When it comes to cold, unemotional and austere facades it’s difficult to ignore the almost bunker-like design of the Japanese embassy at 177 Wireless Road, Lumphini, Pathum Wan. Seemingly carved from solid cement, there is little attempt to soften the drab, grayness the building exudes.

 

Russia

Tel: +66 2 234 9824

Tucked away in a quiet little street at 78 SAP Si Phraya, Bang Rak, the embassy of the Russian Federation grossly understates the long standing ties between the two countries, which date back to 1897. The pure business-like architecture is a significant departure from the charm exuded by the old Russian embassy on Sathorn Road, and would not be out of place in any of the hundreds of satellite cities that sprung up in the USSR between 1959 and 1980 under the leadership of Nikita Khrushchev.

 

Singapore

Tel: +66 2 286 2111

The Singapore embassy at 129 South Sathorn Rd, Yannawa reflects the business-like efficiency one associates with the island nation. The clean and efficient lines of the compound-building, while somewhat austere, are far from being the ugliest of diplomatic missions in Bangkok.