Siam Square

The area of Siam Square, which belongs to Chulalongkorn University,{{Cite web|url=https://www.siam-square.com/|title=Siam Square|website=Siam-Square.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-20}} was originally full of wooden houses and slum areas, until a fire incident evacuated the villagers from the area.{{Cite web|title=Bloggang.com : : นอกลู่นอกทาง : สยามสแควร์...ในอดีต|url=https://www.bloggang.com/mainblog.php?id=offway&month=01-07-2008&group=25&gblog=29|access-date=2019-09-20|website=BlogGang}}{{Better source needed|date=September 2020}} After the fire, General Prapas Charusatien ({{langx|th|ประภาส จารุเสถียร}}) director of Chulalongkorn University at that time, decided to develop the area of Siam Square into a commercial place in order to prevent the slum community that originally resided there from returning. The Southeast Asia Company was the first to develop this area as an open-air shopping mall. The first building was constructed in 1962 and finished in 1963, with Associated Professor Lert Urasayanan as the architect and Professor Rachot Kanchanawanit as the engineer.

The original name of the square was Pathum Wan Square ({{Langx|th|ปทุมวันสแควร์}}), because it is in Pathum Wan District.{{Cite web|date=2017-04-04|title='สยามสแควร์' ถนนวัยรุ่นสู่วัยรุ่นอีกรุ่น|url=https://thematter.co/rave/siam-square-before-it-was-cool/21492|access-date=2019-09-20|website=The MATTER|language=en-US}} However, Kobchai Sosothikul, founder of Seacon Development Co. and owner of the project at that time, felt that the name was too small and renamed it to Siam Square after the whole country, Siam being the old name of Thailand.

Later in 1991, various tutoring schools began opening in the Siam Square area, targeting students from the many schools nearby.{{Cite web|url=https://www.estopolis.com/article/เปิดไทม์ไลน์สยามสแควร์-อดีต-ปัจจุบัน-อนาคต|title=เปิดไทม์ไลน์สยามสแควร์ อดีต ปัจจุบัน อนาคต|website=Estopolis|language=th|access-date=2019-10-07}}

Siam Square entered a period of downturn In 1996, when the Thai economy was in a state of recession from IMF debt. The nearby construction of the BTS Skytrain at that time also caused traffic jams that drove customers to other shopping districts. To combat this issue, Chulalongkorn University initiated a project to turn Siam Square into a center of technology and development, with many improvements to the area in 1999 and 2000. One such development was relocating the parking lot behind the Lido cinema to the Witthayakit Building, opening up the space for outside companies to invest in developing the area, which became known as "Center Point" and served as a center of recreation for teenagers.

Siam Square is maintained by the University Property Management Office of Chulalongkorn University. It has been compared to a "one-tenth miniature" of Bangkok in terms of catering for diverse needs, with over 4,200 shops in many styles and also many other types of services including many successful Thai businesses, tutor schools, restaurants, cafes, fashion, art, design, and many new emerging businesses.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pmcu.co.th/?page_id=9374|title=SIAM SQUARE|website=PMCU|language=th|access-date=2019-10-07}}{{Cite web|title=สยามสแควร์กับกระแสการเปลี่ยนผ่านแห่งยุคสมัย|url=https://web.tcdc.or.th/th/Articles/Detail/%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%AA%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%8C%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B5%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%9C%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%AB%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%B8%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%A2|access-date=2019-09-20|website=web.tcdc.or.th|language=en}}

The customers or visitors vary from young-aged school and college students to office workers and foreign tourists, although most are students coming to attend the tutoring institutions concentrated in the area: at least 30 schools are located here, making Siam Square the number one tutoring center in the country.

Siam Square is a popular destination and traffic hub, with at least 400,000 people traveling to and through Siam Square each day..

File:Siam Square 8 Dec 07.JPG|Siam Square Soi 3

File:Footpath in Siam Square.JPG|Footpath in Siam Square

File:SiamSquare TV.JPG|Main road in Siam Square Area

File:Siam Square Soi 7.JPG|Main road in Siam Square Area

File:Siam Square -01.jpg|Near Siam BTS station

The area is located at the corner of Phayathai Road and Rama I Road, prominently in front of Siam BTS station, which can be considered as the center of Bangkok.{{Citation needed|date=September 2020}}

Due to its location in the heart of Bangkok, many means of transportation are available.

Aside from Siam station, Siam Square is close to National Stadium BTS station and Chit Lom BTS station.

There are several bus lines that pass through Siam Square, with five soi having bus stops.{{Cite web|title=เว็บรวมเเส้นทางเดินรถ สายรถเมล์ รถประจำทาง|url=http://www.route.in.th/listbygroupresult.php?s1=%E0%B8%8B%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A2%20%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%AA%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%8C|access-date=2019-10-13|website=www.route.in.th}}File:Thailand Bangkok SiamParagon Night.jpg

File:Siam Center Night view 201801.jpg

A skywalk Begins at National Stadium BTS station, passing by Siam BTS station and connecting to Chit Lom BTS station.{{Cite web|url=https://www.travelfish.org/location/thailand/bangkok_and_surrounds/bangkok/siam_square|title=Siam Square travel guide Travelfish.org|website=Travelfish|language=en|access-date=2019-09-24}} It connects to various shopping malls; all of the following can be reached by skywalk:{{Cite web|last=ใช้ตังค์เก่ง|date=2018-12-23|title=Siam Sky Walk Map แผนที่ทางเชื่อมระหว่างห้างในโซนสยาม|url=https://chaitung.com/siam-skywalk-map/|access-date=2019-10-07|website=ChaiTung.com - ใช้ตังค์.com|language=th}}

• Siam Square One (In the Siam Square area.)
• Center Point Siam (In the Siam Square area.)
• Siamkit (In the Siam Square area.)
• SiamScape (In the Siam Square area.)
• Siam Paragon
• Siam Center
• Siam Discovery
• MBK Center
• CentralwOrld
• Gaysorn Village
• The Market Bangkok
• The Platinum Fashion Mall
• Erawan Bangkok
• Amarin
• Central Chidlom
• Central Embassy

Siam Square is a composite of many different entertainment options. From Cinemas, and bowling alleys to aquarium and museum.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bangkok.com/siam-ratchadamri/what-to-see-and-do.htm|title=Siam Attractions - What to See in Siam|website=bangkok.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-15}} This area has it all, due to the advantage of being connected to many other popular places that can easily be reached with a skywalk. Siam Square is like the center of shopping and entertainment in Thailand.

These are some of the most popular attractions.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bangkok.com/top10/top10-attractions-siam.htm|title=9 Best Things to Do in Siam - What is Siam Most Famous For?|website=bangkok.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-17}}

{{main|Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World}}

One of the largest aquariums in Southeast Asia. With the size of 3 Olympic pools and over 30,000 marine animals from across the world.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bangkok.com/siam-ocean-world.htm|title=SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World - Aquarium at Siam Paragon|website=bangkok.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-17}}

{{main|Wat Pathum Wanaram}}

The temple was built by King Rama IV in 1857 as a place of worship. This place is a rare example of ancient craftsmanship featuring ornate stencils and lacquered sculptures.

{{main|Madame Tussauds}}

A wax museum with 10 exhibit rooms of lifelike wax figures. All in real-life themes, this made the museum feels more like a journey in time.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bangkok.com/attraction-museum/madame-tussauds.htm|title=Madame Tussauds Bangkok - See Your Favourite Celebrities at the Bangkok Wax Museum|website=bangkok.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-17}}

{{main|Bangkok Art and Culture Centre}}

An art center with the widest range of contemporary art, design, music, theatre, and film in Bangkok. It regularly hosts changing exhibitions from both Thai and International artists.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bangkok.com/magazine/bangkok-art-and-cultural-centre.htm|title=Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC) - Bangkok.com Magazine|website=bangkok.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-17}}

Working Hours:

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 10:00am–10:00pm

Image:Siamtheaterbangkok.jpg

{{See also|List of cinemas in Thailand}}

• The Siam – Opened in 1966, it stayed in operation for 44 years until it burned down during the 2010 Thai military crackdown, It was demolished a year later. The site has since been replaced with Siam Square One Shopping Center.{{Cite web |last=Ilonka |date=2020-07-06 |title=Siam Bangkok - The center of Bangkok! |url=https://www.thailandmagazine.com/siam-bangkok/?lang=en |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=ThailandMagazine.com |language=en-US}}

• Lido Theater – Opened in 1968 as a standalone, it was converted into a 3-screen cinema in 1994 before closing down for renovations in June 2018 which saw 2 of the 3 theatres repurposed for other uses. It often runs independent films not screened elsewhere in Bangkok. Concerts and other events are occasionally held here. It now operates a small-scale shopping center under the name Lido Connect. {{Cite web|url=https://lidoconnect.com/|title=Lido Connect - lidoconnect.com}}

• Scala Cinema – The 900-seat single-screen cinema opened in 1969, and was considered one of the finest movie houses in Asia. It was the final standalone movie theater in operation before closing in mid-2020 and was demolished by 2021 by its landowner, Chulalongkorn University to make way for re-development. The site, along with the adjacent buildings which were also demolished is still empty as of 2023. {{Cite web|url=https://www.thaipbsworld.com/bangkoks-scala-theatre-demolition-breaks-hearts-of-thai-film-fans/|title=Bangkok’s Scala Theatre demolition breaks hearts of Thai film fans- Thaipbsworld.com }}

• List of shopping malls in Thailand
• Siam Center

{{reflist}}

{{Commons}}

{{Wikivoyage|Bangkok/Siam Square}}

• [http://www.siam-square.com Siam Square guide]

{{Shopping malls in Thailand}}

{{Chulalongkorn University}}

Category:Shopping districts and streets in Bangkok

Category:Property Management of Chulalongkorn University

Category:Thai youth culture

Category:Pathum Wan district