Jim Thompson was born in Greenville, Delaware and studied architecture at Princeton.
He came to Bangkok via a WW II enlistment and later deployment to Thailand. It was love at first site.
He revitalized the silk history and rode a wave to fame when his silk works were featured in 1956's "The King and I." (Anyone sensing a theme here?)
But his life's masterpiece is this apparently beloved compound of six adjoined teak houses, each of which was around 200 years old when he relocated them here.
He seemed to have a Martha Stewart-like passion for beautiful objects combined with Frank Lloyd Wright's sense for their placement and bringing the out-of-doors indoor.
The net result is extraordinarily serene, functional and beautiful.
His silk business vision has long since survived him as captured in this on-site gallery of his beautiful wares.
But sadly and mysteriously he "disappeared" during a trip to the Cameron Highland in Malaysia on March 21, 1967.
His inventiveness and passion for beautiful things reminded me of another great American who highly prized his home: Thomas Jefferson.
Beautiful!!!! I'm currently working on a similar style job (in that it's both indoors and outdoors and blurring the lines between the two) in Wakefield, MA (which is not Bangkok...). The theme is Native American (which also one might not be apt to find in Bangkok) but beauty is beauty. Thanks for posting, will look him up!
ReplyDeleteThere were quite a number if books on him at the bookstore with one simply dedicated to details of his disappearance. I found his entire story fascinating.
DeleteI love the No Entry ropes at the door of the last photo.
ReplyDeleteHave a great trip! And enjoy blogging.
Great observation, Joseph. A smiley face?
DeleteI love Jim Thompson silk but didn't know anything about his life. Thanks for a very interesting post!
ReplyDeleteThe first photo with the sun glinting on the tropical foliage is beautiful.