Jim Thompson House

Art collection & traditional teak houses

Jim Thompson House in Siam district in the heart of Bangkok is the former house of American Jim Thompson, turned into a museum. Surrounded by a well kept tropical garden are six teak wooden buildings in traditional Thai architectural style. On display in the houses is a collection of mostly South East Asian art brought together by Jim Thompson. The house is now managed by the James H.W. Thompson Foundation which aims to preserve the house and its art collection.

Jim Thompson revived the Thai silk industry. On display around the house are items used in the production of silk as well as boards with information about the process of silk worm harvesting, spinning and weaving.

Visitors can walk around in the gardens, to see the house inside join a tour.

Jim Thompson

Jim Thompson was an American architect who ended up in Thailand shortly after the end of World War II. He founded the Thai Silk Company, a business that soon prospered and employed thousands of workers producing hand woven silk items. He revived the Thai silk industry, which was at the time dying out.

In 1967 while on holiday in Malaysia Jim Thompson disappeared without a trace taking a walk in the jungle. To this day it remains a mystery what happened to him.

Jim Thompson House

Jim Thompson bought six houses in Bangkok and Ayutthaya. The traditional Thai architecture teak wood houses were build on high poles to protect the houses form flooding. They were dismantled and taken to the place in Bangkok Jim had chosen and rebuild there. As no nails were used, the buildings were easy to dismantle and rebuild at their new location.

Apart from the carved panels under the windows and the roofs ends shaped like stylized Naga snakes similar to those often seen on Thai temples there is little decoration on the houses.

In 1959 the houses were completed and Jim moved in.

Old paintings depicting Buddhist stories at Jim Thompson House

Old paintings depicting Buddhist stories
Jim Thompson House

Art collection

Jim Thompson had an appreciation for Asian art and after moving into his house he started an art collection. He often strolled around the markets in Bangkok where he would buy art pieces at often very low prices, since there was not much demand for them back then. Soon he had acquired a sizeable art collection of mostly Asian Buddhist art, now on display in the various buildings.

Among others visitors can admire Buddha images from various periods in Thai history like Dvaravati, Khmer, Lopburi and Ayutthaya as well as paintings, porcelain items and old photos. Among the most treasured items are several very old Buddha images, including a 13^th century sandstone image. The oldest images date back to the 7^th or 8^th century, the Dvaravati Mon period.

Tours of the house

To see the interior of the house visitors have to join a tour. Tours take around 30 to 40 minutes and are available in Thai, English, French, Chinese and Japanese. The guide will explain about the houses, the art collection and the silk weaving process. Taking photos inside the house is not allowed.

A restaurant next to the house serves excellent food and drinks.

Jim Thompson shops

A shop next to the Jim Thompson house sells silk products like scarves, dresses and shirts.

You will find Jim Thompson shops across Bangkok, among others at Siam Paragon, Central World, Suvarnabhumi airport and Don Muang airport.

Location and how to get there

Jim Thompson House is located at 6 Soi Kasemsan 2, Rama I road. A quiet narrow lane from Rama I road leads to the house. Either wait for the free electric shuttle cart or take a 5 minute walk.

Easiest way to get there is by metered taxi or BTS Sky Train. Exit at BTS Station National Stadium.

Get there by Sky Train.

Getting around Bangkok: BTS Sky Train, river boat, MRT Subway, Taxi, Tuk Tuk