Mr. Chuan Chavanich, founded Chavanich Company, Ltd. in 1944 and the shophouse he was renting in Talat Noi near Sieng Kong, was too small to accommodate the post-war trade. He needed more space to store large quantities of raw materials before exporting them to the United States. Having heard that Mr. Lert didn’t want the land which the Japanese had occupied, he had expressed his own interest in it, and when the time was right he and his wife Manee Chavanich bought this land along with the warehouses.
Above picture: Chuan & Manee Chavanich
Above picture: Chavanich Co. Ltd. shipped raw materials to the US after the war.
Above picture (1952): Opening Day Chavanich Building with the staff and family
By 1946, he had Chavanich Building erected on the present site. Mr. Chuan hired “Mr. Meng” to build the two-story Chavanich Building in art deco style. Art Deco became popular in the West around 1910 and its influence had reached Thailand by the end of the war. It became known as the solid geometric shapes simplified with repetitive rhythm served to emphasize the symmetry of layout. The sides of the building flanking the centrally located entrance were identical, looking solid, dignified and official. Chavanich Building is located at 48 Bush Lane Charoenkrung Soi 30 and is still being used as an office. It is located within the Warehouse30 compound.
Above picture (2025) : The front of Chavanich Building
Chavanich Building’s ART DECO featured:
- The use of “Eyebrows” or shelves placed above windows to block the sun and rain (important in a time before air-conditioning).
- Simplified architectural details: The outside surface of the cement building is decorated with grooved lines as if it were really stone.
- Sparing Use of Color: The building is painted in off- white with contrasting touches of pastel blue-gray trim. No bright colors used.
- In 1950, to add “Locality” into ART DECO design, metal decoration above entranceways, windows, and ventilation shafts was used. This practice came to Thailand after WWII as well with wrought iron elements added to many houses.
Above picture: The front plan of Chavanich Building
Left picture: Eyebrows or shelves placed above windows
Right picture: Wrought iron elements featuring CCL logo (Chavanich Company Limited logo)