Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall

Bangkok's Neo-Renaissance throne hall (1915), Dusit Palace, Rama V commission, Carrara marble domes.

The Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall in Bangkok's Dusit Palace is one of Southeast Asia's most impressive buildings, built in Italian Neo-Renaissance style by European architects. King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) commissioned it in 1908 as a ceremonial reception hall; completed in 1915, five years after his death. Carrara marble domes and lavish interiors reflect Siam's modernisation ambitions. Today it is occasionally used for state occasions.