For almost 40 years, a unique building with big, friendly eyes stood tall in Bangkok’s bustling commercial district, Sathorn.
However, the famous “Robot Building” is now going through significant changes, with its outer appearance reduced to a bare concrete frame during extensive renovations.
Its distinctive boxy shape is the only feature that remains unchanged.
The Robot Building belongs to the Thai branch of Singapore’s United Overseas Bank (UOB).
The bank claims that these renovations aim to improve energy efficiency and create a more employee-friendly headquarters.
Although the bank hasn’t shared any images of the proposed design changes with CNN, preservationists, and architects, including the building’s original 84-year-old designer, are deeply disappointed by the dramatic alterations happening to this symbol of Southeast Asian postmodern architecture.
Built-in 1986, the Robot Building was meant to represent the banking industry’s embrace of new computer technology during that time.
Its creator, Sumet Jumsai, who found inspiration in one of his son’s toy robots, is a prominent figure in contemporary Thai architecture and has been honored as a “national artist” by the government.
In an email to CNN, Sumet expressed his sadness over the “disfigurement” of his creation and criticized the “ignorance and arrogance of big corporations.”
Sumet had written to UOB Thailand in March, expressing concern about the loss of the building’s “original iconic features,” including its distinctive eyes, and urged them to reconsider their plans.
UOB acknowledged the building’s significance as a landmark but argued that the renovation would bring it into a new era while paying homage to its heritage.
They also promised to keep a replica of the building’s original form in a corner of the lobby.
Originally designed for the Bank of Asia, the Robot Building was acquired by UOB Thailand in 2005.
The bank’s renovations primarily focus on promoting environmental sustainability and enhancing the well-being of its employees.
The building’s redesign is expected to reduce electricity consumption by at least 15%, thanks to a new glass exterior that minimizes the need for artificial lighting, thus reducing carbon emissions.
The Robot Building stands 20 stories tall, with each floor becoming smaller as it goes up, giving it its unique staggered shape.
The building’s iconic eyes served as windows for two executive suites on the upper floors.
It also featured antennas for communication and lightning rods, as well as large metallic nuts decorating its sides.
This building is one of the few landmarks from its era that has survived Bangkok’s rapid urban development.
After recovering from the 1997 Asian financial crisis, Bangkok underwent a building boom, transforming areas like Sathorn.
Bangkok is now the 14th tallest city globally, with 112 towers measuring 150 meters (492 feet) or higher, according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH).
The Thai branch of Docomomo International, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving modern architecture, has recognized the Robot Building as one of the country’s 20 “most outstanding” structures.
In an open letter to UOB Thailand, the conservation group’s president, Pongkwan Lassus, described the Robot Building as a historical marker representing the shift from late modernism to postmodernism, an architectural movement known for its decorative facades and a rejection of the mid-century mantra “form follows function.”
A Bangkok-based filmmaker, Dana Blouin, who is producing a documentary about the Robot Building, believes that despite campaigners’ efforts, the building has now “lost its soul.”
He thinks that the original design was “elevated and refined” and still had a sense of fun, whimsy, and beauty. When it was constructed, it was one of the tallest buildings in the Sathorn district.
Today, it seems small compared to the towering glass and steel structures surrounding it, making it even more special.
However, it’s important to note that not everyone in Bangkok shares this sentiment.
A petition initiated by campaign groups, including Docomomo, had garnered fewer than 1,700 signatures at the time of writing.
Thailand’s conservation efforts and laws mainly focus on the country’s ancient heritage.
Nevertheless, campaigners and architects hope that, while it may be too late for the Robot Building, other significant examples of contemporary architecture may be spared from a similar fate.
Pongkwan’s letter to UOB Thailand suggests that there is a gradual shift in the government sector towards recognizing the importance of preserving modern architectural landmarks.
For Blouin, a broader cultural shift is necessary to ensure the preservation of other modern Bangkok landmarks.
The enthusiasm for newness has led to the neglect of some of these iconic buildings, which he finds unfortunate.
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