Turin 1911: The World's Fair in Italy

Object/Work Type
National Pavilions

Title Text
Pavilion of Siam

Alternate Title Text
Padiglione del Siam

Creator Description
Architects: Annibale Rigotti and Mario Tamagno.

Creation Date
1910-1911

Styles/Periods Description

Architecture known as prāsād: cruciform plan with triple-storied polychrome roofs and tapering central spire.

Styles/Periods Indexing Terms
National Style

Dimension Description

The Pavilion occupied an area of 800 square meters including terraces. The toal lenght was 65 meters, including terraces, and the total height was 45 meters (calculated from the dock of the river Po to theheighest point of the central spire) (see Giornale ufficiale, p.269).

Material Color
Colors (Hues or Tints), White (Color), Gold (Colors), Turquoise (Color)

Descriptive Note Text

The Pavilion of Siam digressed completely from the general neo-baroque architecture of the Exposition. The architectural project for the Pavilion of Siam was completed in Bangkok, Thailand, in the offices of the Public Works Department by architects Annibale Rigotti and Mario Tamagno. The Pavilion was inspired by the architecture of local temples (Wat) with large, polychrome roofs and a golden dome.

The Pavilion was 65 meters long and reached a height of 45 meters at its tallest point. The Pavilion had a cruciform plan (named prāsād) and it was composed of three separate salons and three open galleries (“La mostra del Siam” in Giornale ufficiale, p.269-270, 1911). The beautiful stucco decorations gracing the Pavilion were completed by sculptor Emilio Musso, the paintings were by Cesare Ferro, and the frescoes by Unione Decoratori. The roof had three levels surmounted by a pyramidal spire with seven steps, the white walls exalted the polychrome tiles of the roof, typical symbols of Garuda bird and Naga snake appeared in the pediments (Filippi, 2008; “La mostra del Siam” in Giornale ufficiale, p.269-270, 1911).

The Executive Committee for the Siamese exhibit in Turin was composed of Gerolamo Emilio Gerini (Commissioner-General), Annibale Rigotti (Techinical Director for the building of the Pavilion), and G. Vigna del Ferro (Secretary). The Pavilion was built by Natale Previgliano (Previlgiano Costruzioni).

King Mahà Vagiravudh was the president of the Royal Committee for the Exposition.

The Pavilion showed sericulture products with cotton, silk, and colored mats from the Ciantabun province, and fine straw hats. A collection of rare woods for construction and cabinet-making purposes were also on display. Other exhibits included mineral products, agricultural artifacts, and locally produced goods such as rice, tobacco, and pepper. The Pavilion also showed photographs of public works, and exhibits of precious silverware and jewellery.

Code in the 1911 Map
SIM 85

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