Mario Tamagno

Who is Mario Tamagno?

Mario Tamagno was an Italian architect who worked mainly in early 20th-century Siam. He was educated at the Albertina Academy of Fine Arts in Turin, where he became an instructor after graduating in 1895. He travelled to Siam in 1900, where he entered employment with the Siamese government in a twenty-five-year contract. He was among many Westerners, particularly Italians, who were employed as architects and civil engineers during the reign of King Chulalongkorn. He produced many works, and contributed extensively with Annibale Rigotti, most notably on the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall. He married an Italian woman in Thailand, and returned to Italy after the term of his government contract ended.

His contributions with Annibale Rigotti include:

Wat Benchamabophit

Nongkhran Samoson Hall in Suan Sunanda Palace

Siam pavilion at the 1911 Turin International world's fair.

Santa Cruz Church

Thewarat Sapharom Throne Hall in the Phaya Thai Palace

His other projects in Thailand include:

Makkhawan Rangsan Bridge

The Oriental Hotel

The first office of the Siam Commercial Bank

Phitsanulok Mansion