Joachim Grassi

Grassi was born in Capodistria under the Austro-Hungarian Empire (in present-day Koper, Slovenia). He moved from Shanghai to Bangkok and in 1870 he joined Bonneville, a French timber merchant firm in Thailand. Outlook in timber business wasn't bright for him but before he decided to leave the country, he got the contract to build the Concordia Club - the first foreigner club in Bangkok.

Joachim Grassi married Lucie Nho in Siam and had three sons, Felix Auguste Grassi (1880), Eugène Cesar (1881-1941)[1] and Georges Raphael (1884). He received French nationallity in 1883. Around 1875, Grassi Brothers & Co., his civil engineers company was established with his two brothers, Antonio and Giacomo Grassi, situated on Chaopraya river in Klongsarn area opposite of UK Embassy then,[2] providing architectural and construction services.

In 1893, amid the conflict between Thailand and France, he sold his company, Grassi Brothers & Co. to Mr. Edward Bonnevillie and went back to his home town in Capodistria. He married Amalia Stölker, sister of Julius Stölker one of the partners in Grassi Brother & Co. and had two children. Joachim Grassi died on August 19, 1904 at the age of 68 in Capodistria.

Grassi Brothers & Co.'s architectural and construction achievements in Thailand include:[2]

1. Concordia Club, built around 1873 or earlier, the first (French) club in Siam, on Charoenkrung road near Rhongpasi lane, later changed to Hotel de la Prix and was long since demolished.
2. Bang Pa-in Palace (some of the buildings such as Warophat-Phiman throne hall (1872), Devaraj-Kunlai gate)
3. Wat Niwet Thammaprawat, 1873–1875, a Buddhist temple in gothic style with a church tower in Bang Pa-in.
4. Residence of Phraya Rajanupraphan (Sudjai and Thui Bunnag), son of the Chaophraya Phanuwong Mahakosathibodi (Thuam Bunnag), circa. early 1870s
5. Residence of Chaophraya Surawong Waiyawat (Wora Bunnag)
6. Portuguese Ambassador's Residence (Portuguese Consulate in Bangkok), 1875
7. Buraphaphirom Palace, 1875–1880, demolished to give way to a market.[3]
8. Prince Saisanitwong Palace, 1875-1882
9. Prince Svasti Sobhon Palace, 1876-1877
10. Prince Rajasakdi Samosorn Palace
11. Saphan Than Palace, circa 1879
12. Courts of Justice, 1880-1882
13. Tha Phra Palace, 1880-1883
14. Statue of Queen Sunanda at Saranrom Park, 1880
15. Sunandalaya School, 1880
16. Printing house at Chang Rong Si Bridge, 1881-1882
17. Residence of Chao Muen Wai Woranat, 1881–1882, was demolished and became Dusit Thani hotel
18. New Pratumwan Palace (Windsor Palace or Wang Klang Thung or Wang Mai), 1881–1884, as the residence of the Crown Prince Vajirunhis, later became part of Chulalongkorn University and was later demolished to make way for the construction of Suphachalasai Stadium.
19. Royal Barrack (Front soldier barracks), 1882–1884, now the Ministry of Defence
20. Cavalry barracks, 1883 or early
21. Conception Church bell tower, 1883
22. Saint Joseph Church, 1883–1891, in Ayutthaya province.
23. Customs House, 1884–1887, a neo-paladian group of buildings next to French Embassy on Chao Phraya river.
24. Chulachomklao Fort, 1884–1893, Samutprakarn province
25. Henry Alabaster tomb monument in the Bangkok Protestant Cemetery, 1885
26. Assumption College old school building, 1887-1890
27. Victoria and Saovabhak Buildings at Siriraj Hospital, 1888
28. Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, 1888–1890, the first establishment on the mouth of Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem, was demolished and now is the site of the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel.
29. Old Bangkok Remand Prison (Bangkok maximum security prison), 1888–1891, on Maha Chai Road

Other works;

• Siam River Steamboat Company
• Railway in Singapore
• Antonio Grassi's tomb monument in Koper, Slovenia, 1887
• Irrigation System Plan for Chaopraya river basin under Siam Lands, Canal and Irrigation Co., Ltd.[1]
• Rangsit Prayurasakdi Canal construction,1890
• Railway in Malacca, 1898