ONCE OUR TALLEST BUILDING
The 9-storey Phra Ya Sombat Phaisan Building on Yaowarat Road in Yawarat was for decades the tallest building in Bangkok (photographed by Latbin Bonnak, circa 1950, the National Archives). Note the old cars and the tram line in from of the building.

(Photo: Latbin Bonnak, circa 1950, the National Archives)

(Photo: National Archives)
Here is an earlier photo of the area circa 1927-1937. The upper stories of the building are still under construction. A line of cars is parked down the center of Yaowarat Road. Note also the white light post in the middle of the road and Chinese-style rickshaws. The tram line electrical wires are there, but are barely visible. The white pole behind the one of the rickshaw holds the wires.


(Photo: Latbin Bonnak, circa 1950, the National Archives)

The adjacent intersection on Yawarat Road circa 1950 (photographed by Latbin Bonnak, the National Archives) called "Chaloemburi Intersection" (from the name of the cinema nearby - now nearly abandoned).
Note the old-style bus right behind the truck carrying the white bags. It cannot be read without seeing the actual photo, but the building on the right corner has a sign that reads "Serra Vallo's Tonic."

Thanks to Wisarut Bholsithi for finding these photos in the National Archives


(Photo: Wisarut Bholsithi)

The area today--The corner building is also the same as it was in the 1920's, but it has a new roof.
Phraya Sombut Phaisarn Building is now a Chinese restaurant selling shark fin soup, swallow nest soups, as well as other Chinese delicacies.
By the way: Decades later, when the 32-storey Bangkok Bank headquarters was opened on Silom Road in 1982, it was Bangkok's tallest building. Pas Seangsong of Bangkok Highrises comments: The Dusit Thani Hotel (21 stories) was the tallest building in Bangkok way before Bangkok Bank was built. Also Wat Arun which is about 85m / 200ft was built some 200 years ago (if you consider that a highrise building).