Upon the construction of the city, King Rama I (King Phrabuddhayodfah) allowed royal members and high ranking officers to built their palaces and houses within the city wall. At that time, there was no any ministries building, these residences also served as government offices.

Bangkok in the reign of King Rama I to King Rama III (King Phranungklao) was in fascinating year-long lush greenery. A number of sea vassels anchored in the river, stupas decorated with colored China scatter along the river banks. Ornamented roofs of temples glittered in the sunlight. Raft-shops lined up along the banks while thousands of all sizes boats traveled up and down the river and canal constantly. There were people of all races and languages dressing their traditional costumes. The music from traditional Thai ensemble echoed from different directions.

When Bangkok was first founded as the capital of the country, the main transportation is on the labyrinth of waterways and canals. With a small population and the status of newly emerging capital city, the water based transport system provided sufficient access and met its needs. Other advantages gained from these canals included expansion of dwelling area, public utility and food & fishery sources as well as recreation area and the means of defense. For example, during the Vietnam war in the reign of King Rama III, Klong Saen Saeb was dig from Hua Mark to the east totaling about 55 km to serve as military transport to Cambodia.

Everybody traveled by boats. No vehicles could be found in Bangkok. Brick-covered road could be hardly found even in the city center or at a trading area. there were three such roads that running alongside the palace wall. In the reign of King Rama II, the palace was expanded to the south, another road was built to separate the royal enclosure from Wat Po. With these roads, the grand palace was enclosed on all sides by roadways. The other roads had been built. One ran in front of the palace of the front, which the viceroy prince used to approach the grand palace, passing in front of Wat Mahathat. Phra Chan road separated the palace of the front from Wat Mahathat. Rong Ma road branched off Sanam Chai road towards the Chang Rongsi bridge. And Sao Chingcha road lay from Chang Rongsi bridge to Brahman sanctuary. Anyway, all of these roads were dusty and became poor in the rainy season.

These roads were paved with broken bricks. Whenever there was a royal state ceremony like as a royal cremation ceremony which needed to have a chariot parade bearing the royal corpse pulled a long these road towards Toong Phra Meru (cremation ground), the authorities would processed to smoothen and compacted the roads as necessary.

Housing in Bangkok can be classified in 3 different types; brick & concrete building for palaces, wooden houses for the high rank officers and richmen, bamboo cottages and raft houses belonging to the poor.

So it is no surprise that fires break out quite often, but new houses replace the burned-down homes very quickly with help from their relatives and friends.

The 414 hectares area within the city wall of Bangkok during the first three kings became quite dense. King Rama IV expanded the city to the east by hired Chinese labors to dig an outer layer canal. It took 10 months before completed in 1851. King Rama IV kindly named the canal “Klong Phadung Krungkasem” and ordered the construction of 8 forts alongside of the canal.

Bangkok in the reign of King Rama IV (King Mongkut) became more modernized than the previous reigns. His majesty opened up Siam to a new era of modern progress and civilization, introduced new technology from the West to Siamese society. Many roads were built due to the request of the foreigners such as Charoen Krung road, Tanon Trong road(straight road) alongside of Klong Tanon Trong canal, Silom road alongside of Klong Silom canal.

Bangkokian enjoyed a greater array of modern consumer goods and foods. Market places which previously would always occupy spots along the banks of the river or canal, now began to move to the roadside, as more and more people began walking the streets. Merchants demanded more blocks or shop-houses, to which the government responded by erecting one-storey blocks lining the road.

King Rama IV had built new palaces both inside and outside the city wall. The first one was located in the garden opposite the grand palace’s eastern wall. This new palace was intended as a “rest home” in his old age, named “Saranrom”. Another newly built palace was located outside the eastern city wall in the royal rice fields adjacent to Bangkapi canal. The palace was name “Sra pathum Wan”.which reflected the palace located among lotus ponds. A monastery was also built adjacent to the palace and called “Wat Pathumwanaram”. The new palace and monastery attracted people to resettle themselves towards the eastern suburbs of the capital.