Advised by his doctor to rest and restore his health in a cool dry place. His Majesty King Vajiravudh, Rama VI, chose to spend his summers at the seaside in Petchaburi. He become dissatisfied with the RoyalResidence at Chao Samran Beach because of unhealthy conditions. His Majesty therefore decided in 1923 to build a summer palace near the beach in Huai Sai Nua, Cha-am, District, using materials from the dismantled buildings of the former residence. The new side was drier and cooler. With lush natural forest and fresh water. Few people lived nearby, though a train station was not far away.
The area, Huai Sai, means the stream where hog beer drink. His Majesty named the new palace "Mridadayavan" which maintained the original meaning of the place while adopting the auspicious name of the park where the lord Buddha gave his first sermon. His Majesty forbade hunting within the vicinity of Mrigadayavan.
King Rama VI made the first designs of the palace himself. He assured good ventilation with high ceilings and fretwork on all walls.Building the entire structure on stilts ensured the ground could be kept clean. Ants were controlled byniches for water around each concrete pillar and along the plaster walls that connect to the ground. Bringing all his ideas together, His Majesty chose an italian architect, Ercole Manfredi, who worked in the Civil Works Department, to make the final architectural drawings.
The palace consists of three groups of buildings. All buildings are one story high, built of golden teak, and stand on a total of 1.080 concrete pilars. Covered wooden corridors connect all the buildings.
King Vajiravidh was able to spend only 2 summers, in 1924 and 1925, in this Palace. Then he passed away on November 25, 1925.
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