Darakarn Building is used as office of  two international educational organizations, namely, the Regional Office for Education in Asia of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or "UNESCO" for short, and the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Secretariat or "SEAMES".

To promote the field of education in the country, in 1949 Thailand had become a member state of UNESCO.  Then, in 1965, UNESCO held in Bangkok the Second Conference of Ministers of Education and Ministers Responsible for Economic Planning of Member States in Asia.  At the close of the Conference,  the Ministers of Education of some Southeast Asian countries held a meeting to discuss the cooperation in the field of education.  This meeting led to the establishment of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Secretariat.

Due to the need for housing the Regional Office of UNESCO and SEAMES in Thailand, 15 million baht was allocated for the construction of Darakarn Building. And the foundation stone of which  was laid by His Excellency Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn on January 3, 1969.  It is a matter of considerable satisfaction that the two Organizations, which maintain a close relationship, should be housed in the same building. As a matter of fact, UNESCO occupies the first three floors, SEAMES the fourth, while the conference facilities on the fifth floor are jointly shared.   

SEAMES  moved into Darakarn Building unofficially as from December 10, 1970.  The ceremony formally marking SEAMES occupation of the building as her permanent headquarters took place on Friday, February 19, 1971 when the Prime Minister, H E Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn, officially declared Darakarn Building open.

The site of the building has an area of 6.2 rai; the building itself is five-storeyed, square-shaped and
35 metres long on each side.  Mr Khian Suwansingh
and M R Biradej Chakrabandhu are the architects,
and Mr Kumut Kiatfeaungfoo and Mr Niyom Riansuwan are the engineers.  The Wiwat Construction Limited Partnership is the constructor.  Since the building is meant for the common use  of UNESCO and SEAMES, the building has originally been called "UNESCO/SEAMES Building".  Later, His Excellency
M L Pin Malakul, who has always been keenly interested in activities of both organizations and has taken the initiative of constructing this building, has given it a most appropriate name of "Darakarn", as it is located in the compound of the Planetarium of the Ministry of Education, which has adopted this name ever since.

Mom Luang Pin Malakul Centenary Building

Darakarn building was renamed “Mom Luang Pin Malakul Centenary Building”  in honour of his great contribution to the advancement of the Education in Thailand at all levels.

The Unveiling Ceremony of Mom Luang Pin Malakul's statue and the Dedication of Mom Luang Pin Malakul Centenary Building was held on Friday, 27 December 2002.

The Ceremony of Laying the Foundation Stone of the Building, Friday, 3 January 1969

Ref: In commemoration of the laying of the foundation stone of a building to house the UNESCO & SEAMES Offices, 3 January 1969.  48 p.

Ceremony of Laying the Foundation Stone of the building to house the offices of the two international Organization, Friday,  January 3, 1969.

The foundation stone was laid by the Prime Minister, H E Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn in the morning of the same day.