Bangkok's iconic 'Robot Building' is undergoing renovations despite opposition from culture and architecture groups who fear the distinctive appearance will be lost.

The skyscraper in the city's Sathorn business district was completed in 1986 and designed by Thai architect Sumet Jumsai na Ayudhya 'to reflect technological advancements in banking' at the time. Sumet would later be declared a National Artist of Thailand in 1998.

The 20-storey tall building resembles a robot with boxes stacked on top of each other with the uppermost floors sporting two 'lidded' circular windows that resemble eyes. On the rooftop stand two lightning rods that look like a robot's antennae.

Locals passing through Sathorn found the Robot Building veiled and surrounded by scaffolding, as renovations pushed through to install a glass facade. The building's owner, the United Overseas Bank (UOB), said a model of the original Robot Building will be placed in the new lobby instead.

However, the Society for The Conservation of National Treasure and Environment (SCONTE) and Docomomo Thailand, groups dedicated to the conservation of historic buildings in the country, fear that the renovation would ruin the building's unique design.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, attending the groups' press conference, said he was interested in the conservation of the Robot Building and that he 'would consider making a list of heritage buildings in Bangkok'.

Meanwhile, the architect Sumet said he had asked the UOB to preserve the look of the building.

The UOB responded saying the renovation was done to address 'environmental issues and the well-being of staff'.

Sumet said: 'It was painful to see that the person who signed off on the design was a well-known Thai architect and was not concerned about this heritage.'

Thailand has laws protecting a handful of historic buildings and monuments but the robot building has not been named on the list.