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Spatial Organization and Evolution of Shophouses in Cambodia

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An Introduction to Cambodian Shophouses In the Case of Spatial Organization Transformation By Sokly YAM, Royal University of Fine Arts and Space for Architecture, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Supervised bu Prof. Seo Ryeung Ju, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea This article is published on Family and Environmental Research Journal, Korea Title: Transformation of Shophouses in Phnom Penh, Cambodia: In the Aspect of Spatial Organization http://www.fer.or.kr/articles/search_result.php Cambodia and ASEAN nations 1 Cambodia 2 3 Source: Google Maps, (1) :http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/bebeaverbold/files/2015/04/Angkor_from_Lake.jpg (2) https://diogenesii.wordpress.com/tag/khmer-rouge/ (3) http://blog.thecauseofprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PhnomPenh121230-2159.jpg Phnom Penh shophouses: Traditional shophouses Traditional shophouses 1960s Shophouses 1950s Shophouses Aims: ˃ To document the general morphology and spatial organization of shophouses of Phnom Penh’s historical districts. ˃ To investigate morphological and spatial organization of shophouses based on the original building form and unit design. ˃ To trace the transformation of morphology and spatial organization of shophouses. ˃ To explore spatial use pattern of the shophouses ˃ The attempt to address the uniqueness of Phnom Penh’s shophouses Researching scope: The first Chinese districts are selected for study. Representatives samples are surveyed and analyzed. Shophouse that built between 1900s to 1960s are selected as the case study. Commercial-residential archetype of shophouses are the focused cases for the study. First Chinese district Second Chinese district Third Chinese district Historical cities of Phnom Penh Studied area Field survey: Hand survey measurement Photographic documentation Shared courtyard Shared staircase Internal view Informal interview and voice record Analyzing framework: Analyzing Analyzing criteria Structure, plot ratio, number of span per block, number of Basic configuration storey, number of courtyard, type of ownership, roof shape, Block: block type, entrances, stair case, corridor, Block and unit courtyard/skywell Unit: unit orientation, space composition (living area, bedroom, kitchen, toilet, store area) Urban Development of Phnom Penh Urban Development of Phnom Penh: • Fishing village, traditional planning with different ethnical villages, Khmer, Pre-Protectorate Chinese, Vietnamese, Cham etc... • Wooden constructions • Modern planned city with grid system Protectorate (colonial) • European urban scape and diverse ethnical districts • New brick and concrete construction • New government institutes Independent • Vast urban expansion and social housing • More complex archetype introduced as part of urban development • Concrete is wisely available for new construction Among the 3 periods of urban development of Phnom Penh, shophouses are the main feature and one of the main principles to expanse the city. Source: Aterlier Parisien d’Urbanisme, Phnom Penh Developpement Urbain et Patrimoine, 1997, P.13 Definition of Shophouses in Southeast Asia Definition of shophouses No. Name of Author(s) Content 1. Khmer language Cambodia Pteah Loverng (bay house) is for the city’s row houses. Pteah Tiam (shop house) refers to small detach shop or house in front of a main house and typically used for the rural or a smaller commercial center. 2. French language Goulin (1966) La boutique chinois (Chinese store) “[Another] characteristics of the Chinese store was the same confusion in the local workplace and place of residence.…... The compartment was used to warehouse (store), dinning room, or even garage” 3. Thai language Thailand, Sirikulchayyanont (2009). Ruenrong is a single shophouse that built on the ground and normally belong to the Chinese. Hongthaew is a row of Ruenrong (Row house). 4. English Malaysia (Kohl (1978) & Fels (1994) Terrace house is purely use as one family residence with a wooden partition screen, ancestral hall and shine located near to the front hall. Shophouse is served for both chief tenant and multiple tenants. Singapore, Davison (2010) Shophouse has setback and use as five-foot-way 5. Tieng Viet Vietnam, To (2008) Nhẩ ống (tube house) is unique feature to Hanoi and Hoi An ancient city of Vietnam. Definition of shophouses Cambodian shophouses Malaysian shophouses Vietnamese shophouses Void and Mass: 2 max (M, C, A) Void and Mass: 3 to 4 Void and Mass: 3 to 4 Courtyard/sky-well: 1 max Sky-well: 2 to 3 Sky-well: 2 to 3 Rear yard: No Rear yard: yes Rear yard: no Front yard: yes but not a must Front yard: yes but not a must Front yard: yes but not a must Five-foot-way: yes Five-foot-way: yes Five-foot-way: yes Roof form: gable roof and terrace Roof form: gable roof, jack roof and terrace Roof form: gable roof and terrace Shop: ground floor Shop: ground floor Shop: ground floor Dwelling: upper floor Dwelling: upper floor Dwelling: central and rear of ground floor Space arrangement: central axis or corridor Space arrangement: central axis or corridor Space arrangement: central axis or corridor Precedent study on shophouses in SEA No. Name of Author(s) Content 1. Kohl (1978) Malaysia. Chinese Architecture in the Straits Settlements and Western Malaya. University of Hong Kong (MA) Studied on the general Chinese architectural. 2. Fels (1994) Malaysia Penang’s Shophouse Culture. Place, 9(1). P. 46-55 Studied on socio-cultural and conservation point of view 3. Davison (2010) Singapore Singapore Shophouse Talisman Publishing House Pte Ltd Studied on definition, development of shophouse and the current status of shophouses in Singapore. 4. Li (2007) Singapore A Study of Ethnic Influence on the Façade of Colonial Shophouses in Singapore: A Case Study of Telok Ayer in Chinatown. Journal of Asian Architecture and Built Environment, 41-48 Studied on façade decoration elements and its cultural influences. 5. Ju & Osmar Malaysia (2010) A Typology of Modern Housing in Malaysia. International Journal of Human Ecology, p. 109-119 Precedent study on shophouses No. Name of Author(s) Content 6. Ly (2012) Vietnam A Critical Regionalist Approach to Housing Design in Vietnam: Socio-Environmental organization of Living Space in Pre- and Post-Reform House Queensland University of Technology (PhD) Studied the different form of living space organization in Pre- and Post Reform (1986). 7. Goulin (1966) Cambodia Study of Urban Morphology of Phnom Penh Strasbourg, France Studied general history of urban planning of Phnom Penh and included the development of shophouses. 8. Igout (1991) Cambodia Phnom Penh Then and Now White Lotus Publication, Bangkok. Studied general development of urban planning of Phnom Penh. 9. Wakita et al Cambodia (2010) Spatial Recomposition of Shophouses in Phnom Penh, Cambodia Journal of Asian Architecture and Built Environment, Vol. 9, No. 1, 2010 Studied the remodeling methodology done by the residents. Secondary material on Cambodia No. Name of Author(s) Content 10. Weinberger Cambodia (2012) The Shophouse as a Tool for Equitable Urban Development: The Case Study of Phnom Penh, Cambodia University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Studied and suggesting the typology of shophouses and recommendation on the conservation policies and planning agenda. 11. Tan (2006) La Diaspora chinois du Cambodge. Histoir d’une identite recompe. Institute d’Etudes Politque de Paris. (MA disseration) Studied history of Chinese diaspora in Cambodia from a historical point of view. 12. Osborn (2008) Cambodia Phnom Penh, A Cultural and Literacy History Signal Book Oxford Historical study about general development of Phnom Penh 13. Staurt-Fox & Cambodia Reeve (2011) Symbolism in the City Planning in Cambodia from Angkor to Phnom Penh Journal of Siam Society, 99, p. 105-138 Studied the relation between urban planning and religious believe in Cambodia Analysis Location of cases Basic Configuration Overview of cases Classification of shophouses Types Content Shared courtyard Shophouse (SCS) Private Courtyard Shophouse (PCS) Roof types Types Content Gable Roof with clay roof tiles is the most common roof form. Hip-roof is not a common roof form, but it is mostly cover the corner spans. Flat roof is a common roof form for later built shophouses Plot Ratio Type of ownership Half length unit (HL) Full length unit (FL) A full length unit, traditionally, is a unit that owned by a A half length unit is a unit that owned by a family that family and occupied a full span of a shophouse (both occupied a half span or either owned only for M or A ground floor and first floor) whereas a full length unit per span of shophouse block. Traditional shophouses for the modern shophouse is a unit that owned by a does not have any half length unit type. single family per span per floor (full span). Typically FL unit is either contains only M for NCS or MCA for MCS, PCS and SCS. Private courtyard shophouses (PCS) Shared courtyard shophouses (SCS) Conclusion Comparison between PCS and SCS Private Courtyard Shophouses Shared Courtyard Shophouse Remain most of the characteristics of Early SCS contains similar spatial early shophouses with extra floor height. organization to PCS, except there did not has wall between bays at the courtyard. Single bay type Block type with multiple bays Shop at ground level, living at upper floors. Early PCS: small courtyard without Early SCS: shared only ground floor staircase level. Modern PCS: Small courtyard with Modern SCS: shared mostly from first staircase floor and above Only one shared staircase One or multiple shared staircase Only one courtyard
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