PACIFIC NEWS PICTURES New Khmer Architecture: Iconic vernacular buildings under threat? Susanne Bodach & Michael Waibel New Khmer Architecture (NKA) is an architecture style from Cambodia combining modernism with elements of traditional Khmer culture thereby incorporating aspects of vernacular design. It became prominent after King Norodom Sihanouk declared Cambodia's independence in 1953. The New Khmer architecture movement created highly innovative and aesthetically pleasing pieces of architecture works and soon became an important tool of Cambodia’s nation-building. Nowadays some of the major works of NKA are still intact, but others suffer from neglect and are in danger of demolition. Introduction without consideration for the hot Van Molyvann Project (http://www. New Khmer Architecture has its roots and humid climate of Cambodia. In vannmolyvannproject.org/). not only in the modernist architecture contrast, the New Khmer Architecture movement but also draws on vernacular took the spirit of the Cambodian Chaktomuk Conference Hall and ancient Khmer styles as well as culture and successfully integrated The The Chaktomuk Conference colonial heritage from Europe. The elements of tropical design. Hall is Vann Molyvann’s first driving force behind the movement The most famous representative noteworthy building and was was King Norodom Sihanouk, who of the New Khmer Architecture inaugurated in November 1961. This had the vision to modernize Cambodia movement was the Cambodian design reinterprets several indigenous after its independence in all relevant architect Vann Molyvann (23/11/1926- Khmer elements, bringing them into sectors. He promoted the design and 28/09/2017), whose professional a modern context. The conference construction of many new public career lasted from the mid 1950s till hall has a triangular concrete structure buildings across the kingdom, bringing the early 1970s before the Khmer that is suspended from beams. These together talented young Cambodian Rouge took control of the country beams are arranged in fan shape architects and international experts. in 1975. Vann Molyvann was one of around one central point (Ross & The Cambodian architects of the time Cambodia’s first licensed architects, and Collins 2016: 15). Being a massive were trained in France and influenced King Norodom Sihanouk took great building for hosting events of up to by the intellectual life of post-war Paris care to nurture his talent. Immediately 850 people, the suspended design gives where they learned the importance of after his return from France, Vann the impression of lightness similar critical thinking. Back in Cambodia, Molyvann became responsible for to the floating Khmer houses along they searched for their own roots and enormous building and urban design the canals and rivers of the country. architecture style. They found it in the projects where he could quickly show Beside the innovative structural design, synthesis of modern architecture and his skills and capacity. the building integrates a number of Khmer traditions. The predominant The following information on some vernacular Khmer features such as colonial architecture style at that time of his major works mostly comes the pointed roof or the free space simply copied designs from Europe from the excellent web site of the under the building. Vann Molyvann Source: Michael Waibel 2017. Figure 1: Chaktomuk Conference Hall (Vann Molyvann, 1961) Pacific Geographies #48 • July/August 2017 11 reinterpreted such traditional elements only four columns supporting the White Building in a way without looking like an canopy (Ross & Collins 2016: 95). Originally called Municipal imitation. Acoustic design, crucial Nowadays the site is an extremely Apartments, the White Building is one for the functioning of the building, popular public place used for various part of the large Bassac Riverfront was given careful consideration (Ross leisure activities by thousands of Project, an ambitious public urban & Collins 2016: 15). Bio-climatic urban citizens every day. However, development project located on features of the building can be seen in the complex is being encroached reclaimed land of the Tonle Sap River the elevated ground floor, high gable upon as well as surrounded by high- (Henning 2015). It is part of a low-cost roof and the shading provided by the rise condominium apartments. The housing programme initiated by the curved veranda. exorbitant land values of this inner- Municipal Won Planning and Housing Originally used as public conference city location put the whole site in Department aiming to provide and cultural event hall, the building immediate danger. Also, a new sports affordable living space to the average was privatised and refurbished in 2000 complex is currently being planned and small-income families in Phnom (Ross & Collins 2016: 15). Therefore, in the urban periphery making the Penh (Ross & Collins 2016: 18). the Chaktomuk Conference Hall is use of the National Sports Complex The building was designed by Lu one of the few well preserved and potentially superfluous. Ban Hap under the supervision of actively used examples of New Khmer Vann Molyvann (Henning 2015: Architecture and, at the moment, in no The Teacher Training College 16). The White Building has an danger of demolition. The design for the Teacher Training elongated building layout of more College (today called Institute of For- than 300 metres. It consists of six The National Sports Complex eign Languages) began as early as 1965 different blocks that are joined by A Vann Molyvann-led team of but it was not inaugurated until after open staircases. The building users international architects and engineers Vann Molyvann fled Cambodia for could walk through the whole designed the National Sports Switzerland in 1971. building complex and easily access the Complex completed in 1964. Some Influences from Angkor Wat, in landscaped park along the building. As experts regard it as his masterpiece. form, style and building design are a typical feature for climate-adapted Overhanging concrete roofs provide referenced throughout the whole col- design of New Khmer Architecture, shade and the whole complex is based lege complex. Features of bio-climatic the building’s ground floor is elevated on natural ventilation. architecture are implemented in terms and all apartments are cross-ventilated The unique structural design of the of cross-ventilation, indirect lighting (Sereypagna 2015: 102-103). National Sport Complex would not and water management. Concrete dou- Although the White Building has have materialized without the genius ble roofs provide thermal insulation an extraordinary and unique history ideas of the Russian engineer Vladimir and screened skylights allow filtered of architecture and community Bodiansky. He brought Molyvann’s day lighting. life, preservation efforts were not idea to build a grandstand with a roof The site is still very much in use and successful. Demolition of the building like a table standing on four legs into is regarded as another masterpiece of began in July 2017; it will be replaced an exceptional structural solution with Vann Molyvann. by a 21-story mixed-use development. Source: Michael Waibel 2016. Figure 5: National Sports Complex, known as Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium (Vann Molyvann, 1964) 12 Pacific Geographies #48 • July/August 2017 PACIFIC NEWS PICTURES Sources: picture left: Waibel 2016, pictures middle & right: Chheav 2016. Figure 2: White Building Figures 3+4: Institute of Foreign Languages (Vann Molyvann, 1971) Conclusions Buildings erected nowadays should References The New Khmer Architecture be inspired by the tremendous values Henning, Moritz (2015) Von Phnom Penh nach movement should be considered as a of New Khmer Architecture and Paris, nach Phnom Penh nach Paris. Bauwelt magnificent contribution to the urban particularly grasp their implementation 38.2015 (106), 16-23. heritage of Phnom Penh. It made a of bio-climatic design. Khmer Architecture Tours (2017) http://www.ka-tours.org/ major contribution to find innovative It should not be denied that most Ross, H. & D. Collins (2006) Building Cambodia: solutions for the challenges of rapid NKA buildings with representative New Khmer architecture 1953-1970, Bangkok: The urban growth and experimented in character were built with an extensive Key Publisher, 334 p. the field of affordable housing. The budget making them difficult to Sereypagna, Pen (2015) White Building: Smart City. movement deserves increased public replicate today. However, modern Nakhara Magazine, Volume 11 (2015), 101-110. attention and financial support for carefully planned adaptations of The Vann Molyvann Project (2017) its preservation. Keeping those New Khmer Architecture promise http://www.vannmolyvannproject.org/the-project architecture moments in vivid use long-term pay-offs for bio-climatic White Building (2017) seems to be the most promising and energy-efficient design that will http://whitebuilding.org strategy to sustain those efforts. outweigh the initial investment costs. Corresponding author: Susanne Bodach, PhD [[email protected]] is an environmental consultant based in Phnom Penh. Further, she is the local project assistant of the research project “Sustainable Buildings for People - Enhancing Urban Quality of Life in Cambodia”. Pacific Geographies #48 • July/August 2017 13.