Khmer architecture may be revitalized and innovated

Recently, Say Samal, minister of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction said the that the Ministry is planning to introduce new laws and regulations, and will also promote the integration of Khmer architectural style into construction projects.

When talk about Khmer architecture, the first thing that comes into our mind must be the world cultural heritage―Angkor Wat. As the earliest Khmer-style architectural complex in the world, it is a reference model for subsequent architectural designs.

Beside that, The famous Royal Palace in Phnom Penh is a typical Khmer-style building, it is a symbol of the power and royal residence of the Kingdom of Cambodia. The entire building is mostly yellow and white colors, with yellow representing Buddhism and white representing Brahmanism. There is a tall spire in the center of the roof of the building, and the two ends of the ridge are pointed. If you look down at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh from a high altitude, it is shimmering with golden light, giving people a magnificent feeling.

Khmer architectural style can also be seen in the newly built office buildings of various government departments.

The new headquarters of the Ministry of Interior was constructed in 2021. It is in the classic Khmer architectural style with five “pagodas” stand on the top of the building, paying tribute to the five stone towers of Angkor Wat, which is particularly unique in a city dominated by modern high-rise buildings.

In Cambodia, the five most representative stone towers at Angkor Wat have always been a symbol of local pride ,and can be seen everywhere such as the Cambodian flag, money, and the design of various products.

New office building of the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, the interior and exterior design of the building combines Khmer, Western traditional and modern architectural styles. The exterior design of the building is also inspired by the most famous ancient temple in Cambodia - Angkor Wat.

The Cambodian People's Party (CPP) headquarters building is also built in exquisite Khmer style. The shape of the building resembles a mountain. The design is inspired by Angkor Wat and Banteay Srei temples. The main part of the building is decorated with white, symbolizing the sanctity of the country and the people.

In addition, Khmer style architecture can also be seen in some hotel buildings.

In terms of residence, stilt house is a traditional house in Cambodia and mainly found in tropical and subtropical countries. It is suitable for hot and humid climate areas. Cambodia has a long rainy season. When the rainfall is heavy, stilt houses has advantages of prevent water from flooding the house, and can also prevent the infestation of snakes, ants and other insects ... Based on the needs of the living environment, the living style of stilt houses has been continued even after thousands of years.

The construction of the stilt house consists of four strong wooden or cement pillars as the foundation pillars to erect the house. The roof is sloped on two sides, sloped on four sides or round shape, and is covered with thatch or palm leaves.

Stilt house is generally divided into two floors. The upper floor is used for people's living, and the lower floor is used as an elevated storage warehouse or for raising poultry animals. The upper and lower floors of the house are connected by a simple outdoor staircase.

Since the stilt houses are made of wood, they are easy to move. Some houses near the water can be moved directly to higher places when the tide rises.

However, with the rapid development of Cambodia, stilt houses are now rarely seen in cities and are more common in rural areas. At the same time, in order to attract tourists, stilt houses, hammocks and traditional food, will be gathered in resorts and tourist attractions in the suburbs of Phnom Penh or other provinces to provide tourists with an authentic traditional living experience.

In addition, in order to keep the traditional of stilt houses, some architectural designers have also integrated its architectural style into modern buildings and made the top floors of buildings to look like stilt houses. Some designers also use the stilt house structure as a basis to design the lower floor into a closed space, and modify the interior and exterior to build a unique villa. This design not only retains the characteristics of Cambodia’s traditional stilt houses, but also highlights the Cambodian architectural style.

Moreover, if you look at some public buildings in Cambodia, you can see that many of them have been inspired by traditional Khmer architecture. For example, the design of the first floor of some universities uses the elevated structure of traditional Khmer architecture, and also inherits its functions of socializing and enjoying the cool air, the two buildings are connected by a two-story corridor to meet the needs of sun and rain protection.

Although Cambodians love the Khmer traditional architecture, but with the emergence of more and more modern buildings such as high-rise buildings, modern residential communities, and commercial complexes, many people have moved to more modern housing. Perhaps, after the new laws and regulations of the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, Khmer-style architecture will be better developed and innovated.