TROPICAL STRATEGY OF MODERN ARCHITECTURE IN CAMBODIA FOR THE DESIGN OF A CONTEMPORARY ART SPACE IN PHNOM PENH

Abstract

In the past decades, Cambodia has experienced a boom in building construction. However, many of those buildings do not take sustainable approach into account. They are built without concern of the tropical climate which results into a high level of energy consumption from air-conditioning system. Some none-commercial buildings, such as cultural and educational facilities, could not be operated because of lack of the fund for electricity. For a better understanding of architectural design in the tropical environment of the context, the research focuses on the works of Vann Molyvann, the father of architects in Cambodia, a state architect in 1960s, who was active constructing the major Cambodian modern public buildings after the independency. His tropical design strategy dealing with weather challenges, when air conditioning and other advanced technology was rarely available, would be investigated through thirteen buildings that still exist and are accessible or carry sufficient documents for the study. The investigation of the architectural elements would be analysed and summarised as a design guideline for sustainable technological architectural design for the climate of Cambodia. Subsequently a contemporary art space will be designed in the site of art district in Phnom Penh by applying the guidelines of tropical strategy from the study. ​