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Moritz Henning/Walter Koditek |
New from DOM publishers:
Moritz Henning/Walter Koditek
Architectural Guide Phnom Penh
Most culture-seeking travellers will immediately think about the famous temples of Angkor Wat when the small Southeast Asian country of Cambodia is mentioned. Its capital Phnom Penh, however, gained a sad notoriety in the 1970s when it was depopulated by the Khmer Rouge. Only insiders know that Phnom Penh had gone through a phase of cultural and architectural revival in the period since independence was declared in 1953, and evidence from that period still defines the appearance of the city to this very day. Apart from that, Phnom Penh is also a city that - in comparison to other Asian metropolises - is easy to get around in when travelling and sightseeing. A wide range of architectural styles can be found in close proximity to one another.
With 141 examples from the city's four main phases of development the Architectural Guide Phnom Penh presents a comprehensive overview of the built heritage, illustrated with contemporary and historical photographs. Phnom Penh was founded in the fifteenth century, and then planned and expanded during the French Protectorate (1863–1953). Early religious and vernacular buildings, the glittering structures of the Royal Palace, and French colonial buildings already coexisted when the ‘New Khmer Architecture’ was developed the period following independence in 1953 up to the 1970s. Overseas-trained Cambodian architects combined the design vocabulary of classic Modernism with traditional Khmer elements and created a unique and local type of Modernism. But the new appearance of the city was also very much defined by planners from France, China and the Soviet Union. A wide range of public and private structures, such as the Royal University of Phnom Penh, the National Sports Complex and the Chaktomuk Conference Hall as well as luxurious residential buildings like the Ta Pa Building were constructed during that period. Most of these buildings survived the terror of the Khmer Rouge, who rejected urban living and cleared the capital of its inhabitants, almost completely undamaged. The political stability that was finally achieved in the 2000s has brought about a phase of rapid modernisation in which a number of important historical buildings have subsequently been demolished. However, this situation does present the opportunity for a - still quite small - group of young Cambodian architects to actively participate in the reshaping of their country.
In the geographically organised guide the authors Moritz Henning and Walter Koditek take their readers not only to the well-known masterpieces, but also to the city's everyday architecture, away from the established tourist trails. The book also makes an important contribution to current debates on heritage preservation and records buildings that might already be gone tomorrow. Interviews with local experts who present their individual perspectives on the city, and profiles of the most important representatives of Khmer-Modernism, such as Vann Molyvann and Lu Ban Hap, round off the picture.
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The Architectural Guides by DOM publishers are handy travel companions for readers interested in architecture and culture. Projects are carefully selected and researched to make each individual book a ready work of reference, while background information and attractive design inspire armchair travellers to imaginary journeys. In 2014, the series was awarded with the „Iconic Award“ by the German Design Council, and in 2016 with the „German Design Award Special“. Further information: www.dom-publishers.com
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