Treeline Urban Resort – based in the historical Cambodian city of Siem Reap – today announced that it will host a public exhibition honouring the nation’s most prolific architect, the late Vann Molyvann, showcasing his ground-breaking work, and its modern application for ecological architecture.
To be held from April 7th to June 30th, 2019, the exhibition – titled “Learning from the Past: Collection of Vann Molyvann Project” – will be set in the resort’s distinctive open-air gallery and will present eight buildings, each representing the typology the renowned architect has worked on throughout his illustrious career.
The exhibition’s theme will focus on “the specific elements of a really Khmer ecological architecture”. These are the words that Molyvann used to describe the need for buildings to adapt to modern materials and construction techniques – such as the effective utilisation of water, natural light and ventilation – while maintaining key elements of Cambodia’s unique culture, climate and building environment.
Often described as ‘the man who built Cambodia’, Molyvann was born and raised in the Southwestern Cambodian region of Kampot (today known as Sihanoukville), before earning a scholarship to study at the prestigious School of Fine Arts (École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Arts) in Paris. Upon completing his studies, he made Cambodian history by becoming the country’s first fully-qualified architect.
Soon after returning to his homeland, he was appointed to a series of governmental and academic postings. As part of Prince Norodom Sihanouk national development policy between 1955 and 1970, Molyvann was commissioned to design multiple large-scale public projects including the iconic Independence Monument, State Palace, National Theatre, National Sports Complex, in addition to state residences, ministries, housing developments and academic buildings.
“Modernity should not be inspired superficially by Western ideas that destroy all traces of the past,” said the late Molyvann about melding modern ideas with Cambodia’s rich socio-cultural heritage. “New buildings should bring tradition and heritage back to life.”
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