Achmad Tardiyana - Awiligar's reading house. The Sudden Death of Cambodia’s Homegrown Modernism — Failed Architecture. Established in 1908, Kep-sur-mer, as it was known during French occupation, sits 152 km south of Phnom Penh and 24 km west of the Vietnamese border overlooking the Gulf of Thailand. Less visited than its hedonistic neighbor Sihanoukville, and smaller than nearby Kampot, present day Kep is an easy-going jungle-meets-ocean village.
There is an aura about Kep that exudes relaxation; and perhaps this has always been its allure as a vacation destination of the past. Or, perhaps it is Kep’s past that makes the present day town so charming. Unique to Kep are its villas – modernist relics which number around 100 – abandoned, crumbling, overgrown and wild. Photo by Onno Kaldenberg The villas in Kep were constructed between 1953 and 1970. Photo by Alexander Doerr Kep was originally developed as a resort destination for the colonial French elite seeking respite from the heat of Phnom Penh. Vann Molyvann, born in 1926, is largely attributed as the leader of the movement. Photo by Lauren Street.
Termitary House / Tropical Space. Faber Avenue / Hyla Architects. Architects: Hyla Architects Location: Faber Avenue, Singapore Architect In Charge: Han Loke Kwang, Nirun Thawornngamyingsakul, Nussara Sonsart Area: 415 sqm Year: 2011 Photographs: Derek Swalwell Main Contractor: Toh Kum Swee Pte Ltd Structural Engineer: GNG Consultants Pte Ltd From the architect. New Erection of 2-Storey Semi-Detached Dwelling House with Attic The front has a westerly orientation and thus the house is turned around to face the back which is more private.
Primrose Avenue / HYLA Architects. Architects: HYLA Architects Location: Primrose Avenue, Singapore Principal Architect: Han Loke Kwang Assistant Architects: Quek Li-En, Watinee Roajduang Area: 334.0 sqm Year: 2014 Photographs: Derek Swalwell Main Contractor: Renobest Builder Structural Engineer: PTS Consultants Site Area: 185 m2 From the architect. This 3-storey intermediate terrace house has a unique rotating screen on its front elevation. Its cross section has an aerodynamic boomerang shape that serves to deflect wind on one side. On the other side the screen is clad with timber to give privacy. Inside the 1st storey has a high ceiling and good cross ventilation into a rear garden court. Safe Haven Library / TYIN Tegnestue. Architects: TYIN Tegnestue Location: Ban Tha Song Yang, Thailand Project team Professors: Hans Skotte & Sami Rintala Project team Students: Pasi Aalto.
Jan Kristian Borgen, Mari Folven, Ragnhild Førde, Sunniva Vold Huus, Olav Fåsetbru Kildal, Lene M. N. Kværness, Oda Moen Møst, Ørjan Nyheim, Karoline Salomonsen, Anne Sandnes, Ola Sendstad, Kristoffer B. Thørud, Caroline Tjernås, Anders Sellevold Aaseth Client: Safe Haven Orphanage Budget: 29.000 NOK (Approx. 4,650 USD) Project year: January 2009 Sponsors: Norsk Betongforening, Bygg uten grenser, Minera Norge, Spenncon, Norwegian University of Technology and Science (NTNU) Photographs: Pasi Aalto In January 2009 TYIN invited 15 norwegian architect students from NTNU to participate in a workshop at the Safe Haven Orphanage. The concrete base of the library is cast on a bed of large rocks gathered on-site. The most important thing to Tasanee is that her children are provided food and education.
Soe Ker Tie House / TYIN Tegnestue. Architects: TYIN Tegnestue Location: Noh Bo, Tak, Thailand Project team: Pasi Aalto, Andreas Grøntvedt Gjertsen, Yashar Hanstad, Magnus Henriksen, Line Ramstad, Erlend Bauck Sole Client: Ole Jørgen Edna Program: 6 sleeping units Budget: 68.000 NOK (Approx. 10.000 USD) Project year: November 2008 – February 2009 Photographs: Pasi Aalto TYIN tegnestue is a non-profit organization working humanitarian through architecture. TYIN is run by five architect students from NTNU and the projects are financed by more than 60 Norwegian companies, as well as private contributions. Through the course of the last year TYIN has worked with planning and constructing small scale projects in Thailand. We aim to build strategic projects that can improve the lives for people in difficult situations. Through extensive collaboration with locals, and mutual learning, we hope that our projects can have an impact beyond the physical structures.
S House / Vo Trong Nghia Architects. Architects: Vo Trong Nghia Architects Location: tp. Tân An, Long An Province, Vietnam Architect In Charge: Vo Trong Nghia, Masaaki Iwamoto, Kosuke Nishijima Year: 2014 Photographs: Hiroyuki Oki Contractor: Wind and Water House JSC Construction Cost: 4000USD per unit From the architect. People in Mekong Delta, with an average income under 100 USD per month mainly live in cheap temporary houses. The first phase of the project started in 2012 with a steel frame prototype. The concept of the second prototype is to combine modular components and DIY strategy. To cope with harsh weather of the region, the project utilizes passive design strategies. After construction of the second, the third prototype with higher durability, lighter structure and more reasonable components is on progress.
S HOUSE 3 / Vo Trong Nghia Architects. Architects: Vo Trong Nghia Architects Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam Architects In Charge: Vo Trong Nghia, Masaaki Iwamoto, Kosuke Nishijima Architect: So Adachi Contractor: Wind and Water House JSC Area: 31.0 sqm Year: 2014 Photographs: Hiroyuki Oki From the architect.
The serial project, called “S House”, has begun to propose a prototype house for low-income classes in the Mekong Delta area. After building two successful case-study houses, a steel structure model in 2012 and a precast concrete structure model in April 2014, a new prototype, S House 3, was constructed in Ho Chi Minh City. The aim of this serial project is to provide stable but lightweight, permanent but affordable homes for low-income earners in a harsh tropical climate. Although there are many local challenges such as weak ground condition, frequent typhoon and potential earthquake, the structure is stable enough to withstand natural disasters.
Green Renovation / Vo Trong Nghia Architects. Architects: Vo Trong Nghia Architects Location: Hanoi, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi, Vietnam Architect In Charge: Vo Trong Nghia, Takashi Niwa, Tran Thi Hang Project Architects: Ngo Thuy Duong, An Viet Dung Contractor: Wind and Water House JSC Area: 387.0 sqm Year: 2013 Photographs: Courtesy of Vo Trong Nghia Architects, Hiroyuki Oki From the architect.
Vietnam’s fast development raises many urban problems; less green space, electricity shortages and flooding. The increasing number of motorbikes are causing traffic jams and serious air pollution. “Greenfall renovation”, a prototypical single house renovation in Hanoi, was designed against this backdrop, returning greenery to the city and encouraging a comfortable living environment to both the resident and the neighbors.
To remedy this situation, the house is renovated to live with green and abundant light. This system of green façade and roof is prototypical and applicable to all buildings in tropical climates.