Tuesday, 30 September 2008

Vann Molyvann campaigns for a different urbanisation policy

Vann Molyvann

Cambodge Soir

29-09-2008

On Thursday 25 September, during a press conference at the French Cultural Centre, the architect presented his achievements dating from the periods between 1957 and 1970. He also called for the respect of structured city planning laws in the Kingdom.

After the visit on Sunday 21 September, Vann Molyvann once again attracted a large audience at the FCC’s cinema on Thursday evening. He opened the session by offering the French Ambassador a copy of the thesis he recently defended in Paris. Using this thesis as an example, as well as his book “Lessons from the Past”, Vann Molyvann retraced 13 years of construction, based on the wish to develop an authentic Khmer architecture. Describing his choices concerning the Chatomuk theatre, the “grey building”, or also the Olympic Stadium, he put the emphasis on natural ventilation at the heart of his works. He also talked in length about the social aspect of his works, mentioning examples like “the white building” and the garden city concept.

The Q&A session was the occasion for the architect to evoke the present and the future of Phnom Penh’s architecture. Reminding the existence of very strict laws, which he established himself as Minister of State in charge of the urbanisation during the 1990’s, he denounced the absence of political will to apply them. “It’s impossible to act as if such laws don’t exist in Cambodia”, he said, while emphasising that it’s no problem to build a tower as long as the law is respected.

Concerning Boeung Kak, he reminded the existence of a project established in cooperation with the town hall of Paris. This project intended to use the lake as a natural space and to preserve the housing of the lakeside residents.

Finally, he defended a urbanisation plan for the capital, as well as for the whole country, which would, according to him, make it possible to fight against the real-estate speculation and to develop the country in a harmonious way.

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