Vann Molyvann was a pioneer of this movement and his work was crucial for the development of an Asian modernism. His engagement reached far beyond the architectural profession, encompassing questions of human habitat, local tradition, and culture. Astonishing both in terms of scale and their unique architectural language, buildings such as the National Sports Complex, the Chaktomuk Conference Hall, and the Institute of Foreign Languages, in Phnom Penh, still stand as a testament to Molyvann’s invaluable contribution to the crafting of a new Cambodian national identity. But these were not the architect’s only projects: lesser known than his majestic buildings in Phnom Penh is the 100 Houses project, for which he proposed an alternative to traditional Khmer wooden homes to improve the living standards of the largely rural Cambodian population. Molyvann’s design, which attributed great value to the climatic and cultural specificities of the tropical context, combines vernacular architecture with modern materials and techniques that Molyvann learned about while studying in Paris.
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