The real estate developer from Cambodia looking for the idea to establish his new brand to the rapid growing market according to the economic atmosphere. The challenge is who could do that first  will potentially win the market share and ground their business for next decade,  similar to Thailand’s  model 30 years ago. L&H, Sansiri is their business model.  

“Elegant” is such a cliche key word we got from them. First proposal idea is the series of square pattern apply from ancient Barai  to the main building feature as a new language. We have been  asked for more elegant to add over and over until we realise their elegant mean to the “gigantic scale” building.

Once arrived the government office in Phnom Penh, we got eureka! It is a place for giant, not a human that’s what the Cambodian’s taste! Every single building element is 1.5-2 times of normal scale like when architect lost in scale while using a copier machine. Rich people is a big guy and having lots of power. They will never live normal life. Some other luxury hotel even do similar design approach.

Most talent Cambodian might have been oppressed for so long. They need now to show  individual expression that they   have more power and rich. I would feel diminish if living in such a hugh scale of building. Only a very strong man who deeply believe in their inner power, could proudly walk  in the over scale property and feel it fit to him. Moreover, rich guys’ home is the property to be looked as a priority. A homy living place is the second.  Keep in mind I am talking about a millionaire’s house.

This is really good anthropology architecture lesson.