By Marissa Carruthers for B2B Cambodia
Phnom Penh is home to some staggering architecture – and not just the remnants of the French colonial era.
Like many other cities across the globe, the Cambodian capital has been subject to a building boom that has seen the skyline change dramatically during the last decade.
And with international architects and designers descending on the city, creativity is at an all-time high and looks set to get even bigger and better in the coming years.
Businesses moving to Cambodia often have grand plans of transforming dilapidating buildings into brand new ventures, such as bars, hotels, restaurants and boutiques, or creating their own special office space but want a Western finish. If so, there are plenty of businesses offering services to cater for individual style needs.
Sara Hulten is one international architect who has been shaping the face of Phnom Penh since relocating from Sweden in 1998. Combining Western techniques with Asian influence, she has helped to create and design some of the country’s landmarks, such as Siem Reap Airport, Skyline Apartments, Kingdom Brewery and the European Commission.
She says, “There was a period when there was a lot of serviced apartments being built but it doesn’t look like the market is saturated because they’re still going up. There seems to be more and more upscale bars and restaurants and private houses being built and it seems to be a 50-50 mix between Cambodian and foreign investors.”
Hulten predicts the next big thing in the country will be eco-friendly construction – a popular concept in the Western world and something she tries to comply with wherever possible in Cambodia.
And she adds that with South East Asia being home to cheap materials and fixtures and fittings, many clients are opting to source their materials closer to home rather than importing goods to put their signature finishing touch to their designs.
“We can source materials from overseas and there are a few clients who insist on that. Most clients are happy if we find a substitute here and we can do a wonderful job with products from local sources,” she says.
The Room Design Studio opened its doors on January 1, 2009, with a focus on architecture and interior design. The Room is a professional architecture and interior designstudio based in Phnom Penh with many years experience in the industry.
Directors Sara and Bernard are both Swedish and have been living and working in Cambodia for more than 14 years.
Together with their team of internationally and locally qualified architects and designers, a series of airport, residential, commercial and hospitality projects across the country.
The Room Design Studio recently teamed up with Swedish company Tengbom Architects – the leading design institution in healthcare, residential, sensitive renovation and green building.
The Room has benefitted from having some of the best European architects working directly with them.
The partnership will soon be extended to a full transfer of The Room to Tengbom Group. It is hoped this will provide financial stability and quality assurance.
For more information, visit www.theroomds.com and www.tengbom.se
