Independence Monument
Possibly Cambodia's favourite architect of the last 700 years, Vann Molyvann's Independence Monument deserves better than a snapshot off the back of a tuk-tuk, and it's one of the genuinely pleasing architectural pieces in Phnom Penh. Influenced by French colonial style, it's shaped like a lotus flower in bud similar to the towers of Angkor Wat, and its naga (serpents heads) give it a distinctive touch.
Built in 1958 to commemorate Cambodia's independence from France five years earlier, it's on the intersection of Norodom Boulevard and Sihanouk Boulevard. With Aeon mall's development and Diamond Island to follow, it feels like Phnom Penh's power centre is drifting to this side of the city.
Appointed Cambodia's state architect by King Sihanouk at 30 years of age, Molyvann designed more than 100 buildings including landmarks, such as the Olympic Stadium, which hosted the 1963 Asian Games. He left the country in 1971, returning 20 years later. While much of his work survived the Khmer Rouge, government policies have seen blocks of Phnom Penh's population evicted to make way for development, and many of his works have gone the way of the bulldozer (locals hint at developers colluding with corrupt politicians for land). At 90, Molyvann moved to Trang near Siem Reap in 2015. His books include Borei in Southeast Asia, Past and Present, which is being translated into English, and a treatise, Modern Khmer Cities.
If you're interested in an architectural tour, I came across this, www.ka-tours.org/ - there is a great walking map and I can vouch for the lively variety of residential types from different periods on Street 19, which I saw from a traffic-oppressed tuk-tuk while getting increasingly late for dinner...
Independence Monument
Possibly Cambodia's favourite architect of the last 700 years, Vann Molyvann's Independence Monument deserves better than a snapshot off the back of a tuk-tuk, and it's one of the genuinely pleasing architectural pieces in Phnom Penh. Influenced by French colonial style, it's shaped like a lotus flower in bud similar to the towers of Angkor Wat, and its naga (serpents heads) give it a distinctive touch.
Built in 1958 to commemorate Cambodia's independence from France five years earlier, it's on the intersection of Norodom Boulevard and Sihanouk Boulevard. With Aeon mall's development and Diamond Island to follow, it feels like Phnom Penh's power centre is drifting to this side of the city.
Appointed Cambodia's state architect by King Sihanouk at 30 years of age, Molyvann designed more than 100 buildings including landmarks, such as the Olympic Stadium, which hosted the 1963 Asian Games. He left the country in 1971, returning 20 years later. While much of his work survived the Khmer Rouge, government policies have seen blocks of Phnom Penh's population evicted to make way for development, and many of his works have gone the way of the bulldozer (locals hint at developers colluding with corrupt politicians for land). At 90, Molyvann moved to Trang near Siem Reap in 2015. His books include Borei in Southeast Asia, Past and Present, which is being translated into English, and a treatise, Modern Khmer Cities.
If you're interested in an architectural tour, I came across this, www.ka-tours.org/ - there is a great walking map and I can vouch for the lively variety of residential types from different periods on Street 19, which I saw from a traffic-oppressed tuk-tuk while getting increasingly late for dinner...