Cambodia Tree House
The inspiration of this project stems from vernacular Cambodian architecture, taking influences from traditional construction techniques, choice of material and spatial arrangement. Our proposal for the masterplan is to create a series of hideout huts that tread around the main building of the Vine Retreat, while each retains a sense of tranquility among the trees and lush greeneries that the site has to offer. This allows visitors to have easy access to the farm and resort facilities like the pool and spa services, but at the same time have the chance for isolation and quiet contemplation in their own space. The orientation of the hideout huts on the masterplan is also aligned with the predominant wind direction in Phnom Voar to enable natural ventilation. The huts are designed to be adaptable to different uses. They can serve as residential units but can also be transformed into yoga huts, spas or meditation pavillions.
The structure of the roofs of the huts are made to emulate the experience of being under a tree and each of the huts opens up to the natural surrounding landscape, creating a sensorial experience of being in an idyllic tropical forest. The huts and the furniture within are constructed from locally available timber. The elevation of living spaces and the permeability of the walls in the huts are inspired by traditional Cambodian architecture. In typical Khmer houses, living spaces are often elevated off the ground to provide shelter for livestock and to cool down the house by separating the floor from the ground. Transient space separation techniques are also engaged where mosquito nets are used to divide the room into smaller spaces. The incorporation of these vernacular elements combined with the orientation of the huts and the natural surroundings allow the architecture to benefit from passive cooling techniques whilst providing visitors with an uniquely Cambodian experience.
Project name
Cambodia Tree House
Site
Phnom Voar, Cambodia
Typology
Hospitality
Year
Autumn 2020
Status
Competition, Shortlisted
Team
Ruonan Wang, Moritz Maier