Adaptation(s): Contemporary Architectural Practices in Cambodia

The French Institute of Cambodia is pleased to announce the launch of « Adaptation(s) – Contemporary Architectural Practices in Cambodia », a collective exhibition that gives voice to nine architecture firms based in Cambodia, invited to reflect on a central question: how to adapt and integrate into Cambodian landscapes and culture? The opening will take place on Thursday, April 2, 2026, from 6:30 PM at the French Institute of Cambodia.

Initially conceived to celebrate 25 years of French architecture's presence in Cambodia, the exhibition has gradually evolved to fit into a broader perspective, resonating with the values of Francophonie: dialogue, diversity, and co-construction. In view of the Francophonie Summit, scheduled for November 2025 in Phnom Penh, Adaptation(s) bears witness to the ability of Francophone and Cambodian actors to collaborate in addressing contemporary challenges—urban, environmental, and social.

The exhibition is structured around three axes that shape the visitor's journey:

Private and public spaces:

How does contemporary Cambodian architecture negotiate the boundary between intimate spheres and shared spaces? In Southeast Asia, thresholds expand, facades dialogue with the street, and collective space is created through use and proximity.

Preservation and reinvention of heritage:

From Angkorian monuments to colonial architectures, through the modernity of the Sangkum era and post-war constructions, these layers are not frozen relics but resources to activate. Transforming, adapting, and reusing becomes an act that is both ecological and cultural.

Adaptation to climatic conditions:

In a tropical climate, designing first means composing with air, shade, rain, and materials. Architecture becomes a climatic device when it fully integrates these parameters, rejecting technical accumulation in favor of contextual responses.

To illustrate these themes, the gallery presents a variety of media: models, photographs, plans, and materials from the projects of the participating agencies. The scenography, designed by Melon Rouge Agency, offers an immersive and accessible experience for all audiences, inviting a fresh look at everyday buildings as well as iconic realizations, revealing the invisible logics that shape our built environment.

"This exhibition was born from a simple desire: to show what is being built here, in Cambodia, by architects who think and design in constant dialogue with their territory. It’s a conversation between cultures, heritages, and practices. In view of the Francophonie Summit, Adaptation(s)* is a concrete illustration of our commitment: Franco-Cambodian cultural cooperation is not a posture; it’s a collective construction, demanding and alive."*— Fanny Pagès, Deputy Director of the French Institute of Cambodia and Cultural Attaché

An associated cultural program

As with every exhibition, the French Institute of Cambodia offers a rich accompanying program designed to broaden audiences and deepen the themes: guided tours for school groups and NGOs, roundtable discussions on the exhibition's themes, as well as a film cycle on architecture, including the screening of the documentary Moriyama-San by Ila Bêka and Louise Lemoine, with commentary in the presence of architect Antoine Miennel (Bloom Architecture), scheduled for May 30.

Partner agencies

These nine firms, based in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, embody the diversity and richness of contemporary Cambodian architectural scene:

1.    Aerne Architect & Associates (Martin Aerne, Switzerland / Phnom Penh) — Flagship project: Bakong Village, a gentle structure where work and habitat intertwine.

2.    Bloom Architecture (Antoine Miennel, Phnom Penh / Paris) — Flagship project: The Bang, a cultural space with delivery planned for late 2026), a gallery with a cultural vocation that considers the lack of communal living space as a starting point.

3.    Archetype Groupe (Phnom Penh, founded in 2003) — Flagship project: the Cambodian National Assembly, a reinterpretation of Khmer heritage in a contemporary architectural language.

4.    ASMA Architects (Ivan Tizianel and associates, Phnom Penh) — Flagship project: Baitong Hotel & Resort, an example of rehabilitating a dense and saturated complex transformed into a porous spatial sequence adapted to contemporary uses.

5.    HKA & Partners (Hok Kang, Phnom Penh) — Flagship project: Renovation of architect Vann Molyvann's house into a community hub with a Brown Coffee.

6.    K-Architecture (Yvon Chalm, Phnom Penh) — Flagship project: Kep Farmhouse (2021), a private residence in Kep organized around wind, sun, and materials, an exemplary passive system.

7.    re:edge architecture (Hun Chansan, Phnom Penh) — Flagship project: Campus 3 of the Royal University of Phnom Penh, illustrating attention to spatial fluidity, landscape relations, and human-centered architecture.

8.    UAD Architects (Siem Reap) — Flagship project: Angkor Market on Preah Sihanouk Avenue in Siem Reap, at the crossroads of contemporary design, local craftsmanship, and climatic responsiveness.

9.    Vannak Architects (Hun Vannak, Phnom Penh) — Flagship project: Magdalena Center (2017) of the Taramana NGO, a socio-educational space in Phnom Penh testifying to sober, functional, and open architecture.