OOA forms ‘hotel siem reap’ in cambodia to recall the form of wine making barrels

each circular space houses a unique program, and the elaborate layout allows residents to meander through one space to another.

kat barandy June 14, 2020 2 min

hong kong-based studio orient occident atelier (OOA) envisions a hotel in the cambodian city of siem reap, an area famous for the angkor wat temple complex. together with the touristic nature of the site, the region is known for its traditional home-made rice wine. located at the village next to a paddy field, the boutique hotel overlooks angkor wat. the design of the boutique hotel superimposes the local cambodian living culture with the rice wine making cylinder spaces and processes. the site was originally a colonial-era cambodian-style police station and a rice godown in khmer rouge period.

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all images by magic kwan, kenrick wong

in forming the ‘hotel siem reap’, the design team at OOA expresses formal influence from the shapes of the local wine brewing kits and the warehouse typology. the team juxtaposes a collection of cylindrical buildings and spaces which are meticulously connected. each circular space houses a unique program, and the elaborate layout allows residents to meander through one space after another, enriching the accommodation experience. not unlike the seminal galleries of angkor wat, we experimented to recreate an intriguing interplay of light and shadow, infusing a new dimension to the hospitality typology.

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OOA designs the hotel with an integrated rooftop observation deck that overlooks angkor wat and for guests to relax. a bamboo gate can be opened to transform the ground floor kitchen into a community kitchen and dining room. the design team seeks to express the project as both a hotel and a mini-museum. utilizing modern architectural design methodologies, the team blends the past, present, and future through imagination, material, and motif.

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