Platform Cambodia

Cambodia´s Tonle Sap Lake is the largest fresh water basin in Southeast Asia. Approximately 1.2 million people make Tonle Sap their home. Many live on movable floating villages to cater for the dramatic seasonal fluctuations of the lake and the migratory nature of the lake’s fish. Today, Tonle Sap’s ecosystem, both wildlife and human population, is severely under threat. As the nation and the region develop, high levels of pollution find its way into its waters. The remoteness and the migratory nature of the floating villages on the lake make matters even worse... (Eleven Cambodia 2015 competition brief).

The project proposes to establish a network of fixed platforms on Tonle Sap Lake and three independently mobile units for health care, ecological research and education. The platforms float, therefore can adapt to changing water levels in the lake. Since they are fixed in position, they can mark the address where the healthcare, education and research services are available to the population. Each unit (health care, education and research) can be moved separately throughout the year, following the needs of the communities as well as the agendas of health, education and research organizations. In other words, one platform may host all of the units at the same time, yet the units may also be distributed singularly on different platforms around the lake.

The inspiration for the buildings’ volume comes from the architectural typology of the traditional Khmer houses. The scale and form of the traditional house are adapted in order to make it suitable for the program requirements and to create a landmark among the houses of floating villages.

The inspiration for the buildings’ volume comes from the architectural typology of the traditional Khmer houses. The scale and form of the traditional house are adapted in order to make it suitable for the program requirements and to create a landmark among the houses of floating villages.

A permanent (immobile) service unit is located on each platform. Here the spaces for basic hygiene of employees are contained and solar powered energy is generated. The platform, when not hosting any of the buildings, can be appropriated by the village population for public uses.

No pre-set layout is dictated for the configuration of the units around the platform; they can be attached in various ways. This allows the conglomerate to have a dynamic overall image as well as to be flexible and adaptable in time.

The project makes use of locally sourced materials and a construction method that includes local building techniques and craftsmen. Hence, the project can be socially, economically and environmentally sustainable. Besides, the units use solar power as energy source, rainwater as clean drinking water, natural ventilation as cooling method, and re-cycled plastic barrels as floating system. The proposal encourages the use of existing smart solutions developed for the Cambodian floating villages, therefore the self-cleaning toilet Handy Pod by Wetlands Work is also incorporated into the design.

Location                       

Tonle Sap Lake, Cambodia

Program                         

Competition “Eleven Cambodia 2015”: Health care, education and research center – 250 m2 GFA

Year                              

 2015

In collaboration with Christina Behrendt.

Hand illustrations by Klaas van Olphen.