renovation + fit out | 2014
ENTRANCE
The project involved the establishment of a new Consular Agency within the perimeter of an existing villa. It was
the Swiss Government’s desire to integrate their offices throughout Cambodia into a single location in Phnom Penh.
Faced with this challenging brief, our response was to create a “garden hall” - a new welcome foyer for the entire Swiss Government Representation building. The exterior of this hall is defined by a beautiful stone wall with an integrated graphic - reinterpreting a motif common to 1960’s New Khmer Architecture villas in a contemporary way.
Inside the hall, materials and forms were carefully chosen to display a Swiss sense of strength through modesty. The solidity of natural stone contrasts with the organic and sculptural nature of a tree trunk. Generous openings - with the glass inset close to the interior - allows the outside to be drawn inwards. A flowing curved ceiling conceals existing beams and air conditioning services, while contributing to the calming spatial quality.
Expanses of glass convey transparency between the offices and this hall. This required a high level of design consideration, as the building had to cater to the Agency’s security requirements.
This project was a “full package” service to an international standard - including initial concept, design and documentation, supervision of construction, design of furniture, light fittings and signage, as well as landscape design and implementation.
