Cultural Palimpsest: A Living Arts Center by kimberly tate

CULTURAL A LIVING ARTS CENTER PALIMPSESTS In support of CLAs mission to create a new vision for cambodia. this project proposes a new Living Arts Center in the heart of Phnom Penh as a device for social and cultural renewal.

Kimberly Tate M. Arch Thesis, 2011 Parsons the New School for Design, School of Constructed Environments for Cambodian Living Arts, Phnom Penh

generation ago, the

Khmer Rouge killed 90% of their artists

a quarter

and intelFrom post-war recovery to present day this generation of Cambodians is living in disconnect, the rich arts heritage of their past nearly lost and vulnerable to cultural hijacking by rapid urban developments. of the population and lectuals.

This

project explores architecture as a device for so-

cial and cultural renewal.

This Living Arts Center will continue the work of Cambodian Living Arts in supporting the revival of traditional art forms. It will also incubate, forum and hopefully inspire contemporary artistic expression. On

a hill, at the confluence of three great rivers, of a

2020 TODAY 1980 1970 1960

NEW VISION

LIVING ARTS INCUBATOR

MISCONSTRUCTION RECONSTRUCTION NEW PRIVATE HOMES

CIVIL WAR GOLDEN AGE

1920

PEARL OF ASIA NEW DEVELOPMENT

1870

FRENCH COLONY

1866

CAPTIAL

tropical climate with a long hot dry and intensive wet season, of a land whose fertility is dependent on the

S-21 CAMP

monsoon cycle and whose traditional calendar reflects man’s symbiosis with natural rhythms,

Phnom Penh is Cambodia and the center of an arts-fueled revolution. This city is a rich expression of many layers. I looked especially to its palimpsest of urban and architectural layers, from the traditional wooden house to the wonders of Vann Molyvann, to inform the project. the capital of

NEW KHMER MODERNISM

FRENCH COLONIAL

also considered how the project could compliment

and reinforce the existing cultural infrastructure and facilitate the growth of a budding cultural district, easily accessible to its target demographic. CHINESE SHOPHOUSE

The charge for CLA, also my architectural endeavor, is about a renewed Khmer identity which celebrates the splendor of Cambodia’s artistic heritage. The ROYAL PALACE GROUNDS

project emerges as a layered expression of tradition and modernity which redefines and transforms with

Cambodia’s cultural palimpsest. 1372

VILLAGE

KHMER WOODEN HOUSE

MONIVONG BLVD

SITE A BUDDING CULTURAL DISTRICT st. 178

st. 200

st. 208

FRENCH CULTURAL CENTER CAMBODIAN FILM COMISSION

BOPHANA CENTER LIVING ARTS CENTER Together Bhopana and CLA can extend a mid-block cultural corridor in the heart of historic Phnom Penh

PANNASASTRA UNIVERSITY OF CAMBODIA CINEMA + CULTURAL DIFFUSION DEPARTMENT

BLACK BOX rehearsal and small performance theaters performance reception + observation areas back stage storage shaded roof garden

PROGRAM ARTS INCUBATOR

BOPHANA + CLA ADMIN open offices meeting spaces expanded storage archives + laboratories storage

STUDIOS + WORKSHOPS rentable studios music practice rooms rentable offices media resource center + library

PUBLIC

shop + cafe communication center gallery + exhibition public gathering youth hangout spot

ARTS INCUBATORS are programs designed to accelerate the successful development of artists and arts collectives through an array of arts support resources and services developed and orchestrated by incubator mangemetn and offered both in the incubator and through its network of contacts. adapted from wikipedia entry â&#x20AC;&#x153;business incubatorsâ&#x20AC;?

THE EXISTING BUILDING

PHOTOS OF EXISTING BUILDING Working

in dialogue with an existing building and the

frames the existing building and its memory.

Bophana Center,

the new structure

DESIGN STRATEGIES MAKE PERFORMATIVE A

LIVI

S+ T R A

AN H P O

- DEMOLISH SEPARATING WALL AND BRIDGE INSTITUTIONS - EXPOSE STRUCTURE AT GROUND FLOOR - MAKE GROUND PLANE PUBLIC PASSAGE CONNECTING STREETFRONTS. SITE IS NOW AN AXIS OF CONNECTION FOR THE CULTURAL DISTRICT

- RESPOND ENVIRONMENTALLY WITH A NEW THICKENED FACADE THAT WILL SCREEN FROM SOLAR EXPOSURE A NATURALLY VENTILATED INTERIOR

- THE NEW THICKENED OUTER LAYER WILL SUPPORT THE SELECTIVE DEMOLITION AND REMEDIATION OF THE EXISTING BUILDING, LIKE A SCAFFOLDING - MAKE MORE SPACE FOR THE INSTITUTIONS’ MULTIPLE PROGRAMS SUCH AS ARTS EDUCATION, ARTS RESOURCE SERVICES, ARTS PRODUCTION AND ARCHIVING

- FEATURE A VARIETY OF ARTS PRODUCTION SPACES IN A SINGLE LOCATION - MAKE PRODUCTION ZONES PERFORMATIVE BY ADJACENCY TO SUPPORTING PUBLIC AREAS AND CIRCULATION

- BLEND TRADITION AND MODERNITY IN MATERIALITY OF NEW LAYER, ESPECIALLY IN THE FACADE - FEATURE EXPERTISE OF TRADITIONAL CRAFT - SUPPORT LOCAL ECONOMIES

- MAKE THE BUILDING’S EXPRESSION TRANSFORMATIVE: FACADE ALLOWS INTERIOR ACTIVITY TO BECOME PART OF THE EXPRESSION OF THE BUILDING

NARRATIVES PHASES + LAYERS

Daytime

cafe seating can transofrm

into the most public performance venue at ground level

DN DN UP

RECEPTION

GALLERY

UP UP

DN DN