Battered Beauties

Simone Bijlard Battered Beauties

Battered BeautiesA research on French colonial markets in Cambodia by Simone Bijlard

ColophonResearch thesis Battered BeautiesBy Simone BijlardCommittee members:dr. G. Bracken (research)ir. R.J. Notrott (architecture)ir. E.J. van der Zaag (building technology)Delft University of TechnologyDepartment of ArchitectureMSc 3, 4 Explore LabMarch 2011Second print: October 2011

PrefaceLarge ceiling fans turn lazily overhead, even though home when they drank their own Chardonnay. barbecues sizzle with savoury sausages.the blazing heat has disappeared with the setting of But it is a rêverie, only existing in these few While eating my dessert - a baked banana - I wanderthe sun. The rhythmic sound of the fans, combined restaurants in the colonial quarter of Phnom Penh. around the stalls of the market. Although the marketwith my first glass of wine in a while makes me For life in Cambodia has moved on. The French is about to close, there is still much to see. Somecomfortably drowsy. I lean backwards in my large left and brought upon the region, one could say, a vendors are desperately trying to sell their last freshcane armchair and watch the waitresses in their blood-stricken conflict. It resulted in a genocidal produce. I see whole pig’s heads, live tortoises,meticulously tailored dresses pass by. A musician communist regime. colourful heaps of fruit, the latest fashion.plays on a bamboo xylophone, making me even So how much is there to say about the French? Towering above my head is a grand structure,more at ease. punctured with many openings. The last eveningThere are other people sitting at the verandah; Sitting at a plastic stool in front of a market stall light falls through the openings and casts longquietly chatting, reading a newspaper or enjoying the I eat freshly made noodle soup. As a starter, I had shadows on the adjacent walls. Evening has broughtmusic. White people, to be sure. marinated chicken thighs. Not your watery European a relief from the heat, but a slight breeze insideA platter of typical Asian starters is served at our chickens, but with meat on their bones and taste the market makes it even more comfortable. Thetable, presented with beautifully carved fruits and to their flesh. As a dessert, shall I pick some sweet building I stand in is French, crafted many decadesvegetables. The crispy wontons and spring rolls are sticky rice or a baked banana? ago, but still so very much alive. So very useful andhandmade, but look nonetheless splendid and taste Next to me sits a Khmer family, slurping their smart.similarly. The same counts for the terrific amok, noodles away. Both father and children pour so And I wonder again; maybe this built legacy is theserved with sticky rice packed in banana leaves. many dried chilies over their soup that I would start one thing there is to say about the French.I wonder; this must be a taste of the life colonials to cry if I had to eat it. At another table Khmerhave led in Cambodia. Not even sixty years ago. How guys, slightly younger than me - but possibly muchthey must have enjoyed the peace and quiet after a older as Khmer people seem to have found the key Simone Bijlardhot and sweaty day; how they must have thought of to eternal youth - play a card game. Behind me, Amsterdam, March 2011 5

AcknowledgmentsI owe my gratitude to the people I met on my travels.Dang Nhat Minh: your companionship on that oneday in Ho Chi Minh City has given me very warmmemories. To Theodora Burgeat and Yam Sokli, mythanks for your openness and honesty. Thanks toDarryl Collins: what a pleasure to meet you and yournearly-never-ending knowledge on Cambodia and itsbuilt environment.My gratitude goes as well to Gregory Bracken,for his unrelenting enthusiasm (“I am absolutelydelighted!”), excellent guidance and recommendations.Subsequently I would like to thank Ad Bijlard enMarieke Polder, for having faith in me and mystudies for such a long time now. And finally I wantto thank Rob Konterman: I could not have wishedfor a better companion on this journey. 7

ContentPreface 5Acknowledgements 7Battered beauties - Introduction 13This thesis 15Cambodia 151. Crowds from one end to the other - The indigenous market 171.1. Markets in pre-colonial Indochina 191.2. Countryside markets in present-day Vietnam 201.3. Concluding 232. Building a France away from France -The French colonial market 252.1. Changing attitudes 272.2. Building a colonial town 282.3. Société Indochinoise d’Études et de Constructions (S.I.D.E.C.) 302.4. Concluding 313. A problem with memory - On the relevance of architectural heritage 333.1. The preservation of built heritage in Phnom Penh 353.2. A problem with memory 363.3. The preservation of built heritage in Battambang 383.4. Concluding 394. Skinned frogs and slithering eels - On the present-day functioning of markets 414.1. Shared principles 434.2. Four case-study researches 43 4.2.1. Phnom Penh: Psar Thom Thmei 45 4.2.2. Battambang: Psar Nath 46 9

4.2.3. Kompong Cham: Psar Thmei 48 4.2.4. Ho Chi Minh City: Cho Ben Thanh 50 4.2.5. Stall typologies 524.3. Vendors and customers 544.4. Concluding 56Battered beauties - Conclusion 59Final conclusion 61Building bridges - Epilogue 63A typological research on covered bridges 65Battambang’s bridges 67Concluding 68Notes 69Literature 72Appendices 75Appendix A: S.I.D.E.C. 75Appendix B: market plans 79Appendix C: conversations 8310

List of figures, maps and tablesFiguresPsar Nath, Battambang front cover 4.5. East - West section Cho Ben Thanh 50Psar Nath’s battered clock-tower 12 4.6. A man with an ambulant profession 551.1. Cut-out from “Luang Prabang’s Market” 16 The rear side of Psar Nath 591.2. “The city of Luang Prabang” 18 E.1. A French colonial bridge in the Mekong, Si Phan Don 621.3. “Luang Prabang’s Market” 18 E.2. Whites Bridge, Michigan, USA 641.4. “The Phnom Penh Pyramid” 21 E.3. Pont de Rohan, Landerneau 641.5. “The Phnom Penh market in the late 1860’s” 21 E.4. Ponte Rialto, Venice 641.6. Countryside market in Vietnam 22 E.5. Ponte Vecchio, Florence 641.7. Countryside market in Vietnam 22 E.6. Chenhyang Wind & Rain Bridge, Sanjiang 642.1. Aerial view of the Central Market or Psar Thom Thmei 24 E.7. Steel bridge across Sangker, 1916, demolished in 2008 672.2. Hôtel de Ville in Saigon 26 E.8. Concrete bridge across Sangker, 2008, replacement of steel bridge 672.3. Musée Louis Finot in Hanoi 26 E.9. Concrete bridge across Sangker, 1916 672.4. Shophouses in Battambang 29 E.10. Section across Sangker in front of Psar Nath 672.5. Aerial view of Psar Nath in Battambang 30 Psar Thmei, Kompong Cham back cover3.1. In Phnom Penh, shophouses from the French colonial period 323.2. Hotel Renakse 34 Maps3.3. Psar Thom Thmei and its extensions 34 Indochina and Mekong 143.4. Battambang’s Heritage Protection Area 37 2.1. Battambang 284.1. Fresh fish sold from the street in Battambang 40 4.1. Phnom Penh 434.2. West - East section Psar Thom Thmei 444.3. South - North section Psar Nath 46 Tables4.4. East - West section Psar Thmei 48 4.1. Stall typologies 52 11

Battered beauties Introduction Although French rule over Indochina ended In order to graduate as a Master of Science at in 1954 after the Battle of Dien Bien Phu1, Explore Lab - in itself a graduation studio at colonial buildings still dot the towns of today’s the Faculty of Architecture, Delft University of Cambodia. Among these buildings are covered Technology - both a research and a design project markets; large concrete structures, stylish in have to be successfully completed. design. Up until today these buildings function This thesis is written in completion of the research from early dawn until nightfall; they vibrate project. It is an exploration of the history and daily with life. However, as time has passed and war, functioning of the covered markets built under genocide and poverty have stricken Cambodia, French colonial rule in Cambodia. It shows why these buildings have fallen into dilapidation. these structures should be preserved, explores what Time has made them into battered beauties. has defined their architecture and researches a future How to restore these beauties to their original scenario. This graduation project will be finalisedPsar Nath’s battered clock-tower splendor, while respecting today’s habits? with a design for the modernisation and extension(source: author’s photograph) of one of Cambodia’s markets. 13

CHINA TONKIN Hanoi Luang Prabang LAOS Vientiane Hué SIAM ANNAM Bangkok Battambang CAMBODIA Kompong Cham Phnom Penh Saigon COCHINCHINA INDOCHINA 0 100 200 kmIndochina and Mekong(source: author’s drawing)

Cambodia Although one would be better off reading Chandler’s A History of Cambodia to fully understand Cambodia’s history, a brief overview is given here as it will prove helpful with understanding this thesis.This thesis From 1863 the Kingdom of Cambodia became aTo understand Cambodia’s covered markets built The relevance of this knowledge is tested in chapter Protectorate of France, together with Cochinchinaunder French colonial two themes are researched 3 “A problem with memory - On the relevance of at the southern tip of Vietnam. In 1887 Laos,in this thesis: their history - both indigenous and architectural heritage”, as it is placed in the context of Vietnam and Cambodia were united in the Union ofFrench - and their present-day functioning. This the current heritage policy of today’s Cambodia. An Indochina.2understanding is gained in four chapters: understanding of the processes that lie underneath In 1953, Cambodia gained independence once more, this policy is given. although it was of a short term.3 The war foughtChapter 1 “Crowds from one end to the other Chapter 4 “Skinned frogs and slithering eels - against America in neighbouring Vietnam spread- The indigenous market” describes the functioning On the present-day functioning of markets” jumps to the over Cambodian territory and plunged the countryand architectural layout of markets in Indochina second theme of this research, concerning how into civil war, in which a growing communist forcethat appeared and functioned without colonial these markets function today. In this chapter the named the Khmer Rouge fought a guerrilla warinterference. Markets in Vietnam and Laos share three surviving markets in Cambodia are analysed on against the military dictatorship of Lon Nol.4many similarities with Cambodian markets and are their programmatical functioning and on how their In 1975 reign over Cambodia fell to the Khmertherefore discussed as well. Present-day country-side architecture contributes to it. A market in Vietnam is Rouge, who returned Cambodia to Year Zero: a statemarkets in Vietnam are described as there appear to discussed as well, as it exemplifies a market situated in which private property no longer existed andbe similarities between today’s and historical habits. in a country wealthier and more developed than everything, even human labour, belonged to theChapter 2 “Building a France away from France Cambodia. Khmer Rouge. It let millions of Cambodians suffer- The French colonial market” discusses the context in The conclusion “Battered beauties - Conclusion” and die.5which the French administration built its covered answers how healty the concept of the covered In 1979, Vietnamese troops ended the regime ofmarkets. It shows how the French administration market is, why they should be preserved and what the Khmer Rouge and brought a certain amount oforganised its colonisation and what role architecture has defined their architecture. peace to Cambodia.6 Democratic elections howeverin general and covered markets in particular played did not take place until 1993, when a UN-forcein it. Questions as to how French intervention has This thesis ends with the epilogue “Building moved into Cambodia to ensure a safe environmentaltered the local market, what purposes were served bridges - Epilogue”. It holds a small research in and honest elections.7 From 1993 onwards thewith their realisation, what companies and architects commencement of the design project. It can be situation in Cambodia has stabilised to some extent,were involved and what architectural language was understood as an epilogue for this thesis, but also as as elections have taken place and people live onceused are dealt with. a prologue for the design project. again in freedom. 15

1 Crowds from one end to the other 1 The indigenous market “On 5 June 1866 at noon, the expedition left Saigon with path that could in no way provide a safe trading two French Navy gunboats. It was an emotional departure passage. because the members of the Commission had no idea how long During the exploration Garnier made extensive they would be away from the colony of Cochinchina or from notes and had the artist Louis Delaporte draw France. Eventually, they spent two years struggling through the local scenes. Some of these plates and notes forests.” describe how markets functioned at that time. (Francis Garnier in A Pictorial Journey on the Old Mekong; Cambodia, Laos and Yunnan; text To understand how the Cambodian market complimentary to plate 1 “Saigon Harbour”) functioned preceding colonial interference some plates drawn by Delaporte and complimentary texts When the Voyage d’Exploration en Indo-Chine, led by Garnier are surveyed. As markets in Vietnam by the French Navy officer Francis Garnier, and Laos share many similarities with Cambodian left Saigon the lands surrounding the Mekong markets, they are discussed in this chapter as well. had not yet been colonised by France.2 The Secondly, the description of the present-day path of the Mekong Exploration Commission countryside market in Vietnam given by Dang Nhat went as far as the Chinese Province of Yunnan, Minh, lecturer Architectural History at the University fabled for its wealth. In wish to compete with of Architecture of Ho Chi Minh City, is surveyed.Figure 1.1. Cut-out from“Luang the successful British colony in India the Finally the descriptions of the historical and present-Prabang’s Market” drawn by L. Commission set out to discover a trading route day markets are compared, revealing their similaritiesDelaporte(source: A Pictorial Journey on the Old between this far-away land and the French and differences.Mekong; Cambodia, Laos and Yunnan) colony. They however found a long and perilous 17

Figure 1.2. The city of Luang Prabang”, drawn by L. Delaporte Figure 1.3.“Luang Prabang’s Market”, drawn by L. Delaporte(source: A Pictorial Journey on the Old Mekong; Cambodia, Laos and Yunnan) (source: A Pictorial Journey on the Old Mekong; Cambodia, Laos and Yunnan)

1.1. Markets in pre-colonial IndochinaOne who has visited present-day Luang Prabang and A plate shows (figure 1.3.) how the market Luang Prabang’s today’s market has not changedsurveys the plate Delaporte drew, can easily see that took place in Luang Prabang at the time of the significantly, just as the town has remained the same.time has passed slowly in this provincial town (figure expedition. Garnier added in text: The market is located in the same road and still1.2.). The same observation can be made from the consists of a collection of huts and pieces of clothtext Garnier wrote for this plate: “The grand avenue of Luang Prabang runs for two on the ground. kilometres from the city gate to the Nam Hou river. On“When you cross the Mekong to the side opposite Luang market days it is filled with crowds from one end to the other. At the market of Muong Long, a Laotian villagePrabang, and climb the bank, you can see the river strewn Hawkers and customers come there from early morning, some further upstream the Mekong, produce was soldwith boats far below; there is a distant view of the city, with in the open air, others under large umbrellas or in bamboo from underneath a Banyan tree:its streets at right angles to the river and its twenty pagodas boats. Fishermen bring huge fish which they have kept alivewith their roofs half-hidden by a forest of palm trees. A small in the river. Natives from the mountains, recognisable by their “The market was held under a great banyan tree with hangingpyramid erected on a marble rock dominates the city. Behind tanned skins, turbans, and striped dress, arrive with baskets branches in the great square, facing the pagoda. The rainyit, a chain of hills rises and in the background there is a full of game, poultry and upland produce. Some Burmese season had started and the ground had become a swamp incurtain of high calcareous mountains with sharp summits. merchants sell cloth, needles and betel boxes. A small number which you sank up to your knees. Farmers and locals arrivedA little to the left, beneath the pyramid, in the middle of the of Chinese sell opium, haberdashery and gemstones.” from all over the countryside with baskets, pouches, umbrellascity is the Nam Hou ravine which runs south to north amid (Francis Garnier in A Pictorial Journey on the and high, pointed hats. Not far away a market selling rice,coconut trees and flows into the Mekong, two hundred meters Old Mekong; Cambodia, Laos and Yunnan; text vegetables, poultry and fish was held. In the background youup river.” complimentary to “Luang Prabang’s Market”) can see the Burmese who were solely responsible for trading(Francis Garnier in A Pictorial Journey on the ironmongery, haberdashery and precious metals.”Old Mekong; Cambodia, Laos and Yunnan; text As can be recognised from the plate by Delaporte (Francis Garnier in A Pictorial Journey on thecomplimentary to “The city of Luang Prabang”) and the text by Garnier, produce were sold either Old Mekong; Cambodia, Laos and Yunnan; text from the street or from small huts, most often complimentary to “Market in Muong Long”)Present-day Luang Prabang is still a small-scale protected from the sun. The produce sold weresettlement on the peninsula between the Mekong both fresh and dry, both dead and alive. Garnier Although at the background of the drawing someand the Nam Khan river.3 Its streets still lie in the recognised a clear difference between the ethnic huts are recognisable, the actual market seems tosame pattern Garnier described and the twenty background of the vendors and the produce they have taken place directly underneath the Banyanpagodas can still be found spread around town, sold, as Chinese and Burmese sold more precious tree. The produce sold was just as in Luang Prabanghidden by many palm trees. During the French items and ‘natives from the mountains’ local both fresh and dry and again we see vendors chattingcolonial period an amount of shophouses and villas produce. The drawing by Delaporte shows a man leisurely.have been added to the town, but these additions sleeping on the ground and a couple of childrenhave not altered the sight as drawn by Delaporte wandering around; vendors and their family probably However, the pace of life in Phnom Penh hassignificantly. spent much time at the market. changed much more significantly than the pace in 19

Luang Prabang. The plate Delaporte drew in 1866of Phnom Penh shows a string of huts along theTonlé Sap and a pagoda on a hillock (figure 1.4.).Nowadays, Phnom Penh has grown into a cityof over 1 million inhabitants; a growth initiatedby the French administration when it moved theCambodian capital from Oudong to Phnom Penh.4The market preceding French intervention, as can beseen in figure 1.5., seems to have functioned similarlyas Luang Prabang’s market. Produce were either soldfrom pieces of cloth on the ground or from small 1.2. Countryside markets in present-day Vietnamhuts with thatched roofs. Again both fresh and drygoods can be recognised. The plate shows that the According to Dang Nhat Minh (2010), lecturer very early hours of the morning, when temperaturesfloors of the huts were raised, probably providing Architectural History at the University of are still moderate. Although refrigeration exists inthe huts with some protection from seasonal Architecture of Ho Chi Minh City, markets in Vietnam, it is not an integral part of the market.flooding, insects and dirt. And again we seem to be present-day Vietnam follow a lay-out that stems Therefore the provisioning of goods happens everylooking at a very relaxed atmosphere; time seems to from a Vietnamese tradition.5 day.be at hand. According to him, the lay-out of the market originates from its location in comparison to local A second non-colonial market typology according to infrastructure (figure 1.6.): a Vietnamese market Dang (2010) consists of a collection of small huts traditionally appears at a junction of tracks or roads made of local materials such as bamboo, teak and between villages and a river or other body of water. teak leaves along a village road (figure 1.7.). The huts Vegetables, grown by farmers from the surrounding consist of a roof, four columns and a raised floor. villages, come from the countryside and therefore via Adjacent to the road are houses with small private the road. They are sold where they are loaded off: pieces of land around them. Large trees along directly at the entrance of the market. Other fresh the road cover it and provide the market huts and produce, such as meat and above all fish, come by produce with extra protection against the elements. boat and are again sold where they are loaded off: The market takes place in the early morning; at the rear of the market. Inside the market non- at around 10 a.m. the produce is stored away. perishable goods are sold, such as dry groceries, Thereafter the huts are used by neighbours as a place clothing, toiletries and household utensils.. to drink tea or to take a nap in a hammock; waiting The provisioning of the fresh goods happens in the for the blazing heat to pass.20

Figure 1.4. “The Phnom Penh Pyramid”, drawn by E. Tournois, based on a sketch by L. Delaporte Figure 1.5. “The Phnom Penh market in the late 1860’s”, drawn by L. Delaporte(source: A Pictorial Journey on the Old Mekong; Cambodia, Laos and Yunnan) (source: The French Presence in Cochinchina and Cambodia)

meat fish and fish and meat MARKET dry goods vegetable fruit and vegetable fruit andvillage A village B Figure 1.6. Countryside market in Vietnam: its location in comparison to local infrastructure (source: author’s drawing) Figure 1.7. Countryside market in Vietnam: collection of huts protected from rain and sun by large trees (source: author’s drawing)

1.3. ConcludingThe three markets discussed by Garnier have many Many of these characteristics can be recognised in manner - finishing at 10 a.m. and afterwards enjoyingsimilarities. All three markets consist of either a the descriptions of countryside markets in Vietnam. a cup of tea together.collection of huts, a collection of pieces of cloth Not only the produce sold is similar, but also the way Many of the similarities between the historical andon the ground, or a combination of these two. it is sold: it is protected from the elements by both present-day markets can be attributed to the tropicalProduce is always sheltered from the sun by trees, huts and large trees, and again we see the necessity climate: the umbrellas, the roofs, trees and raisedroofs, umbrellas or even pieces of cloth. A leisurely of raised floors. It shows that up until today a floors provide for some protection against it and theatmosphere is recognisable at all three markets; collection of huts and pieces of cloth on the ground relaxed atmosphere probably stems from the tropicalit is as if the market is an extension of home. At can function as a marketplace. However, a larger heat.the markets of Luang Prabang and Muong Long structure in the form of a hall has been introducedan ethnic difference has been noticed by Francis as well. This comparison shows that throughout time theGarnier. It is unknown whether this was the case An allocation of goods can be recognised in the large hall has been introduced to the typology of thein Phnom Penh; it might have been. The market present-day market of Vietnam according to local market. It also shows however that the local, small-in Muong Long is known to have problems with infrastructure. It is unknown whether this was the scale market has not changed significantly, evenflooding and the market in Phnom Penh, given the case in pre-colonial Vietnam, Laos or Cambodia, but though goods and manners have changed over time.raised floors, seems to have encountered the same it might have been. The introduction of for instance air-conditioningproblems. At all three markets both fresh and dry The final similarity between the historical and and the refrigerator has made no clear difference ingoods are sold. present-day descriptions is the vendor’s leisurely the way the village market functions. 23

2 Building a France away from France The French colonial market With the establishment of the French to build a colonial infrastructure. Covered Protectorate over Cambodia in 1863 a new markets were just as city halls, prisons, post form of architecture and urban planning was offices, police stations, schools and hospitals introduced to the region. Preceding French part of this infrastructure. intervention, Phnom Penh was just a string of huts on the bank of the Tonlé Sap River.1 To understand how the French administration The Mission Civilisatrice however obliged France organised its colonisation and what role architecture to turn the city into a true Perle d’Orient: it was in general and covered markets in particular played after all her responsibility to share and spread in it, first an examination of the architectural styles her superior civilisation. This ambition was to used in the colony over time is done. Secondly, the be accomplished by architecture and urban growth of the French colonial town and the role theFigure 2.1. Aerial view of the Central planning.2 market had in it is researched and finally the buildingMarket or Psar Thom Thmei in PhnomPenh in 1952 With the realisation of roads, railroads and company that has realised many of Indochina’s(source: Heritage Mission Phnom Penh) public works the colonial administration started markets is surveyed. 25

Figure 2.2. Hôtel de Ville in Saigon, designed by Fernand Gardès and built in 1908 Figure 2.3. Musée Louis Finot in Hanoi, designed by Ernest Hébrard and built in 1932(source: author’s photograph) (source: author’s photograph)

2.1. Changing attitudesAt first, French colonial administrations approached The Style Indochinois seems to have disappeared from Arts school.their Mission Civilisatrice in a manner governed by the the architectural stage in the early 1930s, whereupon Maybe even more conspicuous is the way the twoprinciple of assimilation: indigenous people were to a more abstract style appeared. This style continued buildings respond to their surroundings. Althoughbe subjected to an administration shaped by French Hébrard’s sensitivity towards local conditions, but both of the buildings are symmetrical, theirvalues.3 This approach has led to a large number of it banned his literal citations of indigenous motifs functional lay-out is adapted to their urban context:French public works in Beaux-Arts style, varying and his formal references towards the Beaux-Arts the two buildings have a direct relationship with thefrom prisons and military barracks to post offices tradition. Instead, it often consisted of a repetition ground level, whereas the typical Beaux-Arts facadeand municipal theatres (figure 2.1.); all fashioned of one motive, resulting in a more abstract form of with its symmetry and decoration ignores it quiteafter the latest style in Le Métropole. decoration. Plans and sections responded primarily bluntly. In the case of the market in Phnom PenhAfter WWI a change in French colonial politics in to their urban, social or cultural context; especially the Cambodian climate has become a leading factor:Indochina appeared; the assimilationist approach to the tropical climate. One could say that this last many grills through which hot air can move outwas replaced by a policy of association, which gave architectural style was most successful in unifying its easily dot the facade.more space to local tradition and culture.4 With French and Indochinese conditions. The two buildings also refer on a symbolic levelthis change a more context sensitive architecture to their location: the position of the four wingssurfaced, which is best described by the work of The three covered markets from the French of Psar Thom Thmei - which are not north-souththe architect Ernest Hébrard, head of the in 1923 colonial period in Cambodia that are still standing oriented, but are rotated at an angle of 45 degrees -founded Service de l’Architecture et de l’Urbanisme de - Psar Thom Thmei in Phnom Penh, Psar Nath in refers according to some to the meeting of the fourl’Indochine.5 He introduced the Style Indochinois, which Battambang and Psar Thmei in Kompong Cham - rivers in Phnom Penh.9 The large cupola has beenderived its detailing and decoration from indigenous are from this last period and architectural style. compared to the Buddhist mandala; a geometricalarchitecture and adapted more easily than the Beaux- This style is however not unique for Indochina, as pattern that symbolises the Cosmos in Hinduism andArts styled buildings to Cambodia’s tropical climate the Style Indochinois was. Buddhism, the two religions deeply rooted in Khmer(figure 2.3.). One can imagine the break from the In 1929 a covered market, surprisingly reminiscent life.10 Les Halles du Boulingrin were also comparedpreceding architectural style used in the colony; local of Psar Thom Thmei in Phnom Penh (figure 2.1.), with local religious buildings, as architecture criticsculture, which used to be described condescendingly was built in Reims. The two architects, Jean Desbois, compared the building with Catholic cathedrals justas métis (half-blood)6, became not only an example architect of Psar Thom Thmei and Émile Maigrot, after its realisation.11from which one could learn but also the face architect of Les Halles du Boulingrin, seem to have Although the comparison of a commercial buildingof important public works. However, Hébrard’s known one another.8 to a religious one might seem out of place, it is clearstyle relied on formal principles of the Beaux- The two markets correspond first of all in that this architectural style had no need for formalArts tradition; his plans were often symmetrical construction material; both are made from principles as the Beaux-Arts tradition needed. Evenand consisted of volumes arranged in a classical ferroconcrete. In both cases the construction has though the style is not unique for Indochina, itsequence. His style therefore did not differ essentially become the primary aesthetic of the building; quite a responds primarily to its local urban, social, culturalfrom the Beaux-Arts tradition.7 difference from the decorative style of the Beaux- (and in the case of Cambodia tropical) context. 27

2.2. Building a colonial town Part of the construction of the colonial elephants and horses. The palace that stands up until Hospita S AN G KE R l infrastructure was the realisation of the colonial now was constructed in 1905. Hospita Psar Boe S AN G KE R l town: as pre-colonial society in Cambodia was At the start of the twentieth century an open-air ung Choeu Psar Boek ung primarily agrarian, cities were virtually non-existent.12 market existed at the same location as today’s central Choeuk HHosta tal ospipil Psar Hospita To illustrate the realisation of the colonial town market - Psar Nath. At that time this location was a l A NN G E R S S A G KK E R Hospita S AN G KE l R Nath Psar S A N G KE R and the role the market played in it, the growth of crossing of dirt tracks at the river bank. As the river Nath Psar Boe Psar Boe Choeuk station ation ung Battambang is surveyed. Battambang is today the was just in front of the market, fish were abundant. ung Choeuk second largest city of Cambodia. The ethnic differentiation of the inhabitants of st Psar Nath Battambang resulted in specific produce. Red meat Psar Nath Battambang lies at the Stung Sangker, a river was for instance unavailable, as the majority of the Airport originating in the Cardamom Mountains and population was Buddhist and therefore did not eat it. station Airport station Gov Gce ce draining into the large Tonlé Sap Lake (map 2.1.). Its Ducks and chickens were specifically sold to Chinese Kam Kam plala plala erno verno phae phae o shores have probably been inhabited by farmers and and Vietnamese clients. r’s r’s ng ng Airport Airport fishermen for manyRo Psar centuries.13 Airport y Thm Univ al AfterAirport fall of theRrealm of Angkor in the 15th the ei Psar ersit oy y In 1907 the Thai lost reign over Battambang to the Gov ce Thm ei Univ al Kam century the Vietnamese and Thai continually fought ersit French, who had up until then only a consulate plala erno y Gov ce phae Kam r’s plala erno for Battambang and its province. Between 1795 and in the town. The palace, built by the former Thai ng phae r’s 1907 however,n Royal province fell to the reign of the the ng PsPr ar Thas Thmme ei i Un a R Royoyal Univ iverl ersitsity Psar Thm ei U iv governor, was sold to the French. y ersit Psar Thm ei Thai. The province held by 1884 around 100,000 Roya Univ l ersit y Directly upon their arrival, the French drew a plan y inhabitants of various ethnicities: Thai, Khmer, Lao, Railway Battambang - Phnom Penh for the extension of the town; a radical change from Vietnamese, Chinese and Burmese people.14 Railway 1926 Battambang - Phnom Penh the ‘spontaneous’16 growth the town had known 1926 The town of Battambang consisted in this period under Thai rule. The plan consisted of a network of of a string of pagodas and huts along the banks of roads and blocks of ‘shophouses’ parallel to the river Railway Railway Battambang - Phnom the river. An engraving made by the explorer Henri (figure 2.4.). The shophouses were 3 to 4 meters Railway Battambang - Phnom Penh Battambang - Phnom Penh Built under Thai rule 1795 - 1907 Temple Penh 1926 1926 BATTAMBANG 1926 B A T T A500 B A N 1000 m 0 M G Railway Built under Thai rule 1795 - rule 1907 - 1926 Built under French colonial 1907 Battambang - Phnom Penh Mouhot in 1858 shows Battambang as a collection Temple of historical significance Building wide and 25 meters deep and were sold during their 0 500 1000 m 1926 Built under French colonial rule 1907 - 1926 Built under French colonial rule 1926 - 1953 of wooden huts on stilts along a slow streaming Building of historical significance Market construction to Chinese-Khmer merchants. The Built under French colonial rule 1926 - 1953 river; buffalos are bathing in it and a sampan can be Market entrance at the main street provided access to a shop hai rule 1795 1907 i rule 1795 - - 1907 Temple seen at the background.15 on the ground floor and a back passage allowed Temple Built under Thai rule 1795 - 1907 Temple B A T T ABuilding of historical significance ench colonial rule 1907 - 1926 nch colonial rule 1907 - 1926 MBANG Building of historical significance The town and the province were ruled by a Thai for the provisioning of goods. The entrances to Built under French colonial rule 1907 - 1926 Building of historical significance 0 500 1000 m under Thai rule 1795 - 1907 Built TempleA Mcolonial rule 1926 1953 rench BANG nch colonial rule 1926 - - 1953 Market Market Built under French colonial rule 1926 - 1953 Market Built under French colonial rule 1907 - 1926 Building of historical significance governor. The precincts of the Governor’s Palace, the shops were preceded by a ‘five-foot walkway’; 500 1000 m Map 2.1. Battambang Built under French colonial rule 1926 - 1953 Market or Kamphaeng, housed beside the palace a temple an arcade that provided shelter from sun and rain. (source: author’s drawing; based upon drawings by ARK Research, 2002) and buildings for the governor’s women, dancers, In the centre of the shophouse was a court with a 28

court living quarters five-foot walkway shop Figure 2.4. Shophouses in Battambang (source: Battambang Heritage)staircase, which lead to the living quarters of the In 1926 a second urban plan was made for the town a residential area laid out in a rectangular grid wasfamily situated on the first floor. The facades of of Battambang, in the process of the construction built. A new market, Psar Boeung Choeuk, wasthe houses were made of brickwork covered with of the railway between Battambang and Phnom built to serve the new area. The city also extendedstucco, creating a uniform exterior. This typology is Penh. The city was extended towards the west. The towards the east, on the other side of the river. Anvery common for cities in Cambodia and other cities extension consisted again of a rectangular grid with airport and a university were established. In 1968 athroughout South-East Asia.17 shophouses, although some diagonal streets crossed new bridge was built north of the central market,Other French (public) works came in the form of a the grid, creating monumental squares and axes. One creating a new connection between the town centrehospital, a prison and military barracks. The last two of these monumental squares was located at the rear on the west bank of the river and the new facilitieswere cleverly placed on the Kampheang; the original side of the market, which was formalised in 1937 by on the east bank.Thai structure of domination. Infrastructural works a covered market made from reinforced concrete.were, just as the shophouses and hospital, part of the The structure improved the market’s hygiene and After the Khmer Rouge regime was overthrownconstruction of the colonial town: the roads along made it easier to regulate and tax market activities. in 1979 the town of Battambang grew again, eventhe river were paved and a metal walking bridge was though the town had stood nearly empty for fourconstructed south of the market, just as a concrete Battambang’s growth continued after Cambodia’s years. A third market, Psar Thmei, was constructedbridge for vehicles in front of the governor’s palace. independence from France in 1954. This growth during the development of new houses in theThe market continued in the form of an open-air resulted in the construction of new covered markets university district.market at its original location. throughout the town. North of the original town 29

Figure 2.5. Aerial view of Psar Nath in Battambang in 1960 (source: Grant Ross, Battambang, Le Bâton Perdu) 2.3. Société Indochinoise d’Études et de Constructions (S.I.D.E.C.) Although written documents seem to be scarce that remind of Vietnamese and Chinese temples. on this subject, probably only a few companies The newer markets however, the markets of Dalat engineered the public works of French Indochina. and Phnom Penh and to some extend Battambang, share a different, more abstract, architectural Three covered markets of Cambodia are known to language. Their ventilation grills are decorated with a be constructed by the Saigon based Société Indochinoise typical v-shaped motive. d’Études et de Constructions (S.I.D.E.C.): the markets This typical motive can also be found in several of Phnom Penh, Battambang and Kampot (see other buildings throughout Cambodia, such as the appendix A).18, 19 Central Station and police office in Phnom Penh and S.I.D.E.C.’s involvement seems obvious, as they were the market of Kompong Cham. The police office ‘the only one to present 27 years of experience in is said to be designed by the same architect as the working with reinforced concrete’ in the colony, as a market of Phnom Penh, but S.I.D.E.C.’s involvement 1931 encyclopaedia boasts.20 in any of the three is unknown. These three Cambodian markets are made from a The other buildings said to be constructed by large reinforced concrete skeleton, creating one or S.I.D.E.C. - for instance the Bokor Palace, the several large halls. Their indoor climate is improved Throne Hall in Phnom Penh and the Phnom Penh similarly: open plinths and large openings in the roof library23, 24 - have completely different architectural ensure a constant stream of fresh air. styles. It leads to the conclusion that S.I.D.E.C. S.I.D.E.C. has constructed markets in Vietnam probably worked with different, independent as well: in Saigon, Cantho and Dalat. 21, 22 These architects. Vietnamese markets are structurally similar to their However, S.I.D.E.C.’s role in the engineering of Cambodian counterparts: it are large concrete concrete public works is preeminent: they were structures, ventilated by large roof openings. The active for over thirty years and constructed many markets of Saigon and Cantho were constructed ten buildings during that period. It shows the centrality years earlier, however. at which these projects were undertaken: the design These two earliest markets seem to share an of a concrete structure would have led to S.I.D.E.C. architectural style: they are decorated with motives immediately.30

2.4. ConcludingThe research on the realisation of the French French military area.colonial infrastructure leads to two conclusions: With French rule clearly set, the second stage offirst of all, this realisation was organised centrally. growth of Battambang could give room to a newSecondly, the concept underlying it became more category of public works: those serving bothand more context sensitive through time. The coloniser and colonised. At this point Battambang’scolonial purpose was never abandoned, however. covered market was realised. The most context sensitive style was chosen for its architecturalWhen reviewing the architectural styles used in the appearance. French purposes were gracefully servedcolony, one notices that these styles were intertwined by its erection: the market’s hygiene was improvedwith the politics of the administration: public for the sake of the indigenous; taxes were easierworks built under the administration governed by collected for the sake of the colonisers.assimilation resulted in Beaux-Arts inspired buildings,those built under administrations governed by The central character of the colonial administrationassociation resulted in the more context sensitive Style surfaces as well when one reviews the constructionIndochinois and eventually into a form of Art Déco companies active in the colony. The markets ofdirectly based on its local setting - urban, social and Cambodia were built by the Saigon based S.I.D.E.C.,above all climatic. Colonial purposes were still served a company that had already engineered markets andhowever, as these buildings were designed by French other large concrete structures in the colony.architects, according to French principles. These colonial processes influenced the marketThe survey on the growth of Battambang leads to significantly: the informal, open-air market wassimilar conclusions. The first French structures for replaced by a concrete hall, adorned after FrenchBattambang were built to dominate: the former Thai taste. And on top of that, hygiene became a majoradministrative centre was altered into a prison and a theme. 31

3 A problem with memory 1 On the relevance of architectural heritage Although Phnom Penh’s history does not go although odd extensions, advertisements, much further back than 1866 - when the French electric wires and sun screens have altered their administration turned the riverside settlement appearance. The museum in the former political into the capital of Cambodia2 - wandering prison S-21 of the Khmer Rouge displays the through the town reveals many layers of history. tragic and still very recent history of Cambodia, The Royal Palace, with its shimmering spires, when it was turned into a communist peasant brings to mind the power and grandeur the state. Royal family had and still has. The National History Museum displays artifacts of Angkor; To research the relevance of the historical the most extensive urban complex of the pre- knowledge gained in the preceding chapters first industrialised world.3 Crumbling colonial villas a description of the current situation regarding stand in large gardens that have grown wild. the protection of architectural heritage in Phnom The immense boulevards, today thundering with Penh is given. Secondly, the underlying problem is a mass of motorcycles, cyclos, túk-túks, busses discussed. And finally, the situation in BattambangFigure 3.1. In Phnom Penh, shophouses and taxis, reminisce of Les Champs Elysées.4 is surveyed, where a different policy is being put tofrom the French colonial period today(source: author’s photograph) Old shophouses are still home to many shops, practice. 33

Figure 3.2. Hotel Renakse Figure 3.3. Psar Thom Thmei and its extensions. The blue canopies have been added later(source: www.pbase.com/bmcmorrow/image/83676139) (source: author’s photograph)

3.1. The preservation of built heritage in Phnom PenhOn the 29th of December 2008 the Phnom Penh primary real-estate location, in excellent condition, is to make money as fast as possible.police entered the Hotel Renakse, a luxurious hotel was demolished to make way for a luxurious hotel. At this point, the government could step in tohoused in a colonial building directly in front of Something must have stopped the development ensure a sustainable future for the city withoutthe Royal Palace (figure 3.2.). Municipal officials however, as the plot has stood empty ever since.8 excluding economic interests. The governmentinspected the building and concluded that it was l’Ecole Professionnelle, a former French school, was however seems to have other priorities. Accordingin ‘severe disrepair’5. Just 8 days later hotel guests, demolished in a few days time without particular to Burgeat (2010), communication officer at thestaff and manager were forcibly evicted from the reason.9 Heritage Mission Phnom Penh, a law protecting builtpremises. The unsustainable character of development in heritage in Cambodia does exist since 1996, but theThe manager had a lease for another 49 years Phnom Penh also surfaces in other projects. At implementation of this law is arbitrary.on the premises. Its owner however, a powerful the time of writing Phnom Penh’s the largest lake,political party, had it sold to a foreign investment Boeung Kak (see map 4.1.), is being reclaimed for Psar Thom Thmei (figure 3.3.) is however one of thecompany. The manager was offered compensation, high-rise development.10 Many people living along its buildings from the French colonial period that hasbut she declined it as it was not nearly sufficient to shores have been evicted from their homes with little recently undergone a renovation, largely funded bycover the costs she had made. A court case should to no compensation. The second problem is that the French Development Agency.have clarified the situation, but scepticism over the lake functioned as a buffer for large amounts of Surrounding Psar Thom Thmei new pavilions havethe objectivity of the judgement ruled from the rain water. With the reclamation of this buffer, large been made to house all the shopkeepers from thebeginning as the director of the investment company areas of the city flood in the rainy season. self-made structures that stood around the building.appeared to be married to the nephew of the judge.6 The original structure has been reinforced andThe eviction and the threatening demolition were The demolition of built heritage stems in the repainted, just as the kiosks inside. The security ofrectified according to the former owner by an order first place, according to Darryl Collins (2010), the market has been improved by the installationfrom the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, stating architectural historian, from ‘greed’. The high real- of new surveillance cameras and the installation ofthat: ‘the building is both in severe disrepair and estate prices in Phnom Penh - particularly in the new toilets, wash basins and waste facilities haveover a hundred years old’7 and therefore should former French quarter - result in speculation and improved the hygiene of the market.be demolished. The statement of its age has been demolition. These real-estate prices were inflated by It is not all praise however, as it seems thatquestioned by both independent architectural the money the UNTAC-forces poured into Phnom economic interests were given more priority thanhistorians and UNESCO representatives, just as the Penh in the period between 1992 and 1993.11 The the preservation of the original structure. Yam Soklistatement that it is in severe disrepair. The case has prices have stayed high, as Cambodians tend to ‘hang (2010), architect from the Heritage Mission Phnomnot yet been decided and the hotel stands shuttered on’12 their property as long as possible. Penh, explains: ‘more stalls means more money’.up until now. This principle leads to a high pressure on built As the new pavilions have been made from concrete, heritage, as Cambodians will sell their property the parks that originally surrounded the market haveThere are many cases comparable to the Renakse eventually to the highest bid. This bid often comes disappeared definitely. The views one had fromto be found in Phnom Penh. A colonial villa at a from a wealthy, foreign developer, who’s only priority street-level have been altered as well: the original 35

3.2. A problem with memory “Cambodia has a problem with memory; talking about the heritage can be painful, their demolition will not take past is not so easy since the Khmer Rouge. The authorities away that pain. Therefore, according to Yam (2010), mostly prefer to focus on the construction of high, new it is important for Cambodian people to leave history buildings, regarding them as a symbol of the modernisation of behind and to start to appreciate the identity it has the country.” left. (Burgeat, 2010, conversation appendix E) The construction of high rise is one answer to Although high real-estate prices explain the land the prevailing wish to forget history. However, an speculations in Phnom Penh to some extent, a ambition to return to the traditional way of living different kind of argument seems to lie underneath pops up in the Cambodian architectural debate asview at the large, nearly floating structure cannot be it. As Burgeat reveals, dealing with the past has often well.13 But these two ambitions are conflicting, orexperienced anymore. Canopies have been added become a painful experience for Cambodian people. as Yam (2010) questions: how to preserve Buddhistlater, to provide the clients and shopkeepers with It is not a problem with French colonial history, but tradition while aspiring Phnom Penh to become likeextra shade. They however have made the view at the with Cambodia’s recent history from the military Hong Kong or New York?market even smaller. The canopies that connect the dictatorship of Lon Nol, the genocide of the Khmer According to some, these conflicting interests shouldnew structures with the old also proved insufficient, Rouge to the occupation by the Vietnamese, that be unified in a new and unique Khmer architecture.as shopkeepers have hung pieces of cloth in- leads to (especially young) Cambodians wanting to But how should this style look? What is Khmerbetween. deal with the present and the future and not with quality? Collins (2010) claims that the buildings madeCollins (2010) is less harsh on the renovation: the past, according to Collins (2010). This mentality today do not answer that question, as their quality results in unawareness of the historical value of is poor and have as only objective to make a lot of“I was a little disappointed with the new fill-in buildings built heritage; French colonial heritage included. money, as fast as possible.around the market, but compared with what was there before This unawareness even stretches to the education Understandable as it may seem that Khmer peopleit is far better. The market itself is looking splendid. It’s of architects according to Burgeat (2010) and she aspire their own, new style, the method they arethe first real facelift the building has had probably since the expresses her fear that this lack of education will choosing now leads to the rapid demolition of theirsixties.” result in a continuation of the policy that is put to historical buildings and city centres. To prevent(Collins, 2010, conversation appendix E) practice today. the complete disappearance of their architectural Yam (2010) stresses a different approach. According heritage a different approach should be put toOne could say that the use of the market in the to him, built heritage expresses history and gives a practice, sooner rather than later.future has been ensured. The future of its aesthetics city its identity. Although history attached to builthowever remains to be seen. It reveals a delicatequestion: how to value aesthetics and preservation incomparison to use?36

Figure 3.4. Battambang’s Heritage Protection Area(source: DED, Urban development planning)

3.3. The preservation of built heritage in BattambangLuckily, just a couple hundred kilometers away commercial areas and green zones. Centrally located to reach the public by the publishing of calendarsfrom Phnom Penh a different approach regarding in this plan lies the ‘Heritage Protection Area’: and posters featuring heritage buildings, a websitearchitectural heritage can be found. Battambang Battambang’s colonial town centre, which consists and a walk that guides tourists around Battambang’sMunicipality has started to actively protect its built of about 800 historically relevant buildings (figure historic centre. The campaign seems to be quiteheritage. 3.4.). As more and more tourists visit Battambang successful, as it has received national publicity; some for its colonial town centre, the preservation of large articles have been published in the CambodiaA team from the German Development Service built heritage has become interesting from both Daily 16 and the Phnom Penh Post 17. It also seems to(Deutscher Entwicklungsdienst or D.E.D.) in a historical and economical point of view, which have sorted some effect among Battambang citizens,cooperation with the Battambang Municipal makes it easier to convince private heritage-owners as a large colonial villa and adjacent shophouse haveAdministration has had the opportunity to to preserve their buildings. been recently renovated by a private party.18map, research and evaluate the built heritage of A recent result from the Heritage Protection AreaBattambang. The involvement of the Battambang is a law that regulates the size and location of Whether the amount of tourists in Battambang hasMunicipality has proven to be key to success, as they commercial signs on buildings within the area.15 It grown since the initiative took off is unclear, but thehave the authority to implement laws and regulation: puts and end to the proliferation of billboards that project illustrates how administrative policy affectsthe research has resulted in a Future Land Use Plan transforms complete facades. the future of built heritage. And how relativelyfor 2020 for Battambang city and district.14 The The relevance of architectural heritage has been quickly this can change.plan records the destination of areas in and around brought to the attention of the general public by theBattambang, designating for instance residential and campaign Our City - Our Heritage. The campaign aims38

3.4. ConcludingAs built heritage expresses history and gives a city The renovation of Psar Thom Thmei illustrates that exists, it seems that it is not yet found; it is as if thereits identity, its preservation is highly relevant. In a certain care for the preservation of built heritage is still too much to overcome.Cambodia however, especially in Phnom Penh, its exists in the Cambodian situation, but it also showspreservation proves to be of a precarious nature. the delicacy of the subject: how to balance both The Municipality of Battambang however has takenEconomic and political interests prevent the economic and preservationist interests? a completely different stand: it actively protects itsexecution of heritage law, resulting in the rapid Underneath the economic motive appears to lie architectural heritage. With the tourist potential anddisappearance of built heritage. Heritage, as it is an even more delicate problem: as Khmer rather therefore economic potential of built heritage inoften located at primary real-estate locations, is forget their past as it is painful, their built heritage is mind, the awareness of private heritage-owners isoften replaced by quickly built high rise. These tainted by it. As it is hard to discuss these problems, raised. As the project has received national attentiondevelopments seem to have only one objective: to young Khmer, even Khmer architecture students, and some private renovations have been done, itmake money, sooner rather than later. Although are unaware of the consequences of this mentality. seems that the project is a success. It is an exampleone could say that a third-world country has all the Therefore, complete disappearance of built of how municipal policy affects the future of builtright to earn money as quickly as possible, these heritage is becoming a realistic scenario for Phnom heritage and how relatively quickly changes can bedevelopments are often done by foreign investment Penh. And although in the architectural debate made. Not all is lost yet.companies. The average Cambodian is not likely to in Cambodia a wish for a unique Khmer style -benefit from it. contrasting the cheaply built current developments - 39

4 Skinned frogs and slithering eels On the present-day functioning of markets Entering a market in Cambodia reveals a range the kiosks overflow with goods. Strange enough, of stimuli you have probably never experienced it is very quiet. Vendors wait patiently for their before. First of all there are the pungent smells customers and do not bother them with sales of dried shrimp and squid, of rotten vegetables talk. From time to time disputes erupt, resulting and freshly grilled meat. But also the shocking in a large crowd, quietly watching the scene. sight of live fish being gutted and chopped to pieces, of carcasses of dead animals - To research how French colonial markets function, sometimes covered in fat black flies - of skinned first a description of their general operating will frogs and slithering eels. Vendors, their aprons be given. Secondly, the functioning - programatical covered in blood, wield sharp knifes to cut off and architectural - of three markets dating from the customers’ choices, with masses of rotting French colonial period in Cambodia is described. A organic waste piling up around them. Children, Vietnamese market is discussed as well, as it reveals barefoot and covered in rags, pick through them how a French colonial market in a more developed in search for something edible. The heat, that is country functions. The stalls used at these fourFigure 4.1. Fresh fish sold from the streetin Battambang already unbearable outside the market, is even markets are researched and compared, and finally the(source: author’s photograph) more dense inside. The aisles are cramped and vendors are discussed. 41

T O N LÉ BOENG KAK T O LAKE SA Wat N P Phnom LÉ BOENG KAK ME LAKE rey SA Wat Psar Reat KO Psar P Phnom Chas ME Hospita NG l rey Psar Reat K E R S AN G KO Psar Hospita Chas l Psar Boe S AN G KE R Psar al NG ung d Choeuk Psar Thom Kan Psar Boe Thmei ung Choeuk Psom Psar al nal Psar Thar d o Nat i KanNati um e Thmeh Mus Psar Ps ’Rus ce ar se Pala O Nath onal Roy al station station Nati um e Mus i Ps ’Rus ce ar se Pala O al Roy i Psar Airport Neak Meas Airport Gov cGov ce Kam Psar plala plala O P lym sar erno erno Psar Deum Neak Meas r piq phae amphae e r’s Ko ue K ng Psar r’s O P lym sar Deum ng piq Psar Roy Kor ue Thm ei Univ al ersit y Psar Roy Thm ei Univ al ersit y C SSA BA Psar Tuol Railway Thom Pong Battambang - Phnom Penh C 1926 SA Railway Battambang - Phnom PenhB AS Psar Tuol 1926 Thom Pong Built under Thai rule 1795 - 1907 Temple BATTAMBANG Major landmarks P H N500 M P E NmH O Built under Thai rule 1795 - rule 1907 - 1926 Built under French colonial 1907 Temple of historical significance Building 0 1000 BATTAMBANG MarketMap 4.1. Phnom Penh 0 500 1000 m Built under French colonial rule 1926 - 1953 Built under French colonial rule 1907 - 1926 Market of historical significance Building 0 500 1000 m(source: author’s drawing) Major landmarks PHNOM PENH Built under French colonial rule 1926 - 1953 Market Market 0 500 1000 m

4.1. Shared principlesThe larger cities in Cambodia have multiple markets, be taken home normally, depending on the marketspread out across town. Phnom Penh (map 4.1.) has regulation.5for instance more than 20 markets, varying in size City markets generally close at sundown, althoughand scope. On the outskirts of Phnom Penh large, some cannot be closed off wich sometimes result inoutdoor markets can be found, primarily functioning vendors sleeping in empty stalls.6 Markets functionas wholesale and resale markets. In the city centre every day in the week except for holidays.7both smaller and larger covered markets can be In general, markets are governmental property andfound, all selling similar produce.1 are run by a market committee.8, 9 In Phnom Penh,It is still a custom for Cambodian people to go to this committee has the duty to “keep order, managethe market daily2; the introduction of for instance sanitation and ensure security”, as well as supervisethe refrigerator and the supermarket has not changed tax collectors.10 The vendor has generally no voicethis. To speak with Dang’s (2010) words: in the rules the market committee sets.11 The committee designates areas according to the goods “The vegetables and meat are fresher – sometimes even alive - that are sold. This designation however has becomeat the market, you can haggle your price and pick up the latest less fixed since the elections of 1993, stemming,stories in town. ” (Dang, conversation appendix E) according to one market manager, from the enlarged freedom of people in a democratic system.12 SomeThe provisioning of the goods happens in the early vendors however have asserted that the marketmorning. Vendors of fresh goods get up at around committees “do not enforce order in the market on4 a.m. to collect their produce.3 Vendors of city purpose, so that they can freely fine sellers for sellingmarkets generally buy their produce the wholesale from ‘illegal space’ ”.13markets at the outskirts of town. This produce has Generally, the fixed kiosks are owned byalready changed hands many times. Vendors of shopkeepers. Apart from this purchase, 4.2. Four case-study researchessmaller countryside markets butcher their meat and shopkeepers have to pay tax and a periodical fee forcollect and pack their vegetables themselves.4 maintenance.14 The rules for the periodical fees seem Four markets dating from the French colonial periodDry goods sold at the market are stored inside the to be “somewhat arbitrary”.15 will be described in detail and compared in order tokiosk. When the kiosk is too small, the produce will discover how they function. Selected are the three surviving markets in Cambodia - Psar Thom Thmei, Psar Nath and Psar Thmei. As a fourth Cho Ben Thanh in Vietnam is researched, as it reveals how a French colonial market in a more developed country functions. 43

Figure 4.2. West - east sectionosks kiosks kiosks Psar Thom Thmei 1:200thing clothing clothing (source: author’s drawing) Cho Ben Thanh original structure pieces of cloth display case display case jewellery jewellery

4.2.1. Phnom Penh: Psar Thom Thmei Psar Thom Thmei - or Big New Market16 - lies in metal structures. at prime commercial locations. kiosks kiosks kiosks car parking motorcycles the centre clothing of the French urban plan of Phnom clothing Below the large cupola stands a slender column clothing Besides fresh produce the new structures house Penh, as it was designed in 1925 (see map 4.1.).17 supporting four clocks. Several shrines stand other day-to-day items: shoes, groceries, toiletries, The market was built between 1935 and 1937.18 Psar throughout the market; incense is burning at all time. household utensils, clothing and ordinary electrical Thom Thmei has always had an up-market quality The many grills in the dome and the open plinth appliances. The temperature is much less pleasant for Cambodians: provide for a constant stream of fresh air. It results in these pavilions than in the original structure. At in a surprisingly moderate temperature. Daylight noon, temperatures can rise up to 35 Co, leaving “Psar Thom Thmei was always the most expensive market. is naturally filtered by the grills, casting an ever- vendors with no other option than to wait in front Out of all the markets it’s the grand and special Psar.” changing pattern of shadows on the adjacent walls. of a fan. Again we see that at prime commercial (Collins, conversation appendix E) Surrounding the column stand shops selling luxury locations goods with a larger revenue are sold: the items: watches, gemstones and jewellery. This area kiosks near the entrances to the original structure sell The original structure of Psar Thom Thmei consists of the market is quiet and spacious; vendors leisurely handicrafts and souvenirs. Nonetheless, as food is an of a 26 meter high dome to which four identical await their customers. Kiosks in the wing to the important part of Cambodian life, snacks and drinks aisles or wings are connected (see appendix B for south-east sell electrical appliances such as computer are sold from whatever location. complete plan). Although the original structure is software, game consoles and DVD’s. In the other entirely symmetrical, the front facade lies to the wings ready-made clothes, fabrics and tailored The market is surrounded by shophouses dating east, facing the distant river. At the time of writing clothes can be found. Originally, butchers used to from the same period as the market. They often sell the market is undergoing a large renovation and sell from one of the wings.19 However, since the luxurious articles, such as gold and cell phones. Many extension. The extension consists of a number renovation works commenced, they were relocated of the shophouses have been altered, demolished of one-storey concrete buildings surrounding the to large metal structures on the perimeter of the or replaced over time. Large advertisements cover original market. They replace self built timber or original market, together with other fresh produce.20 many facades. The renovation strives for a structured The wing will house after the renovation even more solution for parked cars and motorcycles.21 A ring of clothing shops: fresh produce is no longer welcome parking places will be made around the market. secondary structure pieces piecesof cloth of cloth kiosks kiosks clothing clothing

secondary self built structure structures pieces advertisement of cloth 4.2.2. Battambang: Psar Nath Psar Nath - or Meeting Market22 - lies in the centre In practice however, the entrance that is most Even more fresh produce is sold from a corridor of the French quarter of Battambang. Battambang is commonly used lies at the rear side of the market. adjacent to the street market, again situated display case display case kiosks the second largest town pharmacy of Cambodia after Phnom The meeting ofshops diagonal streets create a square, two dry goods jewellery underneath a secondary roof structure. clothing kiosks clothing Penh, with approximately 140,000 inhabitants. The with many motorcycles running through each At night the market is closed by gates in the fence market was built in 1937.23shophouse minute. It is the most active area of the market as surrounding the market. The corridor is the only Psar Thmei it is where the fresh produce is sold; both outside fresh section within this enclosure. It is served by Psar Nath consists of two separate buildings, and inside the market. Outside, produce is sold from kiosks adjacent to it. Through window openings similar in appearance, but divided from each other baskets, buckets, pieces of cloth, banana leaves: groceries such as tinned food, sauces and dried squid by a street (see appendix B for complete plan). anything available. Vendors sit on stools or squat on are sold to people shopping in the corridor. The smaller building lies at the Sangker River and the ground for hours in a row. Pieces of cloth and In the larger building’s original structure clothes are holds the main entrance, signalled by a clock-tower. umbrellas provide for some shade. sold. One would expect a moderate temperature A small building, which originally functioned as Underneath a canopy fixed benches - finished with inside, as hot air can move out of the roof structure a terminal for intercity buses24, extends from the what used to be white tiles - serve as a second selling easily. The many kiosks however seem to block tower towards the river. The terminal held some place for fresh produce. The canopy is a secondary a proper air current, resulting in a hot and dense restaurants for a while, but it stands empty now. structure, extending from the original roof structure. interior climate. Kiosks selling items made of leather, Figure 4.3. South - north section Psar Nath 1:200 (source: author’s drawing) old and new shophouses original structure advertisement secondary structure advertisement fence display case street market benches kiosks kiosks cell phones vegetables, fish, meat, vegetables, dry food clothing poultry staple food

self built secondary structures pieces structure of cloth advertisement such as shoes and bags, vendor from underneath a small shrine awaits vendors’ prayers. colour, but their side facades are left untreated, as second roof extension; exactly opposite of the fresh At the entrances snacks like fresh fruit, grilled meat if they expect other buildings to cover them up. kiosks kiosks display case shops food corridor. Further on these kiosks are replaced clothing clothing and slices of jewellery are sold. And although there coconut dry goods The balconies of the new buildingscase display remind of the cell phones by show cases from which jewellery is sold. seem to be some places designated for parked balconies of the French colonial buildings adjacentPsar Thmei In the street that separates the two buildings motorcycles, they are scattered everywhere. to them, but they are heavier in appearance and shophouse restaurants make food to order. These restaurants therefore less elegant. The original pitched roofs consist of a bench with a gas burner. Some plastic Surrounding the market stand shophouses built have been replaced by flat roofs. It is probably a tables, chairs and stools stand in front of them. in the French colonial period. Their state is often practicality: the daily washing can dry quickly here in The smaller building is more quiet. Its main structure poor and large advertisements cover their facades. the heat. houses tailors, selling fabrics and clothes made to The ground floors hold shops selling slightly more Although there were no ATMs in the near vicinity order. Under the extended roof barbers and beauty luxurious produce than those sold inside the market, of the market in 2009, in 2010 there were already salons can be found. Although this area is quite dark, such as cell phones, cigarettes and jewellery. three of them; it is an illustration of how rapidly Hollywood-style spotlights provide for both light Sometimes a shophouse has been replaced by a new Cambodia’s cities are changing. and glamour. Opposite the salons the market serves concrete house. These new shophouses share an as storage room. At the foot of the clock-tower a appearance: the front facade is rendered in a bright old and new shophouses secondary structure advertisement fence kiosks kiosks motorcycles display case clothing shoes and bags jewellery

4.2.3. Kompong Cham: Psar ThmeiPsar Thmei - or New Market24 - lies in the centre of used to stop.26 This bus terminal now functions as a staple food are sold from kiosks. The edible producethe French quarter of Kompong Cham, a provincial canopy for restaurants: a bench with a wok burner is placed at the rear, close to the fresh section.town with approximately 65,000 inhabitants on the and some plastic furniture. Between the restaurants Although these benches are outside the originalwest bank of the Mekong. The exact construction is what could be called a waste facility and a washing building, they are protected from the elements bydate of the market is unknown, but it is probably basin. Much more waste is piled up around the metal sheeting and pieces of cloth. As this areafrom the end of the 1930s.25 market however and the washing basin is filled with cannot be closed off, vendors have to clear their tepid water. workspace every night.Psar Thmei consists of a vaulted building Behind the restaurants a timber roof provides Beauty treatments are sold directly next to the freshsurrounded by a secondary structure and other self shade for parked motorcycles. Pieces of cloth hang section. Bottles of nail polish and small jars ofbuilt kiosks (see appendix B for complete plan). between the roof and the vaulted building. make-up await stand in glass cases. Vendors awaitIn front of the vaulted building stands a bus terminal Inside the main building - which is closed off at customers sitting on plastic stools. Meanwhile theywhere, just as in Battambang, the intercity buses night - clothes, toiletries, shoes, bags, groceries and chat the day away.Figure 4.4. East - west sectionPsar Thmei 1:200(source: author’s drawing) original structure shophouses secondary self built structure structures pieces advertisement of cloth display case shops display case kiosks kiosks pharmacy dry goods jewellery clothing clothing

Again we see a shrine at the market: it is housed in a produce as phone cards, cigarettes, rice whiskey, sewing machines and household equipment, andsmall octagonal structure close to the fresh calculators and medicine. Near the several entrances luxury articles, as cell phones, are sold.section. food carts selling Cambodian snacks serve both Corresponding with the assumption that KompongThe secondary structure that surrounds the main vendors and shoppers. Cham has known a slower pace of developmentbuilding contains shops with their own shutters: than Battambang is the lack of ATMs in town. Therethey can choose their opening and closing time The shophouses surrounding Psar Thmei date from is an office of Western Union nearby the market,individually. The shops on the inside sell mostly the French colonial period. Commercial growth and but there are no banks or other opportunities tojewellery and household articles and those near the development seems to have gone somewhat slower withdraw cash.fresh section however sell groceries such as sauces, here than in Battambang, since many shophousesdried shrimp, squid and staple food. The shops seem to be in their original state and few new houseson the outside sell dry goods such as household have been built inbetween.equipment and groceries and more luxurious From the ground floors articles of use, such as shophouses self built secondary structures pieces structure of cloth advertisement kiosks kiosks display case shops display case clothing clothing jewellery dry goods cell phones

secondary structure advertisement4.2.4. Ho Chi Minh City: Cho Ben Thanh fenceCho Ben Thanh lies in the heart of the French large roundabout, in front of an important publiccolonial area of Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon. Its transportation hub. The four main entrances are display case street market benches kiosks kiosksname - with Ben meaning ‘wharf ’ and (Quy) Thanh oriented north, south, east and west (see appendix B cell phones vegetables, fish, meat, vegetables, dry food clothingmeaning ‘Turtle Citadel’ - is derived from the former for complete plan). On the axis of these entrances poultry staple foodlocation of the market near the river and the Turtle shophouse lie the main halls. The corners of these main axes Psar NathCitadel. In 1912 this market moved to the centre of are filled with three smaller halls, resulting in athe French colonial town, taking its name with it.27 rectangular plan. Surrounding this original structureCho Ben Thanh was constructed in 1914.28 is a newer construction, which follows the originalPresent-day Ho Chi Minh City is with its 7 building along its full perimeter. This ring containsmillion inhabitants quite different from whichever small shops selling handicrafts and souvenirs,Cambodian town; it is of course more crowded, clothing and jewellery. The ring is wider at the rearbut also more modern with its skyscrapers and well of the market. This is where the fresh produce ismaintained boulevards. It is therefore interesting to sold, sorted in a row for vegetables, fish and meat.see what place the market has in this society. Inside the original structure, in the area near theCho Ben Thanh lies with its front facade - front entrance, clothing is sold. Again we see asignalled by a large tower with four clocks - at a shrine, secludedly located inside the tower.Figure 4.5. East - west sectionCho Ben Thanh 1:200(source: author’s drawing) original structure secondary structure kiosks kiosks kiosks clothing clothing clothing

secondary structure advertisement fence In the two main axes produce made of leather, disappeared and have been replaced by newly built handicrafts, electrical appliances and cosmetics is concrete houses. There is quite a differentiation in kiosks kiosks motorcycles display case clothing shoes and bags sold. These shops seem to cater for the greater part the ground floor shops: there are tailors and clothing jewellery to tourists, as the produce has a souvenir-quality shops, beauty salons, fast food restaurants, banks andPsar Nath to them. Away from the main axes the articles and jewelleries. Many of them have glass front facades, shophouse their quality become less tourist-oriented. Near the which generally means that the shops inside are air- fresh section the restaurants and the kiosks selling conditioned; a rare sight in Cambodia. groceries can be found. These restaurants are similar The roads surrounding Cho Ben Thanh are in in style as in Kompong Cham and in Battambang, excellent condition and have clearly demarcated although they are somewhat more organised and parking spaces for both motorcycles and cars. The hygienic in appearance. The entire market is closed pavements are well maintained as well. Directly at night. in front of the shophouses some street vendors sell food and drinks. Directly in the vicinity of the Surrounding Cho Ben Thanh stand French colonial market there are none however. shophouses from three or more stories high. At many places however the shophouses have secondary structure kiosks kiosks kiosks clothing clothing clothing

4.2.5. Stall typologiesDifferent kinds of stalls can be recognised at the Table 4.1. Outdoor Stall typolo-four markets discussed (see table 4.1.). These stalls gies cart street market street vendordiffer first of all in their location: either inside or (source: (directly at the (at a stool/box/table) author’soutside. Generally, the outdoor stalls sell perishable drawings) street)goods, whereas indoor non-perishable goods, bothfood and non-food, are sold.The outdoor stalls can be subdivided into threetypologies: the cart, the street market and the streetvendor. Generally, from the cart snacks are sold andfrom the street market all sorts of fresh produce.The street vendor is often specialised in a certainproduct, for instance eggs or lotus flowers.From indoor benches fresh produce is sold as well,but prices are slightly higher here. The interior of the Phnom - grilled meat - fresh fruit none nonehall is for the greater part filled with kiosks, selling Penh: - sweet corn - cigarettesdry goods differing from clothes and shoes to rice Psar Thom - drinks - phone cards Thmei - coconutsand fish sauce. Luxury items, such as watches and - sticky ricejewellery, are singularly sold from display cases. - backed bananasIn all four markets vendors specify their ware, but Battam- - grilled meat - fresh fruit - meat - eggs bang: - sweet corn - cigarettes - poultry - meatdo not distinguish themselves from their direct Psar Nat - drinks - phone cards - fish - poultrycolleagues, neither in articles nor in display: both of - coconuts - vegetables - seafood - sticky rice - fruit - fruitthem will sell dried shrimps from large bags, both of - backed bananas - (lotus) flowersthem will sell Colgate toothpaste. Kompong - grilled meat none - baguettes Cham: - fresh fruit - fruit Psar Thmei - flowers Legend [visited at the end of the day; stalls might have been [visited at the end of the day; stalls might have been [visited at the end of the day; stalls might have been Groceries: tinned food, oils, sauces, noodles, dried shrimp, dried cleared out already] cleared out already] cleared out already] peppers, sweets, toothpaste etc. Staple food: rice, beans, corn etc. HCM City: none none none Household equipment: pots, pans, buckets, mops, boxes etc. Cho Ben Cosmetics: beauty products (make-up) etc. Thanh Toiletries: shampoo, shower gel, detergent etc. Restaurants: noodles, stir-fries, curries, drinks etc.52

Indoor Indoor / outdoor(fixed) benches restaurant individual shop display case kiosk- vegetables - clothing - groceries - jewellery - restaurants none- fish - shoes, bags - handicrafts - gemstones- meat - cosmetics - toiletries - sunglasses- seafood - household equipment - dried meat - watches - video games, DVDs - dried fish - religious articles - electrical appliances - fabrics (tailors)- vegetables - clothing - groceries - jewellery - restaurants none- dried fish - shoes, bags - barber - religious articles- dried meat - toiletries - beauty salons - calculators- eggs - household equipment - cigarettes- groceries - fabrics (tailors) - phone cards- staple food - toys, school equipment- vegetables - clothing - groceries - jewellery - restaurants - fruit - toiletries- fish - shoes, bags - dried meat - watches - household equipment - pharmacy- meat - toiletries - dried fish - religious articles - toys - money exchange- household equipment - household equipment - calculators - groceries - lottery tickets- beauty salons - toys, school equipment - cigarettes - phone cards - liquor- barber - staple food - phone cards - watches - tailor- vegetables - clothing - groceries - jewellery - restaurants - clothing - handicrafts- fish - shoes, bags - handicrafts - gemstones - spices - bags- meat - cosmetics - dried meat - sunglasses - suit cases- seafood - household equipment - dried fish - watches - fruit - tea, coffee - religious articles - flowers - electrical appliances - watches 53

Two typologies differ from the others as they aresometimes indoors and sometimes outdoors: therestaurants and the individual shops. The restaurantsmake food to order and consist of a work benchand some plastic furniture. Individual shops can befound in Kompong Cham and Saigon. These shopshave their own shutters and can therefore choosetheir opening- and closing time individually.The typologies differ secondly in how produce is 4.3. Vendors and customersstored when the market is closed. Vendors fromthe outdoor typologies cannot store their ware Although a sociological research on the vendors and government officers’ families often own a marketfor instance, meaning that they have to take their customers of the markets in Cambodia is outside the stall and sell luxury items. They have a middle-produce home at dusk, just as the vendors selling scope of this thesis, some observations are helpful in class background and a higher education level andfrom benches and the restaurant keepers. Vendors order to understand their daily functioning. consider themselves quite successful in business.selling from kiosks and display cases can store their A second group of women can be categorised onproduce inside. When observing a market in Cambodia, one their business background. Their husband is also immediately notices that the vast majority of the engaged in business, sometimes joined, sometimes stalls are run by women. A study on the vendors independently. These women strive primarily for of the markets in Phnom Penh reveals that women business growth. A third group of women comes constitute 85% of all market traders.29 Men generally from small vendor families. These women own a stall seem to prefer the more ambulant jobs: parking and sell perishable goods. Their husband is often attendant, security guard, police officer or cleaning engaged in a different small business, such as a driver staff. When a man is involved as a vendor, he most or a barber. The fourth group of women can be often sells more luxurious items - especially electrical categorised as coming from a manual labour family. appliances. They generally do not own a stall and are therefore The same research recognises four types of vendors: forced to sell from the street as a hawker. This group those selling luxury items from a stall, those selling is poorest and sells for basic survival. As they are non-perishable goods from a stall, those selling often solely responsible for their families’ income perishable goods from a stall and those selling they often bring their children to the market as an without a stall.30 Female vendors can be again extra hand.32 categorised into four different groups based on their A second observation of the present-day market in Figure 4.6. A man with an ambulant profession; family background, resulting in different situations Cambodia reveals an ethnic differentiation among a garbage collector near Psar Nath, Battambang (source: author’s photograph) and goals.31 Women coming for instance from the vendors. Most of the market stalls are owned54

and run by Sino-Khmer - Cambodians of Chinesedescent.33 Vendors selling without a stall are howeveroften Khmer coming from the countryside in searchfor a better life.34A sociological research done by Prigent (2010) atPsar Thom Thmei reveals that the most importantcustomer of the market is the regular customer ormoy, as they provide for a stable income. Examplesof moy are customers returning to a specific tailor,local women who visit certain shops every morningor friends enjoying a snack at their favourite cart.A second group of customers at Psar Thom Thmeiare tourists. But, although they are wealthy, theyare often frowned upon as they are unaware oflocal habits. A woman selling drinks explained toPrigent (2010): “they are meaner than the Khmers.Sometimes they drink but refuse to pay the listedprice when they leave!”35. As it is in Cambodiansociety a lack of respect to mention the price to acustomer - as it suggests doubts about the client’sresources - these misunderstandings appear. 55

4.4. ConcludingThe markets of Cambodia share many similarities. All four markets consist of a large structure of difficulty of maintaining this ventilation capacityAs it is Cambodian custom to shop for groceries reinforced concrete. Especially the three markets in when the market exceeds its original structure. Newdaily, the market is opened every day of the week Cambodia seem to be mere variations on the same pavilions block fresh air currents and pieces of clotheven though refrigeration has made this unnecessary. concept: whether they are stretched or dome-shaped, appear when necessary shade is lacking.This leads to a daily provisioning of fresh goods. structurally they are similar. At all four markets a similar allocation of goodsMarkets are governmental property and are run The same can be said about the measures that exists: at the rear - in Cambodia outside the originalby a market committee that sets the market’s rules, have been taken to enhance the indoor climate; the structure, in Vietnam inside - is always the freshsupervises tax collectors and collects periodical fees ventilation concept based on an open plinth through section, inside always singularly dry goods. Producefor maintenance. which fresh air can move inside and large openings is clustered: clothing shops stand next to other in the roof through which hot air can move out clothing shops. There are however some intrusionsThere are many other similarities between the four can be recognised at all four markets. One could on this pattern, as at the busiest locations - at cornersanalysed markets. All four of them are located in the say however that this capacity is at its best at the or near important entrances - more expensive itemsFrench area of the city. The markets in Cambodia three Cambodian markets, as it has evolved into are sold. This seems so be a continuing process,date from the same period; the end of the 1930s. an independent architectural aesthetic: Psar Thom as the butchers were removed from the originalThe market in Ho Chi Minh City has been built quite Thmei would be completely different without its structure of Psar Thom Thmei recently.some years earlier, probably due to the fact that the many v-shaped grills, just as Battambang without its The shops surrounding the markets however signalFrench colonisation of Cochinchina had started terraced roofs. something else: more luxurious items - as cellearlier. The four examples however also illustrate the phones, jewellery and electrical appliances - move56

out of the market to specialised shops. This process many tourists that are catered to. the shops are more differentiated and often air-seems to have taken a flight in Ho Chi Minh City, as In essence, however, all four markets provide for the conditioned.there are little jewellery shops left inside the market same needs. All four markets sell both fresh and dryand many surround it. food, clothing, shoes and household utensils; all four Most of the shops at the Cambodian markets areAnother conspicuous similarity between the four markets cater principally to the average Cambodian run by women. Men seem to prefer different, moremarkets is the observation that vendors specify their or Vietnamese. mobile or physical professions.ware, but do not distinguish themselves from their The success of the women’s business is oftendirect colleagues, neither in articles nor in display. The similarities between the markets also stretch depending on her family background: womenThe research on the stalls shows that the kiosk is to the area surrounding them. All four markets are married to a government official sell generally moreused most at all four markets and that outdoor stalls surrounded by shophouses from the French colonial luxurious items and consider themselves to becan mostly be found in the two smaller Cambodian period, which strengthens the commercial character more successful than women coming from manualmarkets. Both Psar Thom Thmei and Cho Ben of the area. Over time, the many shophouses labour families, who generally vendor perishableThanh no longer make use of these typologies, have been altered or replaced by ‘modern’ goods from the street. Especially this last group ofprobably because they are situated in a wealthier area shophouses - quickly built and less elegantly detailed. women - often ethnic Khmer - is cause for concern,and cater to a wealthier clientele. The produce sold Advertisements and other commercial expressions as they struggle for basic survival. Most of the otherat these two markets suggests the same, as it is more have left their traces on the facades. The area vendors are Sino-Khmer.modern and luxurious. The amount of kiosks selling surrounding Cho Ben Thanh however again signals a The regular customer appears to be most importanthandicrafts and other souvenirs is tell-tale of the wealthier situation, as the roads are well-maintained, for vendors, as they provide for a stable income. 57

Battered beauties Conclusion As time has passed and war, genocide and This chapter gives an understanding as to why poverty have stricken Cambodia, the covered the French colonial markets of Cambodia markets built under French colonial rule have should be preserved and as to what has defined fallen into dilapidation. Time has made them their architecture. These conclusions serve as a into battered beauties. How to restore these beauties starting point for the next phase of this project, to their original splendor, while respecting which consists of an architectural design for theThe rear side of Psar Nath today’s habits? modernisation and extension of Psar Nath in(source: author’s photograph) Battambang. 59

Final conclusionOne could say that the protection of built heritage these markets and what is its future? typology of the outdoor stall: vendors still sell fromis completely irrelevant to a country struggling with To understand the architecture and the workings pieces of cloth on the ground under the protectionmalnutrition, insufficient health care and inadequate of Cambodia’s markets, one has to understand the of an umbrella. The ethnic differentation noted atschooling, as Cambodia is. Why should Cambodia influence of its tropical climate. This surfaces first the pre-colonial markets exists up untill today asbe bothered with the preservation of built heritage of all in the leisurely atmosphere: vendors chat, well: Sino-Khmer generally sell more luxurious, dryin general and covered markets built under French nap, clip toe-nails and slurp noodles inside their produce and Khmer sell fresh produce. Though thiscolonial rule in particular? kiosks, meanwhile waiting for customers. Secondly, observation has no clear architectural embodiment, itThe answer to this is obvious and simple: built it surfaces when one looks at their architectural strengthens the connection between the pre-colonialheritage is a testimony of history and gives a city form; it would have been completely different were market and the present-day market; these twoits identity. Cambodia’s built heritage has a great there no gusting rains and stifling heats. So, the markets are in fact very similar.need for protection, as it is under significant threat architecture of Cambodia’s markets was first andfrom growing real-estate prices and a collective foremost shaped by Cambodia’s tropical climate. A future scenario for the colonial markets ofproblem with the past. And on top of that, the French colonial rule has obviously been highly Cambodia can be derived from the analysis of theFrench colonial markets have been focal point of influential as well. They formalised the pre-colonial market in Ho Chi Minh City. First of all, it showsCambodian society for years and years. So yes, there open-air market with large, concrete halls, moved that the outdoor typologies will probably disappearare clear reasons to preserve and actively protect them away from the river, placed them in the centres and that its produce - vegetables, fish and meat -them. of their colonial towns and adorned them with their will be sold indoors. Secondly, it shows that theFortunately, this wish for protection is not a foreign architectural ideas. more luxurious items will probably move out ofconcept as it might seem. As architectural tourism However, when you look at how the market the market into nearby shophouses, as it enablesis becoming an important source of income, the functions up until today, French rule seems to have shopkeepers to install an air-conditioner. Generallyprotection of built heritage is becoming useful to had remarkably little influence. The produce of speaking however, the market of Ho Chi MinhKhmer people. The balance between protection and the pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial market City still functions as it has always done: it caterseconomic development is of a difficult and delicate are allocated similarly: fresh produce are available day-to-day produce to the average client. It showsnature though. outside the structure, dry produce inside. The that the original concept of the market - without allocation of fresh produce at the rear of the market air-conditioning, refrigeration, multiple stories orBut what has specifically defined the architecture of has survived French intervention as well, just as the escalators - is still very strong. 61

Building bridges Epilogue In the early hours of the morning it is as if covered bridge to house a part of the market. Psar Nath’s tower blushes; eastern light shines freely over the flat and wide Sangker River onto This epilogue is a commencement of the design the white tower. The people of Battambang project. It holds a survey on several covered however flock the rear of the market, as it is bridges, exemplifying covered bridge’s functioning the area where the fresh produce is unpacked and architectural lay-out. A study on the bridges and sold. The connection between market and of Battambang is peformed as well, as it reveals river has become lost somehow, even though how they are used and made and respond to their the river used to be the market’s raison d’être. With surroundings. Finally the river-bed near Psar Nath is the growth of Battambang it seems justified surveyed, as it shows in what environment the design to connect Psar Nath with the river once more. will be made.Figure E.1. A French colonial bridge inthe Mekong, Si Phan Don After having researched Cambodia’s battered(source: author’s photograph) beauties, this project will focus on building bridges: a 63

Figure E.2. Whites Bridge, Figure E.3. Pont de Rohan, Figure E.4. Ponte Rialto,Michigan, USA Landerneau Venice(source: author’s drawing) (source: author’s drawing) (source: author’s drawing)Figure E.5. Ponte Vecchio,Florence(source: author’s drawing)Figure E.6. Chenhyang Wind & Rain Bridge,Sanjiang(source: author’s drawing)

A typological research on covered bridgesCovered bridges have been constructed throughout directly underneath the bridge, benefits from the butchers and leather tanners used to hold shop atthe world and ages. Their appearances and objectives river current. In the seventeenth century buildings the bridge as they could easily dispose waste in thediffer; one can find simple, timber examples in the appeared, accomodating housing, shops and a river. In 1565, however, nobility wanted its shareUnited States, entire shopping streets in Europe prison. One could say that these buildings have made as well and constructed a corridor overhead, theand places for contemplation in China. But how the bridge into a street; rather than a covered bridge, Corridoio Vasariano, through which the nobility couldhave these bridges been made, what is their specific the Pont de Rohan is an inhabited bridge. pass without having to interact with ordinary people.function and what is their relation to the river? The Ponte Rialto (figure E.4.) is located in the centre Meanwhile, the butchers and tanners were prohibited of Venice and covers the 29 meters of the Canal to hold shop at the bridge and were replaced byThe Whites Bridge (figure E.2.) was built in 1869 Grande with a single span. The original timber jewelers and gold merchants. A clear relationshipto accommodate a single lane of traffic.1 The bridge, that had appeared around 1200 to create a between the river, the construction, the covering37 meter span is made by the Brown Truss, a passage to the market at the east bank of the Canal and the function of the bridge is lacking; the bridgetimber truss construction consisting of diagonal Grande, was replaced in 1591 by the current stone is, just as the Pont de Rohan, a result of years ofcompression beams and vertical tension members. structure.3 The structure houses two double rows adding, extending and altering.This patented system was invented in 1857 by of shops. The inner shops are served by the central However, a close relationship between function,Josiah Brown, naming it after himself along the way. staircase and the shops on the exterior by the outer construction and covering can be recognised in theThe construction is covered by shingles and pine ones. Especially these shops and staircases benefit Chinese Wind & Rain Bridges, of which the bridge inboards to protect it from the elements, extending its from the view at the Canal Grande. Sanjiang is just an example (figure E.6.).lifespan from approximately ten to eighty years. Its The interior staircase could again be compared to a The timber bridge is nearly 65 meters long and restsconstruction, its reason for covering and its function street; a direct relationship with the river is lacking, on five stone piers.5 The timber construction hasare thus closely connected. although the hight difference covered by the steps been made without the use of nails or rivets. TheThe Pont de Rohan (figure E.3.) has no clear signals the existence of a passage underneath. The bridge not only connects the two shores of the Linxiconnection between its construction and its porticos at the top of the bridge however connect River, but it also serves as a place to relax, meetfunction; its today’s appearance is fruit of additions the interior street to the river. This bridge does and socialise. Along its full length and in the fiveand alterations that have been made over time. The benefit from its river-setting, albeit singularly with its pavilions benches provide seating. The covering hasbridge has existed from 1336, although the oldest views and perspectives. been made to protect this socialising from wind andpart of today’s structure dates back to 1510.2 The Ponte Vecchio (figure E.5.) covers its 90 meter rain, hence the name ‘Wind & Rain Bridges’.The 67 meter span is made by seven stone arches span with three arches.4 Again we see that the bridgealternated by two ramparts. A water mill, located became occupied by houses over time. In this case, 65

Battambang’s bridges The bridges of Battambang cover the Stung Sangker Its architecture is simple: it consists of four concrete (see map 2.1.), the river that originates in the piers spanned by concrete beams. The banisters are Cardamom Mountains, flows into the large Tonlé with their 1.4 meter height remarkably large; it is Sap Lake and passes Battambang along its way. As as if the municipality wanted to move as far away the river collects monsoon rains, its water levels as possible from the former steel bridge, that had fluctuate significantly: the average difference between become very rickety towards its end. dry- and wet season is 2.5 meter. More significant however is the complete lack of any Large boats are a rare sight at the Sangker River. slope; the bridge is completely flat. Larger boats are The river is mostly navigated by fishermen on small apparently not to be expected. and shallow boats. Once a day a ferry - only slightly The other bridge dating from 1916 is still in use larger than the fishing boats - navigates the river (figure E.9.). It is located directly opposite the and the Tonlé Sap Lake all the way to Siem Reap; a Governor General’s Palace and is made of reinforced journey that takes eight to twelve hours, depending concrete. Its structure is aesthetically pleasing with its on the season. In the high season, this journey - slope and elegant openness, although it remarkably rustic en scenic - attracts many tourists. The low enough does not respond to the asymmetrical profile water levels of the dry season however result in its of the river-bed. None of the bridges do, actually. temporary cancellation. The river-bed in front of Psar Nath has a similar During the French colonial period two bridges have profile as at the other bridges, although the slope of been constructed, both in 1916. One of them, a the east bank is slightly steeper and reinforced with steel bridge (figure E.7.) was located a few hundred concrete (figure E.10.). The river-bed is again quite meters south of Psar Nath and gave passage to asymmetrical. Concrete water barriers at both river pedestrians and (motor)cycles. In 2008 it was banks protect the city from flooding, although it demolished and replaced by a concrete bridge (figure seems that this water level is seldomly reached. E.8.), giving passage to larger vehicles as well.66

18 mFigure E.7. Steel bridge across Sangker 13,4 m1916, demolished in 2008 10,9 m(source: author’s drawing) 18 mFigure E.8. Concrete bridge across Sangker2008, replacement of steel bridge 13,4 m 10,9 m(source: author’s drawing) 18 mFigure E.9. Concrete bridge across Sangker 13,4 m1916 10,9 m(source: author’s drawing) 115 m concrete water 65 m concrete water barrier 40 m barrier 18 m 18 m 13,4 m 10,9 mFigure E.10. Section across Sangker in front of Psar Nath(source: author’s drawing) concrete quay

ConcludingThe researches on both the covered bridges and the to be - encouraged by the view on the river andbridges of Battambang give some insight helpful to landscape.the design project. The survey on the bridges of Battambang shows theCovered bridges seem first of all to differ in their environment in which the design will be made.structure. Some of them are simply fruit of time: Battambang’s Sangker River’s profile is dominatedthey have been extended and altered continually, by its asymmetry and its height fluctuation. Theresulting in a constructional patchwork. Others are monsoon rains of July an August result in anresult of coherent reasoning: they are constructed average height difference of 2.5 meter comparedwith for instance the least material or the most to the dry months of April and May. The easterneconomical span. Their covering is simply there to bank, reinforced with concrete, is slightly steeperextend the construction’s lifespan. than the western bank. No quick development is toCovered bridges also differ in their functioning. They be expected in this profile: no large boats navigatecertainly always accomodate passage of some sort. It the river, and as the newest bridge of Battambangseems however that especially the bridges that have shows no slope at all, no significant growth is to bechanged continually over time can be interpreted as expected in this navigation either.streets: with shops, houses, prisons and workshops. Surprisingly enough however, none of the bridgesIt is as if they are incidentally placed above a river. of Battambang respond to the asymmetrical riverAs the shops and houses have turned their back profile: they are all entirely symmetrical. Thetowards the water, the only relationship with the cause for this symmetry does not seem to lie inriver is one of convenience: waste is easily disposed. Battambang’s urban lay-out, as the buildings on theChina’s Wind & Rain Bridges however exemplify western- and eastern bank of the river are quitea covered bridge that has a closer relation to its different. It seems that constructional convenienceenvironment. These bridges serve as a place for has led to this symmetry.socialisation and contemplation, which is - or ought68

NotesIntroduction the market stretch to the compass points (NW,1. Brocheux, P., Hémery, D., 2009. Indochina, An Chapter 2 NE, SW and SE), perhaps a subtle reference to Ambiguous Colonization | 1858 - 1954. Berkeley: 1. Igout, M., 1993. Phnom Penh: then and now. the original name of Phnom Penh: Chaktomuk University of California Press. p. 370. Bangkok: White Lotus. p 4. Mongkol. Translated this means “the four2. Ibid., p. 1. 2. Wright, G. 1991. The Politics of Design in French faces”- a reference to the quatre bras, or four3. Chandler, D. P., 2008. A History of Cambodia. Colonial Urbanism. Chicago: The University of arms, of the waterways that converge in front of Boulder: Westview Press. p. 7. Chicago Press. p. 162. the Royal Palace.”4. Ibid., p. 7. 3. Wright, G., 1987. Tradition in the Service of From: Collins, D., 2003. Marketing Triumph. In5. Ibid., p. 7. Modernity: architecture and urbanism in French Sarika, juni 2003, p. 21.6. Ibid., p. 8. colonial policy, 1900 - 1930. In The Journal of 10. Taylor, B. B., 1996. Inventing a Colonial7. Kamm, H., 1998. Cambodia: report from a stricken Modern History, episode 59, # 2, p. 298. Landscape; The New Market in Phnom Penh. In land. New York: Arcade Publishing, Inc. p. 212. 4. Ibid., p. 299. Hoffman, A. (ed.), Form, Modernism and History, 5. Ibid., p. 305. Cambridge (Massachusetts): Harvard UniversityChapter 1 6. Ibid., p. 305. Press, 1996, p. 180.1. Part of Garnier’s description of the market of 7. Gwendolyn Wright goes even further and calls 11. “The beauty of a grand nave of cement is Luang Prabang. Full quote can be found on page Hébrards Style Indochinois “a pastiche of exotic similar to that of a grand gothic nave. The same 19. details superimposed on a Beaux-Arts plan, has inspired the architects of 1225 as those of2. All information on the Voyage d’Exploration en rather than the more radical change in direction 1928.” Indo-Chine and its members is derived from that he advocated.” From: Lavedan, P. 1929. Les Halles du the book A Pictorial Journey on the Old Mekong; From: Wright, G. 1991. The Politics of Design in Boulingrin. In Architecture, # 44, July 1929 Cambodia, Laos and Yunnan published by White French Colonial Urbanism. Chicago: The University 12. Brocheux, P., Hémery, D., 2009. Indochina, An Lotus in 1998, which is in itself a partial reprint of Chicago Press. p. 207. Ambiguous Colonization | 1858 - 1954. Berkeley: of the popularised version of the “The Official 8. Photographs of Desbois’s buildings in Phnom University of California Press. p. 185. Publication of the Commission of Exploration Penh have been found in Maigrot’s archives. 13. All information on the history of Battambang is of the Mekong” which was published in 1885. Written correspondence between the two based on Grant Ross, H., 2003. Battambang - Bad3. It is unclear why the text mentions Nam Hou architects is lacking however. Dambaung - Le Bâton Perdu - Histoire d’une Ville. River since the description clearly points towards From: Taylor, B. B., 1996. Inventing a Colonial Phnom Penh: 3DGraphics Publishing. the Nam Khan River. Landscape; The New Market in Phnom Penh. In 14. Ibid., p. 5.4. Osbourne, M. E., 2008. Phnom Penh, A cultural Hoffman, A. (ed.), Form, Modernism and History, 15. Engraving published in Ibid., p. 9. and literary history. Oxford: Signal Books, p xii. Cambridge (Massachusetts): Harvard University 16. Ibid., p. 19.5. Dang, N. M., 2010. Conversation to be found in Press, 1996, p. 178. 17. Ibid., p. 19. appendix C. 9. “Market and Myth: the four cruciform arms of 18. Percheron, M., Teston, E., 1931. l’Indochine 69

Moderne, Encycplopedie Administrative Touristique, Penhois boulevards and the Parisian. achievements.htm, accessed on January 5th 2011. Artistique et Economique. Paris: Librairie de France, From: Collins, D., 2002. Charlie Chaplin in 16. Neou, V., Wallace, J., 2010. Preserving p. 1009. Phnom Penh. In: Sarika, Oct-Dec 2002, p. 14 - Battambang; Battambang officials are19. Kandaouroff, W., 1938. Le Marché de Phnom 23. discovering the beauty - and economic potential Penh (Cambodge). In Le Génie Civil, # 2941, 24 5. Corey-Boulet, R., Titthara, M., 2009. Landmark - of the city’s historic buildings. In: Cambodia December 1938, p. 1. Hotel in the Firing Line. In: Phnom Penh Post, Daily, July 31st - August 1st 2010.20. Percheron, M., Teston, E., 1931. l’Indochine January 30th 2009. 17. Ainge Roy, E., Titthara, M., 2008. Battambangs Moderne, Encycplopedie Administrative Touristique, 6. Ibid. Battered Buildings: Preserving Battambang’s Artistique et Economique. Paris: Librairie de France, 7. Ibid. architectural past is the key to protecting its p. 1009. 8. Referring to the Tourist Office at Quai Sisowath. tourism future. In: Phnom Penh Post. December21. Ibid., p 1009. Collins, D., 2010. Conversation to be found in 17th 2008.22. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Da_Lat, accessed appendix C. 18. Neou, V., Wallace, J., 2010. Preserving on February 16th 2011. 9. Burgeat, T., 2010. Conversation to be found in Battambang; Battambang officials are23. Percheron, M., Teston, E., 1931. l’Indochine appendix C. discovering the beauty - and economic potential Moderne, Encycplopedie Administrative Touristique, 10. Ko, V., 2010. China Firm in Lake Deal. In: - of the city’s historic buildings. In: Cambodia Artistique et Economique. Paris: Librairie de France, Phnom Penh Post, December 28th 2010. Daily, July 31st - August 1st 2010. p. 1009. 11. When the first elections in Cambodia were held24. Taylor, B. B., 1996. Inventing a Colonial after the Khmer Rouge period an UN force Chapter 4 Landscape; The New Market in Phnom Penh. In named United Nations Transitional Authority 1. Stout Banwell, S., 2001. Vendors’ Voices; the story Hoffman, A. (ed.), Form, Modernism and History, Cambodia (UNTAC) took over control to of women micro-vendors in Phnom Penh markets and Cambridge (Massachusetts): Harvard University ensure safety. an innovative program designed to enhance their lives and Press, 1996, p. 183. From: Kamm, H., 1998. Cambodia: report from a livelihoods. Phnom Penh: Asia Foundation, p. 13. stricken land. New York: Arcade Publishing, Inc. 2. Collins, D., 2010. Conversation to be found inChapter 3 12. Collins, D., 2010. Conversation to be found in appendix C.1. Burgeat, T., 2010. Conversation to be found in appendix C. 3. Stout Banwell, S., 2001. Vendors’ Voices; the story appendix C. 13. Ngo, M., Sun Narin, T. S., 2010. Carrying of women micro-vendors in Phnom Penh markets and2. Osbourne, M. E., 2008. Phnom Penh, A cultural Khmer Style into the Future. In: Lift. July 28th an innovative program designed to enhance their lives and and literary history. Oxford: Signal Books, p xii. 2010, p. 8. livelihoods. Phnom Penh: Asia Foundation, p. 14.3. Stone, R., 2009. Divining Angkor. In: National 14. Koditek, W., 2009. Urban development planning and 4. Dang, N. M., 2010. Conversation to be found in Geographic. July 2009. heritage conservation on a local level -> an endeavour in appendix C.4. Charlie Chaplin visited Phnom Penh in 1936 and Battambang District, Kingdom of Cambodia. PDF. 5. Ibid. made the same comparison between the Phnom 15. http://www.battambang-heritage.org/recent_ 6. Stout Banwell, S., 2001. Vendors’ Voices; the story70

of women micro-vendors in Phnom Penh markets and 21. Municipalité de Phnom Penh, Mairie de Paris, Development, Asian Institute of Technology. p. an innovative program designed to enhance their lives and Atelier Parisien d’Urbanisme, les Ministère des 4. livelihoods. Phnom Penh: Asia Foundation, p. 20. Affaires Étrangères, 2006. Phnom Penh Centre; 30. Ibid., p. 11.7. Collins, D., 2010. Conversation to be found in aller, venir, circuler, marcher, rouler, stationner, traverser, 31. Ibid., p. 48. appendix C. transporter, approvisionner, livrer, acheter, vendre, 32. Stout Banwell, S., 2001. Vendors’ Voices; the story8. Dang, N. M., 2010. Conversation to be found in voyager, visiter, flâner. Phnom Penh: -, p 51. of women micro-vendors in Phnom Penh markets and appendix C. 22. Collins, D., 2010. Conversation to be found in an innovative program designed to enhance their lives and9. Stout Banwell, S., 2001. Vendors’ Voices; the story appendix C. livelihoods. Phnom Penh: Asia Foundation, p. 33. of women micro-vendors in Phnom Penh markets and 23. Grant Ross, H., 2003, Battambang - Bad Dambaung 33. Kusakabe, K., 2001. Women’s participation in an innovative program designed to enhance their lives and - Le Bâton Perdu - Histoire d’une Ville. Phnom the market: women retail traders in Phnom Penh, livelihoods. Phnom Penh: Asia Foundation, p. 19. Penh: 3DGraphics Publishing. p. 23. Cambodia. Bangkok: Gender and Development10. Ibid. p. 19. 24. Collins, D., 2010. Conversation to be found in Studies, School of Environment Resources and11. Ibid. p. 20. appendix C. Development, Asian Institute of Technology. p.12. Ibid. p. 20. 25. The market is probably slightly younger than the 49.13. Ibid. p. 20. markets of Phnom Penh and Battambang, as it 34. Ibid., p. 49.14. Ibid. p. 24. is not mentioned in the article on the market of 35. Prigent, S., 2010. The Customer at the Central15. Ibid. p. 24. Phnom Penh published in 1938. Market. In: Burgeat, A., Psar Thom Thmei. To be16. Collins, D., 2010. Conversation to be found in Article: Kandaouroff, W., 1938. Le Marché de published May 2011. appendix C. Phnom Penh (Cambodge). In Le Génie Civil,17. Taylor, B. B., 1996. Inventing a Colonial number 2941, 24 December 1938, p. 1 - 4 Epilogue Landscape; The New Market in Phnom Penh. In 26. Collins, D., 2010. Conversation to be found in 1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whites_Bridge Hoffman, A. (ed.), Form, Modernism and History, appendix C. 2. http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landerneau Cambridge (Massachusetts): Harvard University 27. http://www.saigonscene.com/Markets.htm, 3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rialto_Bridge Press, p. 175 - 186. accessed on February 16th 2011. 4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponte_Vecchio18. Kandaouroff, W., 1938. Le Marché de Phnom 28. Percheron, M., Teston, E., 1931. l’Indochine 5. http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/ Penh (Cambodge). In Le Génie Civil, number Moderne, Encycplopedie Administrative Touristique, guangxi/sanjiang/winds_rain.htm 2941, 24 December 1938, p. 1 - 4. Artistique et Economique. Paris: Librairie de France,19. Collins, D., 2003. Marketing Triumph. In Sarika, p 1009 - 1010. June 2003, p. 18 - 27. 29. Kusakabe, K., 2001. Women’s participation in20. Prigent, S., 2010. History and Portraits. In: the market: women retail traders in Phnom Penh, Burgeat, A., Psar Thom Thmei. To be published Cambodia. Bangkok: Gender and Development May 2011. Studies, School of Environment Resources and 71

LiteratureBooks and articles Ko, V., 2010. China Firm in Lake Deal. In: Phnom Penh Post, December 28thAinge Roy, E., Titthara, M., 2008. Battambang’s Battered Buildings: Preserving 2010.Battambang’s Architectural Past is the Key to Protecting its Tourism Future. In:Phnom Penh Post. December 17th 2008. Koditek, W., 2007. Pilot District Battambang; Urban Planning on District Level - A Race Against Time. Summer School ‘Urban Driving Forces’. [powerpointBrocheux, P., Hémery, D., 2009. Indochina, An Ambiguous Colonization | 1858 - presentation].1954. Berkeley: University of California Press. First edition: 1995. Koditek, W., 2009. Urban Development Planning and Heritage Conservation on aChandler, D. P., 2008. A History of Cambodia. Boulder: Westview Press. First Local Level > an Endeavour in Battambang District, Kingdom of Cambodia. Forumedition: 1983. International Seminar, Urban Heritage Management in South-East Asia. [powerpoint presentation].Collins, D., 2002. Charlie Chaplin in Phnom Penh. In: Sarika, Oct-Dec 2002, p.14 - 23. Kusakabe, K., 2001. Women’s participation in the market: women retail traders in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Bangkok: Gender and Development Studies, School ofCollins, D., 2003. Marketing Triumph. In: Sarika, June 2003, p. 18 - 27. Environment Resources and Development, Asian Institute of Technology.Corey-Boulet, R., Titthara, M., 2009. Landmark Hotel in the Firing Line. In: Lavedan, P., 1929. Les Halles du Boulingrin. In Architecture, # 44, July 1929.Phnom Penh Post, January 30th 2009. Municipalité de Phnom Penh, Mairie de Paris, Atelier Parisien d’Urbanisme, lesDelaporte, L., Garnier, F., 1998. A Pictorial Journey on the Old Mekong; Cambodia, Ministère des Affaires Étrangères, 2006. Phnom Penh Centre; aller, venir, circuler,Laos and Yunnan. Bangkok: White Lotus. First edition: 1885. marcher, rouler, stationner, traverser, transporter, approvisionner, livrer, acheter, vendre, voyager, visiter, flâner. Phnom Penh.Grant Ross, H., 2003. Battambang - Bad Dambaung - Le Bâton Perdu - Histoire d’uneVille. Phnom Penh: 3DGraphics Publishing. Neou, V., Wallace, J., 2010. Preserving Battambang; Battambang officials are discovering the beauty - and economic potential - of the city’s historicIgout, M., 1993. Phnom Penh: Then and Now. Bangkok: White Lotus. buildings. In: Cambodia Daily, July 31st - August 1st 2010.Kamm, H., 1998. Cambodia: Report from a Stricken Land. New York: Arcade Ngo, M., Sun Narin, T. S., 2010. Carrying Khmer Style into the Future. In: Lift.Publishing, Inc. July 28th 2010, p. 8.Kandaouroff, W., 1938. Le Marché de Phnom Penh (Cambodge). In Le Génie Osbourne, M.E., 1997. The French Presence in Cochinchina and Cambodia: Rule andCivil, # 2941, 24 December 1938, p. 1 - 4. Response (1859 - 1905). Bangkok: White Lotus. First edition: 1968.72

Osbourne, M. E., 2008. Phnom Penh, A Cultural and Literary History. Oxford: Wright, G., 1987. Tradition in the Service of Modernity: architecture andSignal Books. urbanism in French colonial policy, 1900 - 1930. In The Journal of Modern History, episode 59, # 2, p. 291 - 316.Percheron, M., Teston, E., 1931. l’Indochine Moderne, Encycplopedie AdministrativeTouristique, Artistique et Economique. Paris: Librairie de France. Wright, G. 1991. The Politics of Design in French Colonial Urbanism. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.Pluvier, J. 1983. Vietnam, Laos, Cambodja, Om de Bevrijding van Indochina, EenGeschiedenis vanaf 1850. Nijmegen: Sun. Conversations [Appendix C]Prigent, S., 2010. The Customer at the Central Market. In: Burgeat, A., Psar Dang, N. M., 2010. University of Architecture, Ho Chi Minh City. InterviewedThom Thmei. To be published May 2011. by Simone Bijlard. Ho Chi Minh City, July 23rd 2010Prigent, S., 2010. History and Portraits. In: Burgeat, A., Psar Thom Thmei. To be Burgeat, T., Sokli, Y., 2010. Heritage Mission Phnom Penh. Interviewed bypublished May 2011. Simone Bijlard. Phnom Penh, July 30th 2010.Som, S., 2010. Heritage Conservation on Local Level: Battambang Municipality, Kingdom Collins, D., 2010. Independent architectural historian. Interviewed by Simoneof Cambodia. Expert Seminar, Urban Heritage Management in South-East Asia. Bijlard. Phnom Penh, July 31st 2010.[powerpoint presentation].Stone, R., 2009. Divining Angkor. In: National Geographic. July 2009. Fieldwork Cambodia: Battambang, Phnom Penh. July 2009Stout Banwell, S., 2001. Vendors’ Voices; the story of women micro-vendors in PhnomPenh markets and an innovative program designed to enhance their lives and livelihoods. Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City. Cambodia: Battambang, Kompong Cham, PhnomPhnom Penh: Asia Foundation. Penh. June - August 2010Taylor, B. B., 1996. Inventing a Colonial Landscape; The New Market inPhnom Penh. In Hoffman, A. (ed.), Form, Modernism and History, Cambridge Websites(Massachusetts): Harvard University Press, 1996, p. 175 - 186. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Da_Lat, accessed on February 16th 2011.Ville de Reims, 2008. Les Halles du Boulingrin; Entre Tradition et Modernité. Reims: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whites_Bridge, accessed on February 22th 2011.Ville de Reims. 73

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Appendix A: S.I.D.E.C.MARKETS BY S.I.D.E.C. CAMBODIALocation: KampotWhat: Cho Kampot (demolished in 2009)Building company: S.I.D.E.C.Architect: ?Year: Before 1931Source: l’Indochine Moderne, Encycplopedie AdministrativeTouristique, Artistique et Economique (1931)Location: BattambangWhat: Psar NathBuilding company: S.I.D.E.C.Architect: ?Year: 1937Source: Kandaouroff, 1938 in Génie Civiland Grant Ross, 2003, Battambang, le Bâton PerduLocation: Phnom PenhWhat: Psar Thom ThmeiBuilding company: S.I.D.E.C.Architect: Jean DesboisYear: 1937Source: Kandaouroff, 1938 in Génie Civil 75

MARKETS BY S.I.D.E.C. VIETNAM Location: Saigon What: Cho Than Din Building company: S.I.D.E.C. Architect: ? Year: 1927 Source: l’Indochine Moderne, Encycplopedie Administrative Touristique, Artistique et Economique (1931) Location: Can Tho What: Cho Can Tho Building company: S.I.D.E.C. Architect: ? Year: Before 1931 Source: l’Indochine Moderne, Encycplopedie Administrative Touristique, Artistique et Economique (1931) Location: Dalat What: Cho Dalat Building company: S.I.D.E.C. Architect: ? Year: 1937 Source: Vietnamese Wiki Dalat76

BUILDINGS REMINISCENT OF PSAR THOM THMEILocation: Kompong Cham (Cambodia)What: Psar ThmeiBuilding company: ?Architect: ?Year: probably after 1938 as it is not mentioned in LeGenie CivilSource: noneLocation: Phnom Penh (Cambodia)What: Gare de Phnom Penh (abandonded)Building company: ?Architect: ?Year: 1932Source: Igout, 1993 in Phnom Penh then and nowLocation: Phnom Penh (Cambodia)What: Commissariat de police municipale(demolished in 2005)Building company: ?Architect: Jean DesboisYear: 1935Source: Igout, 1993 in Phom Penh then and now 77

OTHER BUILDINGS BY S.I.D.E.C. Location: Bokor (Cambodia) What: Palais de Bokor (abandonded) Building company: S.I.D.E.C. Architect: ? Year: 1917 Source: l’Indochine Moderne, Encycplopedie Administrative Touristique, Artistique et Economique (1931) Location: Phnom Penh (Cambodia) What: Throne Hall Royal Palace Building company: S.I.D.E.C. Architect: ? Year: Before 1931 Source: l’Indochine Moderne, Encycplopedie Administrative Touristique, Artistique et Economique (1931) Location: Phnom Penh (Cambodia) What: Bibliothèque Nationale Building company: S.I.D.E.C. Architect: ? Year: ? Source: Taylor, 1996 in Form, Modernism and History78

Appendix B: market plans Gate Gate Gate Gate Gate Gate PHNOM PENH 0 12,5 25 m Variations are likely, as the market was visited during the renovation works Gate Gate Jewellery, watches, Fresh produce Fabrics (tailors) sunglasses Clothing Groceries Toiletries Luxurious electrical Handicrafts, souvenirs Snacks appliances Shrine Shoes, bags Restaurants 79 Household utensils, basic eletrical appliances, Fence stationairy

polyclinic / Western pharmacy Union ATM optician ATM motorcycle parking motorcycle parking gate gate gate gate car parking gate gate car parking gate gatepharmacy exchange hotel ATM office Jewellery Fresh produce Fabrics (tailors) Clothing Groceries Toiletries Watches, clocks, Snacks Barber, beauty salon BATTAMBANG calculators80 Shoes, bags Restaurants Cell phones, phone cards, cigarettes 0 12,5 25 m Household utensils Fence Shrine

Western Union phar mac y motorcy clesgarage motorcy cles car parking motorcycle parking ylces motorc pharmacy pharmacy motorcycles macy pharmacy pharmacy Jewellery Fresh produce Fabrics (tailors) hotel Clothing Groceries Toiletries Watches, clocks, Snacks Barber, beauty salon KOMPONG CHAM calculators Cell phones, phone cards, money 0 12,5 25 m Shoes, bags Restaurants 81 exchange, cigarettes, lottery tickets Household utensils Fence Shrine

motorcycles hotel motorcycles car parking toilets toilets car parking garage car parking pharmacy motorcycles motorcycles car parking car parking car parking motorcycles car parking motorcycles HCM CITY car parking 0 12,5 motorcycles Vietcom bank fast food car parking Jewellery Clothing Watches, clocks, calculators Shoes, bags car parking car parking Household utensils Fresh produce Groceries Snacks car parking Restaurants motorcycles car parking Electrical appliances Cosmetics Barber, beauty salon82 Handicrafts Shrine

Appendix C A conversation with Dang Nhat Minh A conversation with Yam Sokli and Théodora Burgeat A conversation with Darryl Collins 83

A conversation with Dang Nhat MinhDang Nhat Minh is a lecturer Architectural boat from the surrounding villages. Therefore, the and flooding. The road and the huts were protectedHistory at the University of Architecture of Ho place were these produce are sold is there were the from the sun and heavy rains by very big trees -Chi Minh City. He has followed the Heritage market meets the water: at the back. maybe more than a hundred years old - , giving aTraining Course, organised by the Heritage Inside the market dry goods are sold, such as natural filter.Centre in Phnom Penh in 2008. clothing, jewellery, toiletries, etc. The market used to stop at around 10 a.m.. AfterThis conversation took place on July the 23rd The old market of colonial Saigon used to be at that, people would sit in the huts to drink tea with2010 at Alexandre de Rhodes in Ho Chi Minh the river as well. It moved however after it had their neighbours or to take a nap in a hammock.City. burnt down; it was made of traditional Vietnamese This market has been replaced in the 90s by a big materials, wood and leafs. The French governor of metal structure. Of course, it covers much moreAlthough my graduation subject focuses on that time decided to move the market to where Cho thant the huts and the trees covered, but I think itFrench colonial markets, I am also interested Ben Thanh is now, deciding to move it away from is a shame. It has nothing to do with our traditionalin how the market took place before the French the river. way of living and it has no architectural or culturalintroduced their large covered markets. But the general lay-out - as I described with the value whatsoever.Can you tell me what a market looks like in market of my youth - has remained the same. The problem is, if the authorities want a project likeVietnamese tradition? Although the river is missing, the fresh meat and this, they will have ways to do it.When I was a child I lived in a very small and quiet fish can be found at the back. Inside the markettown in the countryside near Hué. This village lies dry goods are sold. The one difference is that the Who has to pay for the new market? Theat a shallow bay. Outside the village are rice paddies vegetables have moved from the entrance of the government or the people in the market?and fruit and vegetable plantations. Some tracks run market to the back of it, at the same place as the The government does.from my village to the other villages around. At the other fresh produce.junction of the tracks and the bay the market takes In Ben Thanh, at the front, you see most of theplace. Do you mean that fresh produce - as meat and time the expensive products, like jewellery. IsPeople from not only my village but also from the vegetables - were never sold inside the market? that also in the smaller markets?villages around get up very early - at four or five a.m. In Vietnamese tradition, generally, fresh produce are Yes, that is also the case in the countryside. But there- to collect their produce; they pack their vegetables not sold inside the market. are less luxurious articles sold.and fruits and butcher their meat. You might also be interested in another market. The These stalls are more expensive.The vegetables - coming from the surrounding market I am refering to does not exist anymore,countryside - come over the tracks; by ox, cart, unfortunately. It used to be in the village were my What does more expensive mean? Do peoplemotorcycle, whatever. The fresh vegetables are sold grandparents lived. It consisted of a collection of pay more rent for their shop?were the produce is loaded off: at the entrance of small wooden huts along a road. The huts were No, you buy a shop. The shops at the front are morethe market, directly off the dirt track. actually nothing more than four columns, a roof and expensive than the shops at lesser locations.The fresh meat and above all the fresh fish come by a raised floor, to protect the produce from insects Besides the price for the shop the shopkeeper has to 85

pay tax each month. So, summarising, the typology of the market did Vietnamese people with an average income go to exist before French rule. However, they altered the market. The vegetables and meat are fresher –And the market itself, is it owned by the it from small scale structures to a large building. sometimes even alive -, you can haggle your pricegovernment? Yes, that’s true. The French introduced concrete and and pick up the last stories in town.Yes, the building itself is owned by the government. large scale buildings. I think the concept of the market is still very strong; I do not think the supermarket will replace it.Does that mean that the government maintains Where do the produce of the shopkeepers ofthe building? Do they fix things when they are city markets come from? Why should a market built under Frenchbroken? Generally, from the countryside. In the case of colonial rule be preserved?Yes, that is the job of the government, just as the large scale markets in big cities: the farmers sell That is a good question. First, I think we shouldcleaning and the security. The shop owners pay for their produce to wholesale vendors – often a friend respect the French period we have had. It hasthese activities. or family member - at markets at the outskirts of shaped the face of Vietnam. Secondly, we actually the city. From there, the produce is resold and know no other way; we are struggeling to developThe produce that are sold in the market; where transported into the city during the night. our own architectural style. Vietnamese traditionaldo the shopkeepers keep it when the market architecture is often quite small-scale, which meanscloses? Has tourism changed the larger markets like that when we have to build a larger building, our firstIt depends on the rules of the market. Normally, Ben Thanh? point of reference is the French colonial heritage inafter 8 p.m. the market closes and everybody has to Yes, in my opninion it has. Ben Thanh has become Vietnam.leave the building. The things that are sold are stored more expensive because of tourism, but the The markets that were built after the French colonialinside the kiosk. government has put regulation on that. rule often do not fit in the urban fabric or in Besides that, the ‘night market’ at Ben Thanh is Vietnamese custom. Some of them have for instanceWhat do you think could have been the reason typically there for tourists. It doesn’t exist at other several stories, with the upper stories unused. Thesefor the French colonial administration to build markets. Some produce have changed as well; there stories are unused because the temperature up therethese markets? ar more handicrafts for sale. is insufferable and in Vietnamese custom shops areIn my opinion, there were two reasons for the But Ben Thanh still caters mostly to the Vietnamese to be found at ground level. The markets of theFrench to build a big market like this. The first is to population. Produce can also be ordered and French colonial period are most often just one story.manage trading activities, and not only the economic delivered at your home for an extra fee. Secondly, they are quite open, which is good in ouractivities. In the French wartime, my grandmother climate. This layout fits perfectly in Vietnamesesmuggled things of the Vietnamese army in her In Vietnamese tradition, how often do people go habit. It is not necessary to change it structurally,baskets to the market. The market was the place to the market? Do they go every day? except clean it up and make it a bit more spacious.where information was exchanged. Vietnamese people go everyday to the market, Our urban layout is also still French and it will notThe second reason for the French to build these although it has changed somewhat with people change soon. The French system is still so muchmarkets was I think, to develop economic activity. getting richer. Some rich people prefer to go part of our lives, that we should incorporate it and to a supermarket instead of to the market. But respect it.86

If you look at for instance China or Thailand,countries richer and further ahead thanVietnam, you see that they have replaced theiroriginal covered markets by large, closed andair-conditioned shopping malls. What do youthink of that development?That is of course a difficult question. We [architects]try to convince people not to use air-conditioning.But, especially in summer season, it gets so hot thatpeople really want it. I think we must accept thisto some extent. We have to keep trying to designbuildings in which it is not necessary, but it remains afact that it is very hard to convince your clients of it.The face of your building really changes withthe use of air-conditioning. Which means thatthe face of your city changes. For example,Bangkok with its closed facades has a verydifferent atmosphere than Hanoi. I think weshould be aware of that.Yes, I agree. But the shopowner of Ben Thanhmarket will say, especially at the end of the dryseason: “I want an air-conditioning”. What mustwe do? If we can create a space that is very freshand has a moderate temperature, it will satisfy them.But if we cannot do that, we have to provide air-conditioning. We must accept this.Still, if you ask me, the market underneath the treesis the best.I will keep that in mind...!(Chuckling) 87

A conversation with Yam Sokly and Théodora BurgeatThe Heritage Mission was created in 2005 by in a few years the Heritage Mission is independently which was in itself not easy. Heritage is quite anthe French architect Michel Verrot. Its aim is run by Cambodian architects. economical and political issue and it is not easy toto protect the (non-Angkorian) built heritage At the moment the Heritage Mission focuses on convince authorities to protect it. Cambodia hasof Phnom Penh. The organisation is a bilateral Phnom Penh, because of its emergent situation. I a problem with memory; talking about the past isproject between the Kingdom of Cambodia and have been here for just one year but I can really see not so easy since the Khmer Rouge. The authoritiesthe French Embassy in Cambodia. The Mission that the city is changing. Fortunately, many buildings mostly prefer to focus on the construction of highfalls under the Heritage Centre, a public are still left, but a lot of destroying has already taken new buildings, regarding them as a symbol of theinstitution supervised by the Ministry of Culture place. modernisation of the country.and Fine Arts of Cambodia. Last year we have been focusing on the realisation Well, finally, we organised the round table. ThereYam Sokly studied Architecture and Urbanism of a safeguarding and development plan of the Post were some people talking about their own experienceat the Royal University of Fine Arts and now Office area. The area consists of some exceptional with heritage; people from Vietnam, Laos, Veniceworks as an architect for the Heritage Mission. buildings; the architecture is very harmonious, all and France. They showed how heritage is succesfullyThéodora Burgeat works as a communication from the same period; early 1900. dealt with in their countries and tried to convince theofficer for the Mission. We finished the plan and presented it to the the Cambodian authorities to do the same.This conversation was held at July 30th, 2010 at Ministry of Culture and Fine-Arts. The Minister is We also talked about our project on the post officethe Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts in Phnom quite sensitive about this question; since about a year area and that we basically have all the tools to realisePenh. I feel that there’s a change of mentality going on. it, but that we need an approval. That is by the way It seems that the authorities are more aware of the one of the important reasons for us to be inside theCould you tell me something about the Heritage importance to protect their heritage than before. But Ministry of Culture and Fine-Arts.Mission and the work you are doing in Phnom I think they don’t know what to do, yet. We also work with other associations that try toPenh right now? Some months ago, we organised an international protect heritage in Phnom Penh, for example KhmerThéodora: The particularity in Cambodia is that round table in Phnom Penh with the ministers of Architectural Tours. The advantage of working withwhen we talk about architectural heritage, we Culture and Tourism, to talk about architectural them is that they can do complementary actionsimmediately think about Angkor and the temples heritage in Cambodia and the concrete things that concerning built heritage. What we are doing is quitearound it. We forget that there is also other can be done with it. political and sensitive.important heritage. Officially, there is since 1996 a law that protects The Heritage Mission has done some renovationInside the Heritage Centre, there is the Heritage heritage. However, there is no decree specifying how works; we have worked on the National Museum forMission and the Regional Heritage Training Centre; a the law should be enforced. It just exists. an exhibition of Rodin drawings. We had to redesignschool where students follow a one year training on That’s a problem. Many buildings have been one room for these drawings, because they are veryheritage. They work with teachers from France, from destructed the past couple of years and I am afraid fragile.l’Ecole de Chaillot. The architects of the Heritage that in a few years time there will be nothing left. We also worked on the Bophana Centre, a centreMission come from this school. Our purpose is that So that’s why we tried to organise this round table, created by Rithy Pan, a Cambodian filmmaker. Rithy88

Pan wanted to create a place of memory, a place that Théodora: I think they learn mostly about modern pictures of it. A few days later he returned to takegathers the film archives about Cambodia. You can architecture. some more, but the destruction had just taken place.go there and see lots of videos. Many countries surrounding Cambodia try to Fortunately, he was able to take some pictures from be modern; they modernise their cities; want a the demolition. It is now a great tool for us to raiseIs this the same as the National Archive? modern capital. This model might be suitable for awareness.Théodora: No. That’s west of Wat Phnom. It can be Bangkok and Singapore, but it is not suitable for Sometimes it just happens like that, from one day touseful for pictures or official documentation. Phnom Penh; it’s quite a small city. Which has its the next. And nobody knows about it of course. own charm: it gives the city a human dimensionDo you think I can find original drawings? and some very harmonious areas. For sure, the city Do you think Psar Thom Thmei is at risk?Sokly: Not really… But they do store a lot of maps needs modernisation, but it’s essential to define an Although it’s being restored now.there. urban area for these buildings. For the moment, the Théodora: I don’t think so. urbanisation is too wild.Ok.. What work has the Mission done on the Sokly: Structurally it’s not, but functionally it is.Bophana Centre? That’s what we do in Amsterdam actually. Before, it could accommodate about a hundred stalls,Théodora: We have done its renovation, in which we Amsterdam also has a small and historically now they pushed in 300. This is really not a nice waytried to respect the original concept of the building. fragile centre. Amsterdam’s high rise hase been to treat a building.There is up until this day no air-conditioning inside; put on the outskirts. In that way it also has thewe tried to respect the air circulation and we tried infrastructure it needs. A French team has done the renovation, right?to find as much light as we could. For us it is a good Théodora: Yes… But that’s of course a difficult Théodora: Yes. But we do not support it at all. Theyexample of what we can achieve. People working discussion. It’s hard to find a place where this could did not respect the original building at all. Also fromthere are I think quite happy with it. happen. But yes, I think that’s a good example. an aesthetical point of view… From the adjacentBesides the Bophana Centre, we also did some But even students do not have an idea about the streets you had a beautiful view on the building andprivate buildings. I think our team is quite heritage here in Phnom Penh. That’s very sad I think, its ensemble. The renovation has blocked it all.uncommon here; we are actually the only ones who because in three years they will be professionalscan do this specific work. without knowledge on their built heritage. Exactly Sokly: That area is not about the building. It’s aboutBesides these renovations, we also organise activities for this reason we try to raise knowledge on this the building, it’s space and the buildings around. Ifthat communicate our view. This year we’ve subject. you demolish that space, there is no point renovatingorganised some seminars at universities, to try to To give an example: last February l’Ecole the building.show the students of architecture the heritage Professionnelle, a nice building dating fromsituation. I was quite surprised to see that they 1903-1905 - structurally in a good state - was Théodora: Actually, it is an urban project. You reallysometimes don’t know anything about heritage. destroyed in three days time. Nothing left. There have to think of the building in its environment. was a Cambodian photographer who was doing aWhat kind of things do they learn then in project in which he recorded old buildings. He was Sokly: The problem is the commercial or financialuniversity? interested in this building and took at some point aspect of the renovation. There is an awful amount 89

of money involved in the descision to renovate. The preserve everything, but we must at least preserve same as the Psar Thmei architects.problem is: more stalls means more money. It’s all something.about money. Perhaps the architect should have choosen a What do you think the future should bring forThe market has become something else. It’s not the different structure; maybe a wooden structure. And these buildings? We have an example of howPsar Thmei anymore. It’s like a new Psar Thmei, lower. That’s already better I think. It would be the it should not be done; but you mentioned witha ‘New New Market’. Instead of a light structure, best if you could preserve the whole spirit of the Psar Thmei that the east side should havethey have built a new concrete structure. The light market. The garden; in the front, in the back. stayed empty. What is the best way to treat thesestructure gave us vistas; the concrete structure buildings in your view?blocks it all. Before, you could see the market from But the garden didn’t exist from the 60s onward. Théodora: I think that’s quite difficult to answer.everywhere. Now, you have to peak and somewhere Sokly: Yes, that’s true. That surface has been In the book Alexandre Burgeat, director of Melonfar up is the market. occupied for a 100% for about thirty or forty years; Rouge Agency, is going to publish about theAfter the renovation, the shopkeepers added even after the war. Expect for the period during the renovation of Psar Thmei some architects givemore canopies, because of rain and sun, making the Khmer Rouge of course. their vision on the future. That might answer yourview on the market even smaller. The space between question.the wings and the new structure was supposed to For my project, this is of course interesting. Butbe empty and to provide more ventilation. But you it is very sad that it has actually happened. When will the book be published?know what happens: shopkeepers fill it up with their Luckily there is still Battambang. Théodora: It is expected to be published in Maygoods. So right now, the area surrounding the market Sokly: Battambang, Kompong Cham... 2011. It’s a huge project. It consists of three parts:is even more cramped than it used to be before the a historical part, a part on the renovation and a partrenovation. Is there also one in Kompong Cham? on what the market could be in the future. (To Sokly)Architecturally, I think the pavilions are - sort of - Sokly: Yes! It’s beautiful! It’s almost the same as in You have also added something, right?ok., because the market is high enough to be still the Battambang. If you want to see the covered markets,main structure. But the sight, the original idea of a you have to go to Kompong Cham and Battambang. Sokly: Yes... From a professional point of view, thelarge, seemingly floating structure, is gone. The only ones that still exist. Kampot is already future of the market seems troublesome. Still, we demolished. There’s not that much left. Kompong have a chance to reverse it. We’re at a decisive step:Are there other people objecting the renovation? Cham is still what it used to be. if you follow the steps that have just been taken,Sokly: The general public is happy, because they have The shape of Kompong Cham is different from the future will bring the demolition of the market.more space for business. Battambang, but constructionally it is similar, just as Because, why not demolish it and build a shoppingI can agree with the descision to fill in the areas Psar Thmei here in Phnom Penh. They’re all made centre?north, south and west of the market; if you from a concrete structure. At the site of Psar Chas they proposed to build adesperately need to commercialise it. But I do not shopping centre with big towers. It’s a historicalagree with the filling of the eastern part. That part Do you perhaps know the architect of these two market! So who knows what happens to Psar Thmei?has always been the ‘grand corridor’ from the market markets?towards the river. I understand that we cannot Sokly: (Chuckling) Not really... But they might be the It’s a hard question for all of us to answer: why90

should we keep these buildings? authorities that Cambodian people are also interested Phnom Penh?Sokly: Because that is what we have. The original in this architectural heritage and that it is not just a Sokly: Ninety percent was paid by the Frenchshophouses that surround Psar Thmei are now foreign view, we might succeed. That’s exactly why development agency AFD (Agence Française deslowly being replaced by towers. Some of them are we work with Cambodian people. Développement).5 stories high. The original urban setting is brokendown by this. To change the subject a bit; do you know how Why did they pay for that?It looks nice to the people living in it. But if the covered markets served the French colonial Théodora: It is a huge project and it’s heritage fromyou look at the whole city, the whole area, these government? How did the French government the French colonial period. Psar Thmei is a well-structures are completely alien. But the people don’t manage them? known market in Cambodia.really think about this. They think of themselves. Sokly: In the case of Psar Thmei: it was built by the French government. After that, it was handed over And in general, when something is broken, willThéodora: People generally have a very short view to the local government. Inside there were separate the market management make sure that it ishere. They often don’t care. This mentality has been areas selling gold, silver. And all around people really restored?very difficult for me when I arrived here. I came here sold whatever they wanted. Sokly: (Chuckling) ... it could be... But normally,with my western values, with my own ideas about people just fix it themselves.protecting heritage. But people here generally do not And in the current situation? Are there rules forcare about these aims as much as I do. How to deal putting up your stalls outside the market? Do Do you know how the situation is in Vietnam?with that? That has been and still is very difficult. you have to pay someone? How does Vietnam deal with its architecturalBut I should nuance this. We have made a part of Sokly: Generally, you have to. We have no documents heritage?a documentary. Its aim was to raise knowledge and about the French time, however. There are different Sokly: I am not sure. Generally, what we see fromawareness on architectural heritage. We interviewed rents to pay, when you have your own stall, sit Vietnam, is that they are more involved withsome Cambodian people living in some of these outside etc. But first of all, you have to buy the their heritage than in Cambodia, even though thebuildings. We were quite surprised to hear that name. destruction is similar. The government of Vietnammany of them regret that these buildings are has a more active policy of protecting historicalbeing demolished at such a scale. They all told that You buy the name? What does that mean? buildings. They have some very nice restaurationtheir homes had a good quality of living: the air Sokly: It means that you buy the right to sell on that projects. In Hanoi, you have a protected area: the oldcirculation was good, the light was beautiful and stall. That’s an amount of money to pay and after quarter.their homes were often really peaceful and pleasant. that you pay for utilities every month.That’s very interesting. It means that it is not only Théodora: In Cambodia, I think, there is also aour foreign point of view, but that there are also Is it payed to the local government? bigger process that wants to modernise. There is aCambodian people who feel like that. Sokly: There is a management for each market, very quick evolution here.These people are a minority for the moment, which falls under the municipal government.because of the lack of knowledge about this topic. Sokly: In Vietnam they – I cannot say that they haveBut, I think that if we keep on trying to tell the Were the renovations paid by the municipality of a proper foundation for future development - but at 91

least, they are quite willing to accept a slower pace couple of weeks through Thailand. In general, 2020. Hopefully they can implement it.of development. Cambodia says: I don’t care, I want Thai cities are quite unattractive. Cambodia wasit now! Cambodia wants to have skyscrapers, but a pleasant surprise after that. I think that is a big As a last question. The latest, large scaleits inhabitants don’t even know how to use a lift. asset of Cambodia compared to Thailand. renovation in Phnom Penh: the new boulevardCambodia wants to build a shopping centre, but its Théodora: That’s why it is so urgent to protect this along the riverfront. What is your opinion onpeople cannot afford to buy from it. country - full of wealth and charm. that? Sokly: Great job, but wrong trees. It is a great jobHow do you think tourism has influenced this Do you think there are people who have a that the river bank has been beautified, but I cannotprocess? Like shopping malls; you could say problem with French colonial built heritage? accept the palm trees they planted. It has nothingthat tourists go to shopping malls. Sokly: Some Cambodians do. But at the same level as to do with the identity of the city. Why not replantSokly: To be frank, if tourists want to do shopping, it exist in every other former colony. This is part of what it used to be? Replant something that is verythey will go to China. They won’t come to Cambodia. Some of my friends say: why should we typical for Cambodia, instead of this Miami beachCambodia. be bothered with this or that French building! These reference. Also from a pratical point of view: we friends are actually university students. deserve more shade!Ok., I agree, but tourists do come and in thetime they spend in Cambodia they will do But it is a very relevant question: why should weshopping. keep it?Sokly: Sure, but there is enough to choose from. But Sokly: It is part of Cambodia. Historically, physically.it has influenced Phnom Penh; partially. At least, I There are some extreme historians who say: wethink I can see a change in the last five years. should only keep the pagoda, we should destroy the contemporary city and build our houses on stilts. ButBut if you look for instance at the the central should we reverse things? History has happened. Butdome of Psar Thmei. Right now they sell we can appreciate it and its identity. What we have iswatches, jewels, sunglasses etc. Has that always what we have; we cannot ignore it.been the case? There is a paradox; people say that we should stick toSokly: Yes, that has always been the case. They are our tradition, but at the same time they want to liveselling the same products, but yes, the clients have on the 36th floor. What do we want? Tradition or thechanged. Before the client was 100% local, now it is so-called modern life? We want to keep our Buddhist50/50. Wat, but at the same time we want Phnom Penh to become like New York or Hong Kong.Théodora: Tourism is an important argument toprotect the heritage. A long term one. Is there actually something like city planning in Phnom Penh?I agree. Before I visited Cambodia I traveled a Sokly: There is the masterplan of Phnom Penh for92

A conversation with Darryl CollinsDarryl Collins is an Australian architectural Officially there is not! That’s the problem! city in the world. You would not believe it.historian, who has lived for over sixteen years inCambodia. He has worked as a lecturer at the When I spoke to the Theodora of the Phnom But you see all these very simple restaurants atRoyal University of Fine Arts of Phnom Penh at Penh Heritage Mission she mentioned some the quay.the Department of Archeology. He co-authored form of regulation. These are held by people that rent. Cambodiansthe book “Building for Cambodia: New Khmer Well… (chuckling)… In the 1990s a French team make a lot of money by renting rather than sellingArchitecture 1953 - 1970”, together with Helen from the Urban Centre of Paris made classification out. A family that owns any property along theGrant Ross. documents. They classified the whole of Phnom riverfront will not sell, but rent. It’s the ground floorThis conversation was held at July 31st, 2010 at Penh and they produced a book. In mid 1990s they that is the valuable part. In property terms generallyK-West in Phnom Penh. had an exhibition at the French Cultural Centre, the western concept is: upper floors are most which listed all the architectural and urban heritage valuable. You have a view, beautiful scene, a look atAs a start, could you tell me something of the of Phnom Penh. the river.situation here in Cambodia concerning the This classification, however, became a blueprint But the Cambodians believe, probably rightly basedprotection of French colonial architectural for development. These mad Khmer moved in on on the idea of the shophouse, that the ground floorheritage? everything they could get their hands on. Every is the key. Certainly for the riverfront, where theI am aware of the French programme of heritage old building was grabbed and demolished, just to ground floor usually holds a restaurant. But also inrestoration, which tries to preserve as much of the put something else there. A new shopping mall for other parts of the city the Cambodians love to holdFrench colonial architecture of Phnom Penh that is example, or just nothing. the ground floor and its shopfront; the old Chineseleft. It is hard to put a percentage on it, but I would This plot has remained empty ever since it was ideal of having a shopfront. Cambodians will even ifsay that about 40% has already gone. pulled down. There was a plan to put a high hotel on they can’t rent it, let it sit there for two or three yearsJust speaking of it, this big blank space over here this corner. However, there is no room for parking, and rot. Do nothing. Just wait.(Darryl points out of the window) had a huge colonial two busy streets merge here, it has no free land The property values here were destroyed byvilla sitting on it, just a few years ago. It was lovely; around it; in short, there is nothing to provide a UNTAC. Before UNTAC, property was comparableit was used by the Ministry of Tourism as an office. luxurious hotel. So, the whole idea was blocked and in value. But when UNTAC came in, millions ofIt had a city map outside for tourists, just to show the developer just let it vacant. dollars poured into the capital and resulted in anthem the area. About three or four Khmer New explosion of prices. People made millions withYear holiday periods ago I happened to be in Do you think it has to do with some sort of anti- investing in rental properties, which were rentedPhnom Penh and they just started wrecking it; it just French sentiment? to the UN forces. The value of property wentdisappeared. This is of course one of the scandals No…. It has to do with greed. Basically. The land artificially high and it has never really gone downof the city; there is no protection. in Phnom Penh is incredibly valuable, particularly in again. the colonial area; the riverside area. It is priced by theOfficially there is…. square meter. And now, this city, its value equals any How is a restaurant keeper able to pay such a 93

high rent? only a heritage law that refers to ancient monuments. you couldn’t build above four floors within theI don’t know. I would think in the case of The government has agreed that a building of a view of the Royal Palace, so you couldn’t blockrestaurants, most of them are leased. So people hundred years or more is heritage property. But, the view on the Palace. Now, there is the casinodon’t buy the property and the lease is reasonable, having said that, they then say: if the building is over overshadowing it, just as these huge, ugly apartmentbut the property value is incredibly high with the a hundred years and in bad condition, you’re free to blocks behind the Independence Monument. Now,Cambodians hanging on their property. do whatever you like. So to survive, the building has when you look down Norodom Boulevard you seeIt’s their country of course, they’ve got every right to be both over a hundred years old and in super the Independence Monument with the backdropto do this, but it means that they keep the property condition. of twenty story apartment blocks. They completelyvalue artificially high. destroy the boulevard. Who assesses the condition? It’s Korean money, by the way.But then it is not really that high. If no one sells The government. (Chuckling) Let’s take the Renakse.it for that price. It’s a hotel, just in front of the Royal Palace. It has So it’s not even Cambodian.But it is when a developer moves in. Certain a dark green fence around it, which generally means No, most of the development here is not justproperties along the riverfront do change hands. that the building is coming down. It has caused a Cambodian. It’s an international partner withSometimes for even a 1000 US dollars per square scandal, because it’s a favourite building. It’s over Cambodian partners, because you can’t develop heremeter or more - which is really high for here. And a hundred years old and very beautiful. It used to without a Cambodian partner. The Cambodians winfor what you get… I mean, you get a million dollar be a Franco-Cambodian school. The government, by taking a cut of the profits and development, andview, but this city is just not on a par with Singapore who owned it, sold it to a developer, who wanted the developer wins by investing money and gettingor Bangkok or whatever other city. I think for what to demolish it. The woman who had the lease on return on their investment. Usually it takes 20, 30you get it’s not a true value. the building was charged with not renovating it or 40 year before the property is handed over to to a certain standard. Therefore, the government Cambodian ownership.And that puts a high pressure on historical declared it was not being maintained and her leaserelevant buildings. was terminated and she was chucked out. They tried Considering the question why heritage shouldIt does. In the early 1990s were certain programmes to demolish it, but there was such an outcry from the be preserved in a third world country, thisto promote registration of architectural heritage. The general public, that the demolishing was stopped. makes the situation even harsher: it’s not thegovernment accepted 50% of the findings of the The lady headed for a long court case where she Cambodian economy that benefits from thesecommission. They threw out 50% of the findings, challenged the right to sell the property and to ‘bad’ developments, but the Korean.saying something to the effect of: the buildings throw here out even though she had a lease. She had Only wealthy business people or people highowned by the government can be considered, but something like twenty years to go on her lease, but up in the government make money from thesethe buildings that are in private ownership cannot they just ignored that. Anyway, it’s frozen and it has developments.be classified. In other words: they weren’t willing been like that for nearly two years. There is a little bit of a Cambodian mentalityto control or put restrictions on private ownership. Years ago, when I first came here, the precinct problem here. Not with the French persé, but withThis means that private owners can do whatever of the Royal Palace was protected from larger recent history. This has to do with the period fromthey like; they can demolish. So in effect, there is developments. There used to be a height restriction: 1970 to 1989, the period covering Lon Nol’s military94

dictatorship, the Khmer Rouge period and then the is ok., but again they’re doing it in a very unstable will flood badly. It is already happening to the north,Vietnamese occupation. These twenty years is a black way. They’re filling the point with river sand and in Russei Keo. That was also connected to the lakeperiod; either genocide, occupation or a dictator. The building directly on it. It lies between two rivers that for drainage; now that’s flooding.Khmer don’t particularly like dealing with it, because both flood regularly. The land that is being filled is Around Phnom Penh the French built a dike ofit’s a painful and often a bad period in their mentality. very flat and low-lying. There are some pilings and raised earth, to protect the city from floodwatersIf it’s old, it’s connected with the past. And young foundations, but nothing holds the sand together. coming in from low-lying areas around PhnomCambodians do not want to deal with the past; they The trouble is of course: the rivers will still flood Penh. Now, a bypass road and housing and shopswant to deal with now and the future. and the water will find a way through the sand and have been built on that dike. So, the dike has beenRecently I was interviewed for the magazine ‘Lift’ underneath the buildings. virtually destroyed. When there are serious floods inon colonial and New Khmer architecture. Other Phnom Penh as a city floods, especially with heavy the Mekong, not only the rainwater can’t come outpeople were interviewed for current architecture. It’s rain. Not the quay, because the French were clever of the city fast enough but a lot of water will comequite revealing to see what they’re saying. The young enough to raise it. The riverbank on this side of the from behind the city, flooding from the back.foreign architects and developers and the young city is artificially high. But leave this area and go I think, ultimately, the city is not lost, but thereKhmers are saying: “well, let’s get on!” behind to Norodom Boulevard, you will find a big have to be huge infrastructure- and water projects dip that floods. The Japanese have recently built a that correct all these errors. There is no long-termAlso foreign architects? huge new drainage system with pumping stations planning; that’s basically the problem.Yes. Some architects want to talk up the place. Let under this pavement that are supposed to deal withme make myself clear: I have no problem with flood waters of the town. However, it doesn’t work Is this something that’s written about in thedevelopment, but I have a problem with poor quality. properly. newspapers?I don’t mind if people put up really contemporary When there is a serious flooding it is discussed.buildings; buildings that are going to mean They should have called some Dutchmen! And the government answer usually is: garbage issomething for the people, buildings that are useful Yes, some people with fingers in the dike! blocking the drainage system. Or that they are in theand well-designed. None of that; it ain’t here. The French were actually terrible at drainage. They process of putting 3 meter drainage pipes instead ofI see that old buildings are torn down and the stuff did a lot of reclamation here: the market is on a the normal 1 meter pipes up. Then the next articlethat is put up is rubbish. It’s not going to last. It’s swamp. The roads around the market still flood. The says: 3 meter pipes are not nearly sufficient, in yearsbad quality, it’s cheap and it is only there to make a French threw out the village people living around the to come we need to install 5 meter pipes. So yes,lot of money, fast. lake – they are doing exactly the same at the Boeng there is reportage and usually it is quite negative andPeople here say that buildings have to have a Khmer Kak Lake; they don’t change their tactics… - and no answers are given.quality, but all they do is make a concrete box and filled it up with sand. The weather pattern in Cambodia is changing too;stick some concrete decoration on the outside. Is The filling of the Boeng Kak Lake is I think a big it is becoming hotter and dryer generally and duringthat supposed to be Khmer? mistake and is going to cause a really big problem: the rainy season it gets wetter. The seasons are not asThere’s a Korean development outside of town, as that lake took an enormous quantity of rainwater. distinct anymore. They used to be very predictable;we speak: the peninsula is being filled up with sand. Many engineers are predicting that the western part the rains would come then and stop then. Now itIt’s going to become high rise development. Which of the city - the part that was serviced by the lake - is much more blurred. And the heat, this year is a 95

record year for hot weather in the world. Psar Thmei was always the most expensive market. Cambodians called Psar Kandal ‘central’, the French It has the symbolic position in the Cambodian mind called Psar Thmei ‘central’ and the former centralThis reveals how short-term planning prevails of quality and expense. Out of all the markets it’s market became the old market.here in Phnom Penh. But let us talk now about the grand and special Psar. If you want imported But please, take a look at the cross in the plan ofthe market. goods, you would look for it at the Psar Thmei. It Psar Thmei. I think that was - I don’t know whetherWhat do you think of the recent developments has an upmarket quality for Cambodians. Imported this is my daydream or not - the cleverest thing thearound Psar Thom Thmei? electrical goods, the latest DVD or CD; you would French designer of the market could do. It refers toYes! Your markets! get them there. Even household goods are of better the crossing of the four rivers: the Upper Mekong,I was a little disappointed with the new fill-in quality; you would get more variety to choose from. the Lower Mekong, the Tonlé Sap and the Bassac.buildings around the market, but compared with Psar Thom Thmei means literally the ‘new, big Why do you put a circle with four arms - the fourwhat was there before it is far better. The market market’, because it was new compared to Psar Chaa, arms not based on west and east - on a 45 degreeitself is looking splendid. It’s the first real facelift the ‘old market’. Historically however, Psar Chaa used angle? I think it’s a very subtle play on the four rivers.building has had probably since the sixties. They did to be Psar Kandal, which means ‘central’. When the If it was truly a French design - ; if you look at thesome cosmetic work about ten years ago. It made it city was first made by the French, the north part of 1925 map of Hébrard, it shows the market in thelook better but only for a short time. Then they said the city was the French Quarter, the area around same position, but as a series of square buildingsit was all right to put up big advertising boarding Wat Phnom. You had Psar Chas and the southern lined up, sitting in a nice little square, aligned northall over it, until there was an outcry over that and it part of the city with the Royal Palace, which was south. And I think here came in the brilliance of thenever happened, fortunately. That would have ruined the Cambodian section. In the middle of these architect Desbois.everything. two quarters you had some Chinese merchants.It is very loved by the Cambodians. Foreigners love it The Chinese merchants were running the general Wasn’t the building a result of a competition?too, but Cambodians love it a lot. businesses. Yes, and Desbois won it. He also did the design ofPhnom Penh has probably ten regional city markets. Psar Chas was actually Psar Kandal, because it was in the buildings surrounding the market - the lovelyThere’s three within ten minutes from each other; the middle of all the sections. It separated basically square - and he is I believe responsible for theKandal, Chas and Thmei. And then, as you go back the Cambodian and Chinese section from the French arms and the concept. But before the market wasthrough the city, there are some among Monivong section. But then another market started and was actually built he was pushed aside and ChauchonBoulevard and then in the west there is more. called Psar Kandal; shifting the centre of the city was put in his place as the engineer. I’d love to knowMostly on arterial roads. It is still a Cambodian and slightly to the Khmer side of things. By this, Psar why. Desbois probably got on the wrong side ofVietnamese custom to go to the market every day in Kandal became Psar Chas, the ‘old market’, which somebody.the morning and buy fresh produce, to cook it and made the French market, Psar Thmei, the ‘New Chauchon was also responsible for the rather fascisteat it that day. Market’. building next to What Phnom, on the riverfront.So, the lifestyle, even though we have refrigerators But, to make things more complicated, the French That was finished in 1942 I think, so about 5and all that – people have refrigerators –; it’s not part called Psar Thmei Marché Central, because of its years after the market. Today it is used by theof daily existence. People always buy fresh vegetables geographic location in the bigger city. Development Counsel for Cambodia. It looks likeand meat and fish and cook it straight away. And then we had confusion, (chuckling) because the the Palais de Chaillot in Paris.96

Chauchon died in bombing in Saigon in 1945, the Kompong Cham nor an architect. Both markets look which they were built.year the war ended. I don’t know what happened like a mini version of Psar Thmei in Phnom Penh. Yes, I noticed your remark on that. It’s veryto Desbois. He probably left Cambodia and just S.I.D.E.C. was based in Saigon. Many architects, interesting, this stylistic division between what Idisappeared. I don’t think anyone knows much about like the famous Hébrard, were based in Hanoi. would call much more colonial looking architectureDesbois. Actually, you had a Hanoi based design group for with brickwork and then these rather modernist Indochina. They were very adaptive, because when ferroconcrete structures, much more adventurous. ItI think he made the Cèrcle Sportif here in they got a good design they would just reformulate does show in the markets. I guess it shows in smallerPhnom Penh. it. The Battambang market, the Psar Thmei and buildings as well, but not so many have survived.That’s gone. It was demolished for the American the Kompong Cham market were redesigned and There are some 30s houses around that would matchembassy. There was a scandal over that too, because handed to S.I.D.E.C. I think. this in style.the Americans choose that place and the Cèrcle You know about the famous 1931 ColonialSportif disappeared. A lot of people said they had Exposition in Paris, in Bois de Vincennes? They We have seen some in Hanoi in the area aroundno right to take over that prime position and build a produced a huge book for it, called l’Indochine the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. You can findsort of fortified castle. Moderne, Encycplopedie Administrative Touristique, some very beautiful Art Déco examples there. Artistique et Economique. The encyclopaedia took I think Hanoi and Saigon were far more focused,What do you know about the Psars in everything of colonial Indochina and literally architecturally. The French were much more presentBattambang and Kompong Cham? organised it from A to Z. This book lists all the there and these cities were key cities: Hanoi forI don’t know that much about Kompong Cham. But buildings that S.I.D.E.C. had done up until 1931. So government and Saigon for commerce. Phnom Penhit looks like a mini combination of Psar Thmei and it doesn’t include your markets, but it tells you what was always considered number three. Vientiane wasBattambang. Battambang is very stylish, it’s lovely. S.I.D.E.C. was doing. considered number four. That was a definite ranking:The Psar in Battambang is almost exactly of the if you were a bureaucrat and you were appointed tosame age as the Psar Thom Thmei. It’s interesting that everything went through the Vientiane, you were bottom of the list.They have done a lot of work on Battambang, central government; not the city government.because there was a German heritage group. It is Very French of course. If you look at the architecture of Indochina,easier to deal with Battambang than to deal with Very French, very bureaucratic. many of the colonial buildings are Beaux-Phnom Penh. (Reading from the article in the Cambodia But not only the governmental issues were very Arts inspired. But if you for instance lookDaily addition) “Psar Nath was built by the same centrally organised. The five big colonial hotels of at Morocco, things are completely different.architects responsible for Phnom Penh’s Psar Thmei. Indochina, like Le Royal in Phnom Penh and the Casablanca is not Beaux-Arts, but Art Déco orThere is a close family resemblance.” Grand Hotel d’Angkor in Siem Reap were built by a Modernist. What could be the reason for that doI think it was built around the same year. The private consortium; a syndicate. you think?architectural group responsible was called S.I.D.E.C.. I think that architects who came to IndochinaIt built the main markets in Cambodia. I am sure it But, let us return to the three markets here absorbed quite a lot of the local style and adaptedbuilt the Kompong Cham market, but I don’t know in Cambodia. I think their architectural style to it. If you look at Beaux-Arts style it’s quitethe date. I haven’t heard someone say a date for corresponds to the stage of colonial rule in decorative, in my view sometimes a pastiche. Some 97

colonial villas from an earlier period, 1915, show He meant French housing? “Le Mission Civilisatrice”?this pastiche. They were still building that style into Yes. He was talking about French architecture; Hygiene was a big thing in the French colony; it’sthe twenties here. Maybe architects reacted on the French colonial architecture. He said that it was just why they closed the canals, which they originallyseverity of the climate. Tropical climates maybe not suitable for this climate. Well, that was reported dug, to serve as a huge flushing system for the cityencourage a sort of… (chuckling) in the newspaper. Then he said: “O well, the big and allowing boats to come into the city and takeCertain Vietnamese art is heavily influenced by boulevards are lovely.” They reminded him of the produce in and out. The reason why Psar Chas isChina. The French would have registered a Chinoise Champs Elysées. where it is, was that it was alongside the canal. Freshapproach. Chinese art is always more decorative; He said that he was told in Saigon that he had to produce came in on the boats, were unloaded andKhmer is not, it is rather plain. Traditional Khmer camp in a broom closet in Phnom Penh. When he went straight into the market. Psar Thmei was on thearchitecture is made from wood or if you go back got here, he found Le Royal. He is reported in the lake, but they filled it, so that was a change of tactics.to the temples it’s made of stone. It’s not Chinese in newspaper saying how lovely and wonderful the After twenty or thirty years of these canalsany way. It’s rather severe. These are dreadful blanket staff are and he was just having a good time. It’s fulfilling their function the drainage system becamestatements, but you know… interesting to see - he was very diplomatic of course overloaded. And what was seen as the cleansingSo I think Vietnam has a much more decorative - what nice things he says about Phnom Penh. It property of the canal was gone and the canalsapproach in its local style. I think that when the first obviously surprised him. became unhygienic. That was a big thing; the FrenchFrench architects came they sort of adapted. They decided to fill them all in. So… after digging them allwere mixing French Beaux-Arts, which is a pastiche About the typology of the market. Dang Nhat out and extending them they filled them all in. Whatof styles anyway, with local decoration. I’ve seen Minh, teacher of Architectural History at the did that say about mentality…? I don’t know…examples of colonial buildings in Saigon that look University of Architecture in HCMC, told uslike the Chinoiserie gone mad. that the market used to be a collection of little You suggested that the introduction of the largeThere was praise for Hébrard when he did these huts on stilts. market had to do with hygiene.hotels (referring to the Hotel Royal and the Grand Hotel The original market here used to be on the ground. Yes! I think the markets were registered byd’Angkor), saying that these hotels were extremely Houses were on stilts. People used to just spread out the French as important, an important part ofcomfortable and airy. their vegetables and things on the ground. On mats Cambodian life, and that it was in their best interestCharlie Chaplin came here on a trip in 1936; the maybe. With Psar Thmei, when the market exceeds to have it as hygienic as possible. Psar Thmei is ayear before the market was finished. He stayed at the space, the same thing happens again. wonder. You can walk into that market on a hot daythe Hotel Royal and was interviewed by reporters. Some paintings in pagoda’s show small nineteenth and the air is cold. It can be a 110 degrees outsideHowever, he also had some criticism: “The city century shops; something between a market stall and and all those arms are comfortable; the huge heightis lovely. I visited the Palace. I visited the Chinese a shop; a booth with a thatched roof and a raised in the dome sucks air from all over the place, justquarter. I’ve met some of the colonists. But I have floor. as the grills in all the wings. It flows with fresh air.some reservations about some of the housing being Perfect design.suitable.” He actually said that the comfort of some The French introduction of this new and large It actually worked even better when it was first built.houses was open to question. typology; is this part of “Le Mise en Valeur” – The Psar used to be a big open skirt. It is all blocked the wish to exploit the colony – or is it part of now by external stalls. It was virtually floating.98

It was considered hygienic and well ventilated. Cambodians don’t react like: they’re Sino-Khmer, to be a revolt, the market would be the place toThe French were clever; they built these markets and they’re Vietnamese. start.handed them over - not to the French, the French (Chuckling) I think that’s Vietnamese propaganda.couldn’t run them - but to the Chinese and the I thought there was a bit of a problem with the Cambodians turned on French tax collectors in theVietnamese. Not the Khmer. The Khmer rented. Vietnamese population in Cambodia? countryside and killed them for exacting too much O yes… There is a problem with the Vietnamese tax from the local people. But I don’t think they plotPoor Khmer. What were they doing in their own and with the Thai. It’s not recent, it’s centuries old. in the market place. They got them when they wentcountry? But that’s a neighbour problem. There are border out of the city.The cities in Cambodia are basically centres of issues. There’s a famous incident in the 20s with a FrenchSino-Khmer populations. Phnom Penh isn’t Khmer. tax collector, called Bardès. He went out withIf you look around Phnom Penh everyone looks Do you think the French had any other motives his interpreters to a village somewhere in thewhite. When you go into the countryside you see to build a market and rent it out? Maybe to keep Kompong Cham Province. This tax collector and histhe agricultural Khmer – I am not being nasty – a everything and everyone in one place? interpreters were murdered, which resulted in a hugedifferent type of Khmer people. Very early maps of the Phnom Penh markets show crackdown; the French going paranoid. They fearedThe immediate area around Psar Thmei is run by open markets. They have developed into structures. that this activity would spread to other centres.Chinese Khmer who have lived here for several Psar Nath in Battambang exists on early maps as a They went straight to king Sisowath and had thesegenerations, mostly selling gold and jewellery. crossroad of dirt tracks, where people squatted on village people punished. The name of the villageWealth is concentrated, still, around Psar Thmei. It is the ground and sold items. The covered market is was changed into something like ‘evil beasts’ andthe richest business heart of Phnom Penh. the structural answer of where people bought and the villagers were rounded-up and executed. Really sold produce. horrible.Does this also apply for Kompong Cham and The village people were just reacting badly to anBattambang? Are they also mostly run by But if you create such a structure, it’s much intolerable situation. Afterwards, this incident wasChinese Khmer? easier to regulate and tax. contained and the French sort of loosened up a bit.Yes, Battambang is full of Sino-Khmer, with Yes, of course. The French would have gained It never happened again.some Thai thrown in. It’s the way the economical property tax and things like that. It’s also part of There were slight uprisings against the Frenchsystem works. I do not think Cambodians are being the growth of a colonial city. If you start building but I don’t think it was ever housed in a marketdispossessed; they are working in an agricultural area. shophouses and markets and all that, you’re putting atmosphere. I think the markets were quite freeThey are very important, because otherwise there up an infrastructure. Like police stations and places. For trade, not for treason.would be no supplies if they don’t sell. But they are hospitals etc. It’s part of the fabric of a colonial city.not the functional race of the market; the functional Again about Psar Thmei; I remember readingrace are the Sino-Khmer. We heard from Dang Nhat Minh, lecturer somewhere that it also sold French goods; did it Architectural History in at the University of cater the French public as well?It seems such a harsh division. Architecture of HCMC, that it might also be a I guess so. As I told you, it was a modern market; itYes, but it is not an issue in Khmer society. way to keep an eye on people. If there was going has always been the premier market. If any French 99

goods were to be sold, that’s where it happened. I think they are very healthy. The only question at in the family. Women control the markets. They rentEven today, you can buy imported electrical goods the moment is that some of the markets are getting their spaces, sit there all day and make extra moneyand the latest things. a little bit unhygienic. But some have already been for the family. The husband is out at a governmentBut actually, these produce are no longer in the replaced. job or teaching at a school but the wife, becausemarket, but are becoming specialty shops. Things Actually, you should know what Psar Chas and it’s easy to have a young child at the market, willlike telephones and cameras and all moved outside. Psar Kandal looked like before the Vietnamese rule sit there. The exceptions are the jewellery and goldInside you still get watches and gold and jewels. But I in Cambodia. These were wrought iron markets. sections; perhaps these are more often run by men.don’t know examples of rich French goods that were Beautiful. French. They had big decorative gatewaysbeing sold, but it did cater to the French market. with fan lights. They were probably made by theBut the most important part of these markets is that Eiffel Company. It was however all taken away by thethey cater for daily use. They’re fresh markets. As Vietnamese as scrap metal. Both markets were builtwell they sell clothing, textiles, fancy goods, kitchen at the turn of the century. Psar Chas’ structure wasware, fashion etc., but their principal function for probably from 1910.Cambodians is fresh produce. The current Psar Kandal was probably built in theThese fresh produce all come from the other side early nineties.of the river. It gets boated across from the vegetablefarms on the other side. Right on the other side of To conclude: the concept of the market, as it isthe Mekong is a huge vegetable area. Everything right now, is it sustainable for the near future?comes across in the early hours of the morning and Absolutely. It’s part of Cambodian society. Iftransported straight to Psar Thmei. refrigeration and air-conditioning, that have been here since the 60s, hasn’t got rid of the markets byThat’s different from Ben Thanh. That market is now, it never will. It would have done it already. Ifbeing catered through other markets. the market after 40 years is resisting refrigeration it’sOf course. Here it goes on the oxcart or car or going to resist it forever.whatever and is then boated across and moved At the front of Battambang there used to be a busdirectly to Psar Thmei. terminal; a little extension which thereafter used to be a café. The intercity buses arrived there originally.Do you know what Psar Nath means? You arrived in Battambang at the market.‘Nath’ means to gather as for a meeting or, in this Kompong Cham is the same. They’re busy ascase to sell; a gathering that becomes a market; a anything. They’re not dead or creaky, they’re veryperfect description! lively. If you ask a family what mum and dad do for aHow do you think the markets will change in the living, I think you will hear 80% of the time thatnear future? What will happen? someone in the family is a seller. Usually the women100

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Battered Beauties

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