1) Cambodian architecture evolved from wooden structures to more substantial brick and stone buildings incorporating Indian forms and Khmer elements. Examples of early temples still stand in ruined states. 2) In Cambodia, important early architectural developments included the creation of cities, temples, and irrigation systems between 800-900 AD. Major later structures include Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. 3) Myanmar architecture is primarily religious in nature, with styles evolving over four historical periods. Major structures from the Pagan period include stupas with terraced bases and temples surrounded by corridors. Later architecture incorporated Chinese influences.

1. Southeast Asian Architecture
Sofia Alicia De Austria

2. CAMBODIA

4.  The earliest recorded capital of Cambodia was Vyadhapura (Angkor Borei) on the lower
reaches of Mekong River. It was agglomeration of wooden houses on piles connected by little
canals linked to larger waterways capable of taking sea-going ships.
 Wooden buildings gave way to more substantial brick and stone imitations of timber
prototypes, which show a mixture of Indian forms grafted on t o indigenous elements, and
rich decorative sculpture derived from wood carving.
 Examples of temples and shrines still exist, if in a ruined state, at Tat Panom (Sambor) on the
Mekong and Phnom Bayang.
Architectural Character

5.  At the beginning of the Early Classical Khmer period, 3 important architectural events occured,
indicating the transitional stages between the pre-Angkor and early Angkor styles.
1. Creation of a city and temple-mountain in 800 AD on the hill of Phnom Kulen, near
Angkor and the lake of Tonle-Sap.
2. The building of another capital on the hill and round the temple mountain of Phnom
Bakeng close to Phnom Kulen, terraced into the hill as a five-levelled pyramid, with
isolated towers on the topmost tier and the smaller towers at the lower levels.
3. The construction of Roluos, Angkor, of the archetypal Khmer urban irrigation system. An
immense artificial lake, ‘Baray’ Lolei about 3km long and 800m wide was formed by
earthen dykes to store water from the Stung Roluos river. The lake provided for the
needs of the whole community, its final purpose being to irrigate the paddy fields.

6.  In the transitional Classic Khmer period, the evolution of the temple-mountain was continued in Baksei
Chamkrong, Angkor, the first to be built-up in stone in pyramidal terraces from flat ground, and Koh Ker,
constructed on an artificial lake by damming a stream, the normal east-west axis of the city altered to
align with it- proof perhaps that the practical needs of the irrigation system were considered more
important than a symbolic gesture to religion.
Baksei Chamkrong Koh Ker

7.  The Classical Khmer period was dominated by two majestic architectural achievements: the creation of
Angkor Wat, the temple city of Suryavarman II and of Angkor Thom, the remodeled capital of Jayavarman
VII.

8.  Khmer architecture, as expressed in these works, is characterized by grandeur of conception, brilliant
landscaping, unsurpassed town-planning in a strictly formal sense, and exuberant sculptural decoration
on a grandiose scale, but of exquisite refinement.
 Building techniques, remained unsophisticated. Stone was used like wood, and stone walls were often
reinforced with concealed timber beams inserted in the hollowed-out centres; when the wood rotted the
stone blocks fell. No mortar was used; the stone masonry was stablised by the stheer mass of the
construction, and the fine joints of the roofs fitted so perfectly that they remain watertight after several
hundred years of neglect.

9.  The Preah Ko Temple is one of two important temples build by Indravarman I. Situated in the city-water
complex, for which the king was also responsible, it is a single-terrace construction )that is, not yet a
temple-mountain) with six towers and lavish carving showing strong Javanese influence.

10.  The Bakong Temple, Roluos, the second important temple built by Indravarman I, typifies the emergence of
the Khmer temple-mountain concept. An architecturally simple stone pyramid, it comprises 5 superimposed
terraces, decreasing in size from an almost square base.

11.  Other temples of the Early Classical Khmer period exemplifying the pyramidal superstructure are the Lolei, set
in the Roluos lake, near Angkor, and the Bakheng, Angkor, of the same date, which largely follows the pattern
of Bakong.

12. MYANMAR

14. Architectural Character
 The development of Burmese architecture follows the four historical periods. Few significant buildings
survive from the early centuries. The majority of Burma’s important architectural monuments date from the
Pagan period and almost all buildings of distinction are religion.
 The stupa (also known in Burma as Zedi) was a massive brick construction of domical external form, built
upon a plinth of three or five diminishing terraces; the temple was usually square in plan with brick walls
enclosing narrow vaulted corridors embracing a solid masonry core, which had centrall-placed niches on
each side to accommodate statues of Buddha; the walls were decorated with frescos or sculptured bas-
reliefs.
 The central core rose in a series of receding storeys, and was crowned with a tapering shikhara-shaped finial.
Both kinds of religious building were also referred to as pagodas (paya).
 In the Pagan period there are said to have been 5000 stupas and temples within the boundaries of the
capital.

15. The Great Golden Stupa Shwezigon Pagoda

16.  The monasteries (kyaung) and ordination halls (thein) for monks were derived from wood prototypes,
and libraries (pitakat-taik), housing the sacred Buddhist texts, resembled the simpler temple designs.
 In the post-Pagan era, Burma declined architecturally, as well as politically. Chinese influence
contributed to the emergence of the ‘Pagoda’ style, which characterized the architecture of the 17th to
19th centuries. No matter what their particular functions might be, all buildings were treated,
constructionally and aesthetically, in a similar manner. Typical of the Burmese feeling for rich and
intricate artistry, this architecture of carved wood, lacquer and gilt is essentially a fold art, expressing
the imagination, vitality and craft skills of the people.

17.  There were stupas dating from the pre-Pagan period, perhaps as early as the third century, at Bir-Paya near
Pagan, and in the seventh and eighth centuries at Prome, the Banbangyi, Payagyi, and Payama pagodas.

18.  The Mingalazedi Stupa, Pagan, comprises a high square plinth of three stepped terraces, with stairways in
the centre of each side leading to the platform, from which the circular bell-shaped main structure rises. At
each angle of the square stands a small replica of the stupa. The design has Javanese precedents.

19. Shwedagon Pagoda Nanpaya Temple

20. Ananda Temple