Zaha Hadid unveils her design for the Sleuk Rith Institute in Cambodia
Zaha Hadid has launched a design for the Sleuk Rith Institute, the office's first project in Cambodia and its first ever wooden construction. The building, situated in Phnom Penh, will act as a genocide memorial and also provide space for a museum, research centre, graduate school, archive and library focused on the atrocities committed by the former Cambodian regime, Khmer Rouge.
The vision of Youk Chhang, a human rights activist, Khmer Rouge investigator and director of Cambodia's Documentation Centre, the new complex will be a place for 'reflection, healing and reconciliation'. Chhang has been tirelessly collecting information and documents around the former regime and this archive will now find a permanent home in the Hadid-designed project. The Documentation Centre will be incorporated into the Sleuk Rith Institute, with Chhang remaining the founder and director.
Aiming to offer a 'different and more positively oriented direction', the project breaks with stereotypes associated with genocide-memorial architecture. The institute was designed to teach from the past but focus on the future, and also incorporates strong education and outreach programmes.
The complex is composed of five sustainably sourced timber structures, which rise from the ground separately but interweave upwards, referring back to the architecture of local sites – such as the ancient temples of Angkor Wat. Their height ranges from three to eight storeys and each houses a different function: the Sleuk Rith Institute; a library; a graduate school focusing on genocide, conflicts and human rights studies; a research centre and archive; a media centre; and an auditorium. Connections at various levels allow for flexibility and collaboration between functions.
Local climatic conditions were crucial to the design. Louvers keep the strong sunshine out, while the complex is built on raised terraces to protect it from the city's seasonal flooding. Pools around the site capture the light and reflect it back into the building – another element that links back to the architecture of temples such as Srah Srang and Angkor Wat. A passive design and the use of renewable energy sources increase the complex's ecological performance.
The five iconic volumes will be surrounded by a 68,000 sq m memorial park for use by the local community. Construction is planned to start on site next year.
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).
-
Tech Editor, Jonathan Bell, selects six new and notable Bluetooth speaker designs, big, small and illuminating
These six wireless speakers signal new creative partnerships and innovative tech approaches in a variety of scales and styles
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
As London’s V&A spotlights Mughal-era design, Santi Jewels tells of its enduring relevance
‘The Great Mughals: Art, Architecture and Opulence’ is about to open at London’s V&A. Here, Mughal jewellery expert and Santi Jewels founder Krishna Choudhary tells us of the influence the dynasty holds today
By Hannah Silver Published
-
London bar Bauhaus Warehaus is a factory by day, drinking den by night
Mixologist of the moment Remy Savage shakes up the world of cocktail-making with a hardworking sibling to A Bar with Shapes for a Name, his Bauhaus-inspired bar enterprise in east London
By Neil Ridley Published
-
Omniyat launches The Alba, new Zaha Hadid Architects-designed residences in Dubai
Developer Omniyat announces The Alba, ultra-luxury residences managed by Dorchester Collection and designed by Zaha Hadid Architects to blend ‘nature and cutting-edge design’
By Simon Mills Published
-
Load into this reimagined Fortnite cityscape, courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects
A collaboration between Epic Games and ZHA, Re:Imagine London brings the architects’ modular forms into one of the world’s most popular multiplayer games
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
The Henderson by ZHA in Hong Kong makes everyone sit up and pay attention
The Henderson, ZHA's new high-rise in Hong Kong, stands out in its coveted address through its unusual, fluted façade of glass columns
By Daven Wu Published
-
A guide to Zaha Hadid: from architecture to making 'a big hole' in Wallpaper*
Dame Zaha Hadid was a global, Pritzker Prize-winning architect and a force of nature; in this ultimate guide to her work, we celebrate her life, career and legacy
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Roca celebrates Zaha Hadid Design in London
New exhibition celebrates Roca London Gallery's tenth anniversary and the work of Zaha Hadid Design (ZHD)
By Ellie Stathaki Last updated
-
Snøhetta goes underground at the Ordrupgaard Art Museum
Snøhetta unveils new subterranean extension at the Ordrupgaard Art Museum in Denmark
By Shawn Adams Last updated
-
The buildings adding a new dimension to Miami’s skyline
As the Florida city’s architecture boom continues apace, here’s what’s next
By Jessica Klingelfuss Last updated
-
One Thousand Museum by ZHA completes in Miami
Zaha Hadid Architects' debut residential tower in the USA, the glamorous and organic One Thousand Museum in downtown Miami, has just been completed, featuring a range of amenities, as well as bespoke landscaping by specialist Enzo Enea
By Pei-Ru Keh Last updated