Angkor Market / UAD Architects

Architects: UAD Architects
Area: 3000 m²
Year: 2024
Photographs: Oudompheaktra Ang
Lead Architects: Mengly Khuth, Visal Nuon
City: Krong Siem Reap
Country: Cambodia

Angkor Market commercial building designed by UAD Architects in Siem Reap, Cambodia has activated a previously underutilized urban gap between the historic corridor leading to Angkor Wat and the city center. Surrounded by significant cultural landmarks such as the Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, Angkor National Museum, and Amansara Resort, the project introduced a mixed-use retail facility while respecting the architectural language of the neighborhood. Completed as a two-story structure, the market enhances local economic ecosystems by supporting regional farmers from the Kulen Mountain area through dedicated produce spaces. The use of red brick, exposed concrete, handcrafted Khmer tiles, and metal structure reflects a material palette grounded in both utility and local tradition. Strategically placed palm trees and intricate latticework create soft daylight and shadow interplay, enhancing the ground-floor experience. Spatial organization integrates varying ceiling heights and color-coded terrazzo floors to assist navigation and amplify sensory engagement.

Located on Preah Sihanouk Avenue, which connects the northern route to Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the downtown area of Siem Reap, Angkor Market is a two-story red brick building set amid a century of cultural heritage, including the Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, Angkor National Museum, and Amansara Resort. The design was intended to activate a gap in the urban fabric and establish a new communal gathering space while preserving the harmony of the surrounding neighborhood. The market includes grocery stores, pharmacies, stationery shops, and household appliance retailers, all contributing to a more enjoyable shopping experience.

The market actively supports local farmers from Kulen Mountain, a region with historical significance, by dedicating space to the display and sale of locally sourced fruits and vegetables. Designed with utility as a priority, the project follows a pure architectural style. Its main components consist of concrete, metal, and traditional building materials, including locally produced red bricks and handcrafted Khmer tiles, all selected for their functional qualities.

The exposed brick facade creates a timeless, earthy, and natural appearance that reinforces the surrounding architectural character. Structurally, the stability of the brick walls relies entirely on their wavy form and the method of brick bonding. Palm trees are placed at street level, establishing a visual connection with the brick facade. At the ground level, a large entrance space opens into progressively higher ceilings, where delicately patterned shadows form through the gentle natural light filtering in from the latticework and the tropical garden.

The architects combine color, light, height, and other spatial elements to shape circulation and guide sensory experience throughout the space. Colorful terrazzo floors and specific design features support wayfinding by helping customers easily locate the products they need. A combination of warm and cool materials is used to attract attention, while strategic lighting contributes to an atmosphere intended to stimulate creativity.