From the ground up

Photo by: Heng Chivoan

Frangipani Villas are among the many properties around town designed by Sa.La Design.

Photo by: Heng Chivoan

Tranquility rules at Frangipani.

(CAAI News Media)

Friday, 08 January 2010 15:00 Bennett Murray

With the old French colonial buildings needing a little TLC and the high rises of the ‘new’ Phnom Penh crying out for a touch of style, work is kinda complicated for an architect in this town.

Thai landscape architect Sarunya Lormaneenoapparat, director of Sa.La Design Landscape and Architectural Group, says it is a challenge to create quality buildings in the city while maintaining an aesthetically pleasing vibe.

So, instead of merely drawing blueprints and setting contractors to work, Sa.La Design plans the entire package from start to finish. This includes coordinating a wide variety of professionals to work together.

“The architecture firm is like a special channel to any area,” said Sarunya. “It’s a large umbrella that includes the landscape architect, the interior designer, flora designer, lighting designer and graphic designer.”

And it seems her approach works well. Sarunya’s company’s jobs have included many high-profile projects, such as CamKo City and the European Commission’s ambassador residence.

“We do design analysis, visual analysis and ecological analysis,” she explains. “Without proper designing, the buildings come out looking like boxes. But if you have an architect who works on beautification, you can add value to the building.”

The trick, according to Sarunya, is to draw beauty from what is required in terms of functionality, and to work with pre-existing structural conditions with an open mind. In one instance, Sa.La Design converted an old clinic into a restaurant complete with a lush botanical garden. And in another a decrepit parking lot was reborn into a recreation site.

In a country that lacks local landscape architects, though, it can be tough selling the service.

“Cambodia doesn’t have any landscape architects yet, so many people think I’m a gardener. It’s hard to explain why they need us,” says Sarunya. In other instances, people find her services overpriced compared to local architects who haven’t caught on to the concept of landscape architecture: “They think they can get the same thing for less. But we provide a different value.”

As a commercial architect, Sarunya’s creative energy is inspired by her clients’ direction as well as her surroundings; both natural and cultural.

In the end, her great success can be attributed to her ability to take leads from both.

“I’m not an artist,” she says.

“I concern myself with the local materials, the local ideas. I talk to the client about what they want, and compromise with them so they’re happy.”