EMBRACING NATURE, ENRICHING LIFE

This project is envisioned as a campus of tomorrow. It is a tertiary education institution, Center for Banking Studies, in an urban area of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. It comprises 3 levels of podium and 3 levels to academic spaces connected by a circulation spine, with a total area of 27,000sqm on a 1.5 hectare land. The design aims to embrace nature to achieve an environment that allows better people connection and closer interaction with nature.



On the construction level, the project prioritises the use of natural and local materials to minimize the building’s carbon footprint. There is no false ceiling for most part of the circulation areas of the podium and classroom blocks, thereby saving up to 60% of ceiling materials. Alternative, sustainable materials such as local bamboo is used as a false ceiling for certain social spaces, which helps to absorb sounds and is also a nod towards the environment.



The campus is surrounded by lush greenery and the design language used on the building surfaces draws inspiration directly from the organic shapes of the two light-filled atria connecting across floors. By integrating intuitive wayfinding into circulation spaces through biophilic design language, an elegant aesthetic that is relevant and timeless is generated. The use of native plant species to create a garden campus which attracts local fauna is a way for the campus to give back to the environment. The campus is truly a sanctuary for plants, birds and humans in the heart of the city, and offers a respite for the end user.



Overall, this campus demonstrates a progressive approach to architecture and balances a myriad of needs while pushing the boundaries of campus design in a tropical climate.