“The Father of New Khmer Architecture”, Vann Molyvann, Passed Away This Morning

Phnom Penh─ Cambodian people have been shocked and saddened by the sudden news of the death of Vann Molyvann, who is known as the father of the New Khmer Architecture.

It has been reported that Vann Molyvann has passed away this morning at 9:45am, which is on Thursday 28^th of September, 2017, at his home in Siem Reap, at the age of 91.

Vann Molyvann, who is known as the father of the New Khmer Architecture

Vann Molyvann was born on Novmeber 23^rd, 1926, in Kampot, and was awarded a scholarship to study in Paris, France in 1946. Although at first he studied law, he eventually found his real ambition and pursued architecture at Paris’s Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts (School of Fine Arts). He later on returned back to Cambodia in 1956 and was appointed as the Head of Public Works and State Architect by the late King Norodom Sihanouk. For many years, Vann Molyvann has helped in giving a unique and modern makeover for Cambodia that was back then just a newly independent state.

Many of his outstanding masterpieces were built during the 1950s and 1960s, which was known as Cambodia’s “Golden Age”, including the Independent Monument, the Chaktomuk Conference Hall, the National Sports Complex (Olympic Stadium), the Councils of Ministers, the Preah Suramarit National Theatre and as well, the Institute of Foreign Languages of the Royal University of Phnom Penh.

It is indeed a sorrowful day for Cambodia for losing such a prominent and highly-respected architecture who had made great contributions to the nation. May his soul rest peace and he will always be loved and remembered by all Cambodians.

Here are Many of his outstanding masterpieces were built during the 1950s and 1960s: