The aim of the competition was to design a house that promoted health, was safe to live in and was affordable and attractive.
Several factors as climate and weather, flooding, local environmental factors and contextual issues, health and promotion of safe living spaces, adaptability and personalization had to be considered keeping the budget below $2000.
Cambodia, located in the tropical zone, has a monsoon climate; during the rainy season, the Great Tonle Sap lake rises up, flooding vast amount of areas; temperatures are fairly uniform throughout the year but the relative humidity is high, specially at night that exceeds 90 percent.
Our proposal hopes to embrace Cambodia, its culture, architecture and traditions by using local materials, openness and shading as the dominant characteristics. Its elevated position provides better security and better air movements, the broad eaves shade the walls and openings, provide protection from driving rain and sky glare and permit the openings to be kept open most of the time, and the light weight timber used, holds little heat and cools adequately at night.
Besides, a new third space that we have called “balcony”, has been designed together with the living area and the kitchen on the first floor; this balcony is neither private nor public, neither exterior nor interior; provide extra room for other uses, visual conexions and permeability, and improves the natural ventilation.