Cambodia Build Begins.

Orkidstudio, the humanitarian design organisation supported by Drum, has begun its latest project in Sihanoukville, Cambodia.

A well-known tourist spot, with long-stretching golden beaches, the city also has a less expatriated side. It is in this part, nestled behind a busy market street where Orkidstudio are reconstructing a community centre and school.

The Bomnong L’or (Goodwill) Centre has been running for over ten years and provides much needed supplementary education to children and adults.

A big challenge faced by the centre is ensuring that children in particular are able to attend rather than being sent out to work or beg by their parents. With many households too poor to let their children learn when they could be contributing financially, the centre has established a soap-making enterprise with many of the local women. The soap is sold locally, mostly to tourists, and generates enough income to increase the earning potential of poorer households so their children can attend school.

The Centre was originally built on a small site accessed by a small track off the main road. With so many daily users, teaching spaces had become cramped, play space was limited and impractical and the design offered only poorly ventilated and dimly lit space throughout. Over a month ago Orkidstudio arranged for the demolition of the original structure with the centre temporarily moving into an alternative accommodation around the corner.

The aim is now to build new facilities, doubling the amount of teaching space and providing a dedicated I.T. suite and soap production room.

Working with the restricted site area, the team has sought to imitate the local Cambodian stilt house, raising the building up and releasing the full site area for recreational use, much of which will be well sheltered from the blistering south east Asian sun.

Following a blessing for the site and project from the land owners and local hosts in line with their Buddhist faith, construction work began last Monday, with a dozen men and women from the local community participating in the build.

Cambodia has experienced a rapid decline in rainforest cover in recent decades, so Orkidstudio have been keen to minimise the use of timber, opting to construct in concrete, steel and brick. Through the design they hope to demonstrate that these materials can be applied in intelligent ways to create spaces that are enjoyable and comfortable to inhabit.

Drum Property Group is very proud to support Orkidstudio projects throughout the world. Further updates on progress of the build will be made available here, or please visit www.orkidstudio.co.uk to read the blog of the build and find out more about the charity and the work they do.

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