Phnom Penh (FN), Nov. 26 – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet instructed the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, along with relevant authorities to prepare architectural guidelines for the Angkor Archaeological Park in order to preserve Khmer identity.

The premier spoke on Tuesday (Nov. 26) during the closing session of the 2024 annual meeting of the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning, and Construction.

Samdech Thipadei underscored, "In line with the needs of the people living there, I believe this area (Angkor Archaeological Park) should maintain its Khmer identity. Our construction must reflect this. If you wish to build differently, you can do so outside the heritage area of 400 square kilometers, but within this zone, we must preserve its essence."

Samdech Thipadei instructed the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, and the Board of Architects and the Board of Engineers to define the architectural style for villages in the Angkor area for the next 50 years. The Board of Architects and the Board of Engineers are crucial in shaping the architecture of Angkor, particularly regarding exterior designs.

On the occasion, the premier added that the area surrounding Angkor Archaeological Park should maintain a cohesive and Khmer architectural style. While modernisation and development are encouraged, the Angkor Archaeological Park site and national heritage areas must be carefully managed to avoid turning the area into something resembling European cities. If we modernise, it should be in a Khmer style that reflects our values.

It should be noted that Angkor Archaeological Park spans 401 square kilometers and covers 112 geographical locations, including 21 villages, 21 communes, and five districts in Siem Reap province. The population of the area in 1993 was about 22,000, and it is expected to increase significantly by 2024.
=FRESH NEWS