Identify buildings through its architecture

 I am going to present you many photos of different buildings around Cambodia I have taken before. 

If you ever notice the exterior design & structure, you probably can identify and take note of these buildings, which ones are religious, national or private buildings. They can be store fronts or the building itself. The Sacred architecture and Profane architecture are different. 

The Cambodian royal palace

• Religious buildings & sacred places: usually, the building colored with yellow, light yellow or milk color and gold color and with pitched roof. The roof tower is often spiral with vertex shape. They also have different kinds of roof struts, usually Garudas (animals) as guardians to protect the sacred places. These types of struts can't be used in residential buildings. Around the building, you often see Naga (represents Cambodian origin, we build Naga to dedicate to our ancestors, the roof and barricade or handrail are made and decorated to look like Naga's skin, fin, head or its tail). The inside of these buildings often with murals of myths, bas reliefs, statues. The religious buildings cannot be in the central point of the land they own and often face to east represents birth. The matrix and design is very specific, 12*24m to represent merits your father and mother have on you). The belief you are going to the religious places or sacred places to take off your shoes related to the shape tower of the building - your toe touching the ground to send spirit to the god/ancestors through the shape object on the tower. Buildings in this category are Buddhist temples/ monastery, stupa, shrine, temples (ancient temples) or statues of respective people.
• National buildings: usually the building painted in dark red color with similar towers to that of religious buildings. The Color is believed to be influenced by the French style when all administrative government buildings were built. Some are served as office buildings. Buildings in this category are museums, the national theaters, the royal palace, monument, ministry buildings, state universities, libraries, courthouses, royal residence, parliament houses.... 

• Private property or residential houses

  Private property come up with various styles depends on the owners' preference. There is no rule for that.

  • Houses in the city usually built as brick house, modern. These days, there are link-houses, villas, mansions or shop houses
  • Houses in the countryside, usually built as wooden houses, thatch houses and usually they have bigger plot of lands with give rooms to stroll around, plant various plants.

Tips for entering these buildings

• Look at the signs, do not wear shoes or hat in the buildings. Some put: No Camera
• Except office buildings, you never wear shoes walking into these buildings

Can you identify which ones are which types?

Pagoda or religious temple at my home village, Prey Veng province

Few temples in the city and the Phnom Prek and Durian farm at Samlot, outside of Battambang town

Temples in Battambang city

Temple at Kampuchea Krom, former Cambodian land in South Vietnam today

Temple along the riverfront of Sesan river

Temple at Stung Treng city

Below: the gate to Toul Sangke temple, Phnom Penh

Chetdei or stupa in the royal palace

Naga statue in the park

National and scared buildings

Sunset & Independent Monument at Phnom Penh, 03 Jul 2021 (iPhone, by Sophia_20)

The Independent monument in Phnom Penh city

The commune hall by strong posts

The communal hall in Kompong Chhnang province

The communal hall is sub-national administration officer: often painted in dark red color and it is identical everywhere in Cambodia. Except the one on land has no posts like this one that is located in floating areas.

The national museum of Cambodia, Phnom Penh city

The Royal Palace, Phnom Penh city

The Cambodian Buddhist Institute, Phnom Penh city (office buildings/library)

The national building for Ministry of Land and Construction (newly built, office building)

Battambong provincial hall, office building: one of few buildings in Colonial styles

Oppo (edited): 22 Mar 2020 - Spring Equinox

The Angkor Wat temple, represents Cambodian architect, Siem Reap province

Private property or residential houses

Residential houses and the hotel nearby, Phnom Penh city

Rose condo by the riverside

Me in front of residential villa in the gated community in Kandal province: it is a mixed of modern art with the Cambodian roofing

Local villager's house - this house is by the border of Cambodia-Laos

This house located in Preah Vihear, by Cambodian-Laos border.

Rabbit Island, Kep, Cambodia (Sophia_20)

This is the resort houses along the seashores, thatch roof with palm leaves wall, Kep province

Ancient house built in 1920 in Wat Kor village, Battambang (LG Sophia_20)

The ancient wooden house in Battambang city

Bungalow at Thansour beach between coconut trees

The wooden resort houses at Sihanouk Ville

This is a restaurant from another floating village in Siem Reap (Prek Toal, a different one)

Wooden houses in floating village, Battambong province

Pharmacy are also on the water

Wooden floating houses in Chnok Tru, Kompong Chhang province. This is a typical pharmacy house in the village 

Stilt houses in floating village of Kompong Pluk, Siem Reap province

Stilt houses

Stilt houses in floating village of Kompong Pluk, Siem Reap province

Rice field after the harvesting - Yellow-eyed grass dominated

My rural houses in remote village