The half-finished housing development is emblematic of Cambodia’s aspirational economy. These iconic gated communities, known locally as ‘boreys’, map out the expanding cities with the footprint of progress. Since the 2008 financial crisis stalled its initial iteration, Angkor Grace Residence and Wellness Resort is a prime example of how a borey development can evolve in a dynamic and challenging environment.

Our five-year journey with the project had several stages. The initial challenge was to complete the borey as a family-centered residential property with integrated service facilities. The structures and masonry were essentially complete and our mission was to bring it to life through its facades and shared spaces.

Our concept centered around nature, given the project was just a few minutes from Siem Reap’s ancient temple park. In the existing spaces designated for vehicle access roads between the blocks, we saw the opportunity to create landscaped green corridors, inspired by the way the Siem Reap river flows through the city.

These walkable strips, along with the creation of additional pedestrian access through the blocks themselves, better connected the communal spaces while encouraging activity amongst nature. To achieve the ecological maturity necessary, it was essential that we began tree planting early. Working with a local supplier, we designed a landscaping program that would grow as the renovations progressed.

Slow growth became the tempo of the project, when the Covid-19 pandemic forced another hiatus. By this time, we had already partially completed many of the shared facilities, including two pools, a restaurant, a function room, and a cafe.

In the challenging post-pandemic economic environment, the borey began its pivot to a health and wellbeing resort. With a new concept and business model in play, its architectural evolution centered on converting the front-facing blocks from residential apartments to premium health facilities.

These blocks had the potential to set an impressive identity on arrival. After stripping the internal structures and enclosed stairwells that interrupted the external balconies, we were left with a streamlined form onto which we could install a new unifying facade. The strong, systematic metal lines of the facade were architecturally impressive, however, this look was never intended to be its final realization. As we told the client; they are like lines on a music staff, onto which a tropical symphony of plant life will gradually be composed.

The lush green facade now articulates Angkor Grace’s core philosophy of wellness amidst nature, setting the tone for the nature corridors that continue within.

The materials we chose to integrate throughout the resort further augment the natural theme. For example, locally-made clay bricks and breezeblocks featuring traditional Khmer patterns have been installed innovatively throughout the resort. They provide an earthy texture while serving as permeable elements of privacy and decoration.

The restaurant courtyard, along with the sweeping staircase to the function center, is constructed with pigmented concrete, mimicking the iconic red soil of Siem Reap. This color scheme finds its way into the metalwork features throughout the resort. Together, the materials and plant life integrate the resort into its locale, reflecting the infamous blend of nature and architecture in the nearby temples.

Angkor Grace’s evolution from borey to wellness resort is a vignette of how a project changes over time. By embracing a constant state of transformation in our design, we have helped to shepherd it through a challenging period and equipped it for resilience and adaptability into the future.