Vann Molyvann Drawings 旺莫利萬繪圖

Vann Molyvann (1926–2017) had played an important role in Cambodia as an architect and urban planner. During his study of architecture at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in France, he received education from Le Corbusier who influenced his later modernist approach. Upon his return to the newly independent Cambodia in 1956, Molyvann was appointed as the chief architect and head of urban planning in the country. He was responsible for prolific number of projects in Phnom Penh, the capital of his home country. Incorporating modernity with traditional elements, some traceable examples are the National Sports Complex, built for the cancelled 1963 Southeast Asian Games, modelling after the Angkor Wat hydraulics, as well as the 100 Houses, a project for workers’ accommodation, referring to the design of stilt house in the traditional villages. Putting the tropical weather into consideration, Molyvann’s implementation of passive cooling and awareness of landscape can also be seen.

The Vann Molyvann Project (founded 2009), led by the Canadian architect Bill Greaves, aims to bring attention to the buildings designed by Molyvann across 1960s–1970s, which represent an important period when Cambodia was developing. With many of his works demolished and renovated, especially during the time he had moved to Switzerland, the Project has by survey recorded the remaining ones by the means of architectural models, drawings and photographs.

M+ acquired the drawings prepared by The Vann Molyvann Project, of various works including chronologically the Sangkum Reastr Niyum Exhibition Hall (1961), Olympic Village Apartments (1963), National Sports Complex (1962–1964), Societe des Khmere Distilleries Brewery (1965), State Palace, Chamkar Mon Compound (1966), 100 Houses Project (1965–1967), Preah Suramarit National Theatre (1966–1968) and Institute of Foreign Languages, Royal University of Phnom Penh (1972). Corresponding architectural models are also in the M+ Collection, they are, in same order, 2022.143, 2020.328, 2022.135, 2020.329, 2022.134, 2022.140, 2022.136, 2022.142, 2022.138 and 2022.141.

Arranged chronologically by project, and by format, logical sequence or original order as devised by creator within each project.