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The air conditioner is designed to trap air within a space,
controlling humidity and temperature to maintain a consistent atmosphere. In English, “atmosphere” refers to air or the environment but also carries the meaning of “mood” or “ambiance.”
Similarly, the word aura,
which refers to the unique atmosphere or vibe surrounding a person or place, also originates from the meaning of “breeze” or
“air.” The air that surrounds us carries a special quality unique to that place, something that cannot be controlled by machines.

Air conditioners heat the Earth’s atmosphere, and as the planet gets warmer,
people feel the need to use air conditioners even more.
Globally, nearly 20% of the total electricity used in buildings
is dedicated to powering air conditioners. Currently,
there are over a billion air conditioners installed worldwide, and by 2050, that number is expected to exceed 4.5 billion, making air conditioners as common as mobile phones are today.*

Air conditioners have not only changed the climate but also transformed architecture. With the widespread adoption of air conditioning,
sealed box-like structures, where air flows only through air conditioning ducts, have proliferated. Air conditioning has become more than just an accessory in buildings; buildings have become structures that encase air conditioning systems. In doing so, air conditioning has displaced the various forms of wisdom humanity has developed over time for living with heat.

The architect who built Cambodia

Vann Molyvann (1926–2017),
the architect of Cambodia, designed numerous monumental buildings during the country’s post-independence reconstruction period after 1953. He also led the development plans for major cities, including Phnom Penh.
People refer to him as the architect who built Cambodia. **

He studied architecture in Paris, France, where he was influenced by Le Corbusier, a leading figure of modernist architecture, becoming the first Cambodian to study Western architecture. Vann Molyvann combined the principles of Western modernism with the traditions of Khmer civilization, leading the way in creating a new Cambodian architectural style.

He aimed to create “open spaces where the wind
could pass through, not enclosed spaces with air conditioning.” He believed that it was essential to consider Cambodia’s hot and
humid natural environment and that understanding the Cambodian way of life was crucial when building homes for the people of Cambodia. He firmly believed that an architect’s duty is not to build for themselves but to construct homes for the people who will live in them.

Photo of the White Building, completed in 1963 © The White Building Archive The first communal facility overseen by Vann Molyvann.

Believing that “an architect must advocate for the people, creating spaces
for them, not just spaces for the sake of space,” Vann Molyvann designed the White Building, a communal housing facility in Phnom Penh. He intended for even the poor to live in the heart of the city, mingling with various social classes, and enjoying public amenities late into the night. He ensured that the residents would feel like the true owners of their homes.

2016 Photo of the White Building, a screenshot from the Asia Culture Museum Archive documentary on Vann Molyvann’s architecture “The Age of Vision”

When the Khmer Rouge came to power in 1975, the residents of the White Building
were all forced to leave, and the building began to deteriorate. After Pol Pot was overthrown in 1979, people started returning to this long-abandoned structure. During Vietnamese rule, residents continued to live in the building, repairing and creatively modifying it as it aged. The building became a community where a diverse group of people, including artists, soldiers, and civil activists, lived together.

2016 Photo of the White Building, One year before its demolition. A screenshot from the Asia Culture Museum Archive documentary on Vann Molyvann's architecture “The Age of Vision”

However, the White Building, which had withstood civil war and foreign invasions, was finally demolished in 2017, swept away by the economic development boom that began in the 1990s. The same year that over 500 households started relocating, Vann Molyvann also passed away. In an obituary honoring him, The New York Times remarked that “Vann Molyvann’s architecture instilled a new sense of confidence in the Cambodian people.”

Seventy-nine years ago, there was an atmosphere filled with the fervent desire to build a nation where everyone could live happily. Have we lost that initial spirit? Yet, the air around us has become much hotter and more humid over the years, and one wonders if people are retreating into their own spaces, each with its own air conditioner. Reflecting on that time seventy-nine years ago, one must ask: have we drifted away from that original hope?

Asia Culture Museum Archive,
the documentary on Vann Molyvann’s architecture
Go to The Age of Vision