Phnom Penh at dusk, looking southeast from the old French quarter to the Chamkarmon district. A rash of high-rise construction has changed the cityscape in the past 15 years, and many heritage buildings have been lost. Photo: Huw Watkin Phnom Penh at dusk, looking southeast from the old French quarter to the Chamkarmon district. A rash of high-rise construction has changed the cityscape in the past 15 years, and many heritage buildings have been lost. Photo: Huw Watkin
Phnom Penh at dusk, looking southeast from the old French quarter to the Chamkarmon district. A rash of high-rise construction has changed the cityscape in the past 15 years, and many heritage buildings have been lost. Photo: Huw Watkin
Cambodia
Lifestyle /  Arts & Culture

‘Pearl of the Orient’ losing its charms to development: Phnom Penh high-rises sprout, heritage buildings out

  • A provincial elegance reminiscent of southern France, the most diverse architecture in Southeast Asia – how much has changed as Cambodian capital has developed
  • Half the city’s historically significant buildings have been razed in 20 years, as Chinese money fuels a construction boom that defies rational explanation

Topic |   Cambodia
Huw Watkin
Huw Watkin

Updated: 9:02pm, 16 Jul, 2019

Why you can trust SCMP
Phnom Penh at dusk, looking southeast from the old French quarter to the Chamkarmon district. A rash of high-rise construction has changed the cityscape in the past 15 years, and many heritage buildings have been lost. Photo: Huw Watkin Phnom Penh at dusk, looking southeast from the old French quarter to the Chamkarmon district. A rash of high-rise construction has changed the cityscape in the past 15 years, and many heritage buildings have been lost. Photo: Huw Watkin
Phnom Penh at dusk, looking southeast from the old French quarter to the Chamkarmon district. A rash of high-rise construction has changed the cityscape in the past 15 years, and many heritage buildings have been lost. Photo: Huw Watkin
READ FULL ARTICLE