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Cambodian Architecture

Cambodian architecture, also known as Khmer or Angkorian architecture, is characterized by its focus on temple construction, primarily reflecting Hindu religious motifs. Key structures include Angkor Wat, the world's largest religious building, and the Bayon Temple, known for its serene stone faces. The architecture showcases a blend of Indian influences and indigenous elements, with significant materials being stone, laterite, and timber.

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21 views

Cambodian Architecture

Cambodian architecture, also known as Khmer or Angkorian architecture, is characterized by its focus on temple construction, primarily reflecting Hindu religious motifs. Key structures include Angkor Wat, the world's largest religious building, and the Bayon Temple, known for its serene stone faces. The architecture showcases a blend of Indian influences and indigenous elements, with significant materials being stone, laterite, and timber.

Uploaded by

ricciizobel.mandreza
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CAMBODIAN ARCHITECTURE

• Officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia


• Capital: Phnom Penh
• Southern portion of the Indochina Penninsula in
Southeast Asia
CAMBODIA • Formally known as Kampuchea
• Offical Language is Khmer
• The people of Cambodia are called Cambodians
or Kampucheans
CAMBODIAN
ARCHITECTURE
• Also KHMER ARCHITECTURE or ANGKORIAN
ARCHITECTURE
• Focused on creating temples.
• Mostly reflect on their religion which is Hinduism.
• Motifs of Apsaras and Devatas played an important
role.
• Stone temples still can be seen at present unlike
the wood structures that has been washed out.
• South: Mekong River Delta and China Sea
• West: Midwestern Mekong Region, Gulf of Siam
GEOGRAPHICAL, • East: Ancient Vietnam, Eastern Moi Highlands
GEOLOGICAL, • North: Mountains of Central Laos
CLIMATIC • Timber, Laterite, Sandstone and Terracotta
• Southwest monsoon provides the only break in the
tropical humid heat.
• Laterite: Clay that is soft when taken from the
ground bat hardens when exposed to the sun
• Granite
• Hard gray stones
CHIEF • Clay for floor and roofing tiles

BUILDING • Timber: Principal building material


• Minerals
MATERIALS • Pink sandstones
• Stone: mainly used for religious temples
• Wood: Non-religious structures
• Buddhism was the one dominant in Cambodia,
however through introduction of Hinduism, it
shared a significance in their architecture when it
RELIGION flourished throught the land.
• Khmer Empire suffered a decline which historians
say the reason was the changes in their religion.
• Earliest recorded capital was Uyadhapura on the
lower reaches of Mekong River. It was an
Agglomeration of wooden houses on piles
connected by little canals linked to larger
waterways capable of taking.
ARCHITECTURAL • Architectural development was centered upon
CHARACTER Sambor and Prei Kuls, in the forest near Kampong
Thom on the road from Saigon to Angkor.
• Wooden buildings gave way to more substantial
brick and stone imitations of timber prototypes.
• Mixture of Indian forms and indigeneous elements.
TEMPLE MOUNTAIN PARTS:
• Bakan: (Central Sanctuary
• Prang: Richly carved tower-like spire
• Enclosure: Concentric walls surrounding Khmer Temples
• Gallery: passageway lining along walls
• Gopura: entrance building or entrance pavilion
• Library: free standing buildings which were normally placed in pairs on
either side of the entrance and open to west
• Baray: giant water reservoir
• Naga Bridge: Nine headed serpent sculpture adorned on each side of the
bridge
ANGKOR WAT
• Holy Temple
• Angkor, Cambodia
• Built by King Suryavarman II
• Early 12th Century
• World’s largest religious building
• Made of Sandstone
• Masterpiece of the Angkorian
Architecture
• Dedicated to God Vishnu
• Combines two basic plans of Khmer
temple: A temple mountain and
galleried temple
• Oriented to the West
• Decorated wth Bas reliefs and
numerous devatas on walls
• An important pilgrimage site for
Buddhist
BAS RELIEFS, Angkor Wat
ANGKOR THOM

• Siem Reap, Cambodia


• One of the Impressive Cambodian
Architecture
• Last and longest capital city of Khmer
Empire.
• Built in the late 12th century by King
Giaiavaman VII
• Constructed in Bayon Style
• Located 1.7km from the north of
Angkor Wat
• Two sides of the road are statues who
embrace the body of the seven head
snake; 700m long
• 5 entrances to the city from 4
directions; Bayon temple at center
BAYON TEMPLE

• One of the famous and most richly


decorated temple in Cambodia
• Built in late 12th Century
• Was the official state of the Mahayan
Buddhist King Jayavarman VIII
• Was dedicated to Buddha
• Most distinct feature is the multitude of
serene smiling stone faces on many of
the towers
• Towering spires carved into four faces
looking at for directions
• Has an art gallery with 11,000 sculptures
engraved on a 1200m rock wall
CAMBODIAN
ROYAL PALACE
• Phnom Penh, Cambodia
• Preah Barom Reacheaveang
Chaktomuk Serey Mongkol
• Built in 1860s (1866 to 1870)
• Built atop an old citadel called
Banteay Keo; Faces approximately
East
• Complex of buildings which serves
as the royal residence of King of
Cambodia
• Place for courts, protocols and
royal ceremonies
PREAH VIHEAR
TEMPLE
• Preah Vihear province, Cambodia
• Built during the period of the Khmer
Empire
• Situated on the top of a 525m cliff in
Dangrek Mountains.
• Cambodia was in dispute with Thailand
over ownership of the temple. The
International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled
that the temple is in Cambodia
• A key edifice of the empire’s spiritual life
• Constructed along north-south axis
• Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

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