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45-579: Designed by chief national architect Vann Molyvann in 1966, it opened in 1968 as the Grand Théâtre Preah Bat Norodom Suramarit (aka Mohorsrop Theatre). The theatre building became a landmark structure in modern Phnom Penh. It was demolished in 2008. During renovation efforts in February 1994, there was disastrous fire that gutted the entire auditorium and the venue has remained a burned-out shell ever since. Since

90-564: A French-language leftist publication that was viewed with hostility by the government. L'Observateur was banned by the government in the following year and police publicly humiliated Samphan by beating, undressing and photographing him in public. Despite this, Samphan was invited to join Prince Norodom Sihanouk 's Sangkum , a 'national movement' that operated as the single political party within Cambodia. Samphan stood as

135-405: A Sangkum deputy in the 1962, 1964 and 1966 elections, in which the lattermost the rightist elements of the party, led by Lon Nol , gained an overwhelming victory. During his tenure, according to Minister of Information Trinh Hoanh , he was known as "a modest man of relatively humble origins who, even while minister of economy, refused to be driven in a Government limousine". In 1966, he then became

180-399: A handful of trained Cambodian architects, whom Prince Norodom Sihanouk called on to lead the design of new state infrastructure. As the most qualified architect, Molyvann was promptly appointed Head of Public Works and State Architect . During this post-independence era , Molyvann designed and built over 100 structures, including many famous landmarks, such as Chaktomuk Conference Hall ,

225-552: A member of a 'Counter-Government' created by Sihanouk to keep the rightists under control. However, Samphan's radicalism led to a split in the party and he had to flee to a jungle after an arrest warrant was issued against him. At the time, he was even rumoured to have been murdered by Sihanouk's security forces. In the Cambodian coup of 1970 , the National Assembly voted to remove Prince Sihanouk as head of state, and

270-609: A member of the circle of leftist Khmer intellectuals studying at the Sorbonne , Paris, in the 1950s. His 1959 doctoral thesis Cambodia's Economy and Industrial Development advocated national self-reliance and generally sided with dependency theorists in blaming the wealthy, industrialized states for the poverty of the Third World . He was one of the founders of the Khmer Students' Association (KSA), out of which grew

315-498: A protracted stalemate. In early 2005, the disposal of the theatre site was given to a local developer and business man Kith Meng , who later executed its complete destruction. Filmmaker Rithy Panh 's 2005 docudrama, The Burnt Theatre , is set in the remains of the theatre, and depicts a theatre troupe struggling to practice their art and keep fine arts alive in Cambodia. Vann Molyvann Vann Molyvann ( Khmer : វណ្ណ ម៉ូលីវណ្ណ ; 23 November 1926 – 28 September 2017)

360-723: The Bacc II at Preah Sisowath High School in 1944, Molyvann obtained a scholarship to pursue studies in Paris , France, in 1946. After one year of law, he switched to architecture at the School of Fine Arts in Paris ( École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts ), after being inspired by a meeting with Henri Marchal , the curator of Angkor at the École Française d'Extrême-Orient . He studied architecture under Le Corbusier . He remained in Paris for several more years, studying from 1947 to 1954 in

405-742: The Khmer Republic was proclaimed later that year. The Khmer Rouge , including Samphan, joined forces with the now-deposed Prince Sihanouk in establishing an anti- Khmer Republic coalition known as the National United Front of Kampuchea (FUNK), and an associated government: the Royal Government of the National Union of Kampuchea (GRUNK). In this alliance with his former enemies, Samphan served as deputy prime minister, minister of defence, and commander-in-chief of

450-655: The Nikkei Asia Prize in the culture category. His works on famous landmarks such as the Olympic Stadium and the Independence Monument were highly recognized. Nikkei Asia Prizes was launched by Nikkei Inc. in 1996, the awards program honours people in Asia who have made significant contributions in three areas: regional growth, science, technology and innovation, and culture. In 2016, he was

495-737: The World Bank . He also spent 10 years working for the United Nations Human Settlements Programme . Molyvann returned to Cambodia in 1991 where he served as President of the Council of Ministers, Minister of Culture, Fine Arts, Town and Country Planning. He successfully applied to have his house returned to him. He was also appointed head of Authority for the Protection of the Site and Management of

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540-424: The 60,000 capacity National Sports Complex . The stadium, built to Olympic standards, was the largest venue in Cambodia, with a moat around it to prevent flooding. Molyvann considered this project his greatest achievement. Built in less than two years with the intent for it to house the 1963 Southeast Asian Peninsular Games that were then awarded to Indonesia, it was only inaugurated in 1964, and became known as

585-629: The Arretche studio and working as an architect. He knew Khieu Samphan , future Khmer Rouge leader, from his time as a student studying Khmer art at the Sorbonne . I realized that there was no need to invent anything, The Khmer had been the best of farmers, and the system of prek and boeng, or canals and ponds, truly is the irrigation system that we must perfect and continue to use. Vann Molyvann, 2003 Molyvann returned to Cambodia in 1956 during its Sangkum Reastr Niyum era as one of only

630-590: The CPK hierarchy tortured and killed at Tuol Sleng ) betrayed the fundamental "moral cowardice" of a man mesmerized by power but lacking any nerve. After he left a Phnom Penh hospital where he was treated following his stroke, Samphan was arrested by the Cambodia Tribunal and charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes. In April 2008, Samphan made his first appearance at Cambodia's genocide tribunal. His lawyers, Jacques Vergès and Say Bory , used

675-587: The Cambodian Council of Ministers. A project for a completely new theatre that included dressing rooms, a cafeteria and a swimming pool was proposed in 1999 but never got the green light. In the ensuing years, neither the Ministry of Culture nor any of the Cambodian cultural or political establishments have been able to raise the finances to restore the theatre and approve any proposals, resulting in

720-645: The Cambodian People's National Liberation Armed Forces, the GRUNK military. FUNK defeated the Khmer Republic in April 1975 and took control of all of Kampuchea. During the years of Communist Democratic Kampuchea (1975–1979), Samphan remained near the top of the movement, assuming the post of president of the central presidium in 1976. His faithfulness to Pol Pot meant that he survived the purges in

765-891: The Council of Ministers and the State Palace in the capital. He supervised the design and construction of new towns such as Tioulongville ( Kirirom ) and Sihanoukville ( Kompong Som ) and important town plans such as the Bassac development in Phnom Penh, where a mix of cultural facilities such as the National Theatre Preah Suramarit and the Exhibition Hall neighboured with large housing experiments. He also designed many of Cambodia's embassies and exhibitions abroad. Sihanouk also commissioned low-cost housing developments in several districts of

810-538: The Era of Democratic Kampuchea , was published; in the book, he wrote that he had worked for social justice and the defence of national sovereignty, while attributing responsibility for all of the group's policies to Pol Pot. According to Samphan, under the Khmer Rouge, "there was no policy of starving people. Nor was there any direction set out for carrying out mass killings", and "there was always close consideration of

855-669: The Khmer Rouge following the deaths of Nuon Chea in August 2019 and Kang Kek Iew (Duch) in September 2020. Samphan was born in Svay Rieng Province to Khieu Long , who served as a judge under the French Protectorate government and his wife Por Kong. Samphan was of Khmer - Chinese extraction, having inherited his Chinese heritage from his maternal grandfather. When Samphan was a young boy, Khieu Long

900-742: The National Bank in Sihanoukville, and used the Sports Complex for mass rallies. Molyvann's father and several of his family members perished in the Cambodian genocide . After the Khmer Rouge fell in 1979, many of his buildings were used by the returning population but fell into disrepair and neglect. He chose not to return then as the subsequent rulers were "still communists". While in Switzerland, he continued to work as an architect, as well as working on urban development for

945-600: The Olympic Stadium. It hosted such important events as the GANEFO games and the President of France, Charles de Gaulle 's state visit, in 1966. Impressed with his work in Phnom Penh, Lee Kuan Yew offered Molyvann the opportunity to help design a new Singapore , which he declined. In 1970 the Sangkum Reastr Niyum came to a brutal end with the coup d'état led by General Lon Nol . Molyvann had been

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990-516: The Region of Angkor (APSARA) , where Molyvann was instrumental in preserving the temples of Angkor by ensuring large hotels were built outside the borders of the temple complex. He also successfully advocated for the temples to be granted World Heritage Site status by UNESCO . In 2001, he was removed from his post in APSARA over disputes with the government over who should benefit from admissions to

1035-564: The Sangkum's longest serving Minister of Education and was a likely target to reprisals from the new regime due to his close relationship with Sihanouk. He and his family relocated to Switzerland with the help of the ambassador to Israel. During the Khmer Rouge era , many of his buildings were abandoned or used as imprisonment or execution sites after Phnom Penh was forcibly evacuated . The Khmer Rouge unsuccessfully attempted to destroy

1080-415: The arrest of leftists including Samphan, who fled into hiding until the Khmer Rouge takeover in 1975. On 7 August 2014, along with other members of the regime, he was convicted and received a life sentence for crimes against humanity during the Cambodian genocide , and a further trial found him guilty of genocide in 2018. He is the oldest living former prime minister and the last surviving senior member of

1125-979: The city. Inspired by the numerous universities in post-independence Indonesia , Sihanouk also ordered Molyvann to create the Royal University of Phnom Penh . Molyvann proceeded to coalesce a council for the new university by meeting students, teachers and scholars around the country. In 1967, Molyvann was also appointed the Minister of Education by Sihanouk. Molyvann developed a unique style that combined traditional Khmer design with modernism that became known as New Khmer Architecture . He also adapted his designs to Cambodia's climate and weather into his design through adding air holes for ventilation , drainage and irrigation for heavy rain, and natural light. Stilted buildings also created shaded social areas underneath houses. He cited Le Corbusier and UK garden cities as influences. In 1962, Molyvann designed

1170-646: The construction of new towns , infrastructure and architecture . He is credited with modernising the nation's capital Phnom Penh and designing several iconic landmarks, including the Independence Monument , Chaktomuk Conference Hall and Olympic Stadium . During the Cambodian Civil War and Pol Pot regime , he lived in exile in Switzerland , returning to Cambodia in 1991. He was appointed head of APSARA , in charge of conserving

1215-565: The crime of genocide against the Vietnamese people , but he was cleared of involvement in the genocidal extermination of the Chams . The judgment also emphasised that Samphan "encouraged, incited and legitimised" the criminal policies that led to the deaths of civilians "on a massive scale" including the millions forced into labour camps to build dams and bridges and the mass extermination of Vietnamese. On 16 August 2021, Samphan appeared before

1260-454: The defence that while Samphan has never denied that many people in Cambodia were killed, as head of state, he was never directly responsible for any crimes. On 7 August 2014, he and Nuon Chea received life sentences for crimes against humanity. His lawyer immediately announced the conviction would be appealed. The tribunal continued with a trial on his genocide charges as a separate process. The tribunal found him guilty on 16 November 2018 of

1305-532: The development and planning of Asian cities entitled Modern Khmer Cities. Later in life, Molyvann expressed resentment that modern urban development in Phnom Penh was failing to consider its environment and water management, creating greater risk of flooding. For this he was critical of Hun Sen and the ruling Cambodian People's Party , and expressed support for the Cambodia National Rescue Party in 2014. The National Sports Complex

1350-407: The end of his life. He remains an influential figure for local architects. In his obituary The New York Times commented that by the time of his death, Molyvann was widely respected by many Cambodians for his vision and integrity. Khieu Samphan Khieu Samphan ( Khmer : ខៀវ សំផន ; born 28 July 1931) is a Cambodian former communist politician and economist who was the chairman of

1395-531: The government doesn't care about all that tradition." Vann Molyvann died on 28 September 2017, at his home in Siem Reap city, aged 90. His assistant said he had died of old age and was not sick. He was survived by his wife, three daughters and two sons. Prime minister Hun Sen and Thai Naraksathya, secretary of state at the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, all offered condolences to Molyvann's family and acknowledged Molyvann's impact and legacy. His funeral

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1440-515: The late 1990s, there have been many unsuccessful efforts to seek funds for the restoration of the theatre and to redevelop it as an organisational base and national venue. A $ 20,000 project by the late Cambodian architect Brum Dar-ravudh had provided the facilities for several rehearsal spaces. Meanwhile, the National Theatre's head, former dancer Mao Keng, had aimed to build a brand-new, state-of-the-art building, which has been rejected by

1485-649: The later years of the Khmer Rouge rule. His roles within the party suggest he was well entrenched in the upper echelons of the Communist Party of Kampuchea , and a leading figure in the ruling elite. In 1985, he officially succeeded Pol Pot as leader of the Khmer Rouge, and served in this position until 1998. In December 1998, Samphan and former Pol Pot deputy Nuon Chea surrendered to the Royal Cambodian Government. Prime Minister Hun Sen , however, defied international pressure and Samphan

1530-509: The left-wing revolutionary movements that would so alter Cambodian history in the 1970s, most notably the Khmer Rouge. Once the KSA was shuttered by French authorities in 1956, he founded yet another student organization, the Khmer Students' Union . Returning from Paris with his doctorate in 1959, Samphan held a law faculty position at the University of Phnom Penh and started L'Observateur ,

1575-407: The people's well-being". He acknowledged the use of coercion to produce food due to shortages. Samphan also strongly criticized the current government in the book, blaming it for corruption and social ills. Historian Ben Kiernan stated that Samphan's protestations (such as he regarded the collectivization of agriculture as a surprise, and his expressions of sympathy for Hu Nim , a fellow member of

1620-506: The state presidium of Democratic Kampuchea ( Cambodia ) from 1976 until 1979. As such, he served as Cambodia's head of state and was one of the most powerful officials in the Khmer Rouge movement, although Pol Pot remained the General Secretary (highest official) in the party. Prior to joining the Khmer Rouge, he was a member of Norodom Sihanouk's Sangkum government. After the 1967 leftist rebellion , Sihanouk ordered

1665-416: The subject of a documentary titled The Man Who Built Cambodia , narrated by Matt Dillon . Molyvann's 100 Houses remained a residential area at the time of his death, despite limited conservation work taking place on the buildings. The Olympic Stadium also remains a popular public space for Phnom Penh residents. As a result of the war, Molyvann remained obscure in Cambodia and internationally until near

1710-502: The temples of Angkor , until his dismissal in 2001 following disputes with the government. In contemporary Cambodia , many of his buildings and city plans fell into neglect or were demolished by unplanned development. He died in 2017 at age 90. Vann Molyvann was born in Ream , Kampot province, in 1926 during the French protectorate to a poor family. After being the first student to pass

1755-423: The temples, and how the area should be developed. Molyvann had wanted a separate "tourist village" to be built separate from both the temples and Siem Reap's old town, with water conservation as a key goal. By the early 21st century, Molyvann's urban planning and many of his buildings were under threat due to redevelopment, urban sprawl , corruption and speculative land deals. His landmark National Theatre

1800-411: Was a Cambodian architect and urban planner . Molyvann is best known as pioneering the style known as New Khmer Architecture , which combined modernism and Khmer tradition , and accounted for the country's unique environment and irrigation needs. During Cambodia's post-independence period between 1957 and 1970, Molyvann was appointed by Norodom Sihanouk to reshape and modernise Cambodia through

1845-485: Was destroyed in a fire in 1994, and the Council of Ministers building was demolished in 2008. Tycoon Kith Meng agreed to rebuild the theatre in 2005 in exchange for the rights to the surrounding land. One of Molyvann's housing developments, by then known as the White Building , had become a slum , and was declared hazardous by authorities and torn down in 2017. In 2008, Molyvann completed his doctoral thesis on

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1890-634: Was found guilty of corruption and sentenced to imprisonment, leaving Samphan's mother to take up a living selling fruits and vegetables in Kampong Cham Province where he grew up. Nevertheless, Samphan managed to earn a seat at the Lycée Sisowath and was able to travel to France to pursue his university studies in Economics at the University of Montpellier , after which he earned a PhD at the University of Paris . Samphan became

1935-567: Was held on 1 October 2017 in Siem Reap, with some of his ashes released into the water to the east of Angkor Wat before dawn, and others beside a stupa that Molyvann had designed. His work in modernising Phnom Penh whilst incorporating traditional designs and the local environmental conditions led to him being nicknamed "the man who built Cambodia". The Vann Molyvann Project was established in 2009 to raise awareness of New Khmer Architecture among local architects. In 2013, Vann Molyvann won

1980-405: Was not arrested or prosecuted at the time of his surrender. On 13 November 2007, the 76-year-old Samphan reportedly suffered a stroke. This occurred one day after the former Khmer Rouge Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ieng Sary and his wife were arrested for war crimes committed while they were in power. At about the same time, a book by Samphan, Reflection on Cambodian History Up to

2025-441: Was sold to a private developer in 2001 which filled up its vital hydraulic system, consisting of moats and water treatment stations, with shoddy constructions, hence compromising its survival and increasing flood risk. Molyvann expressed his anger at these changes, arguing "The Taiwanese company see it as a profit-making building; they have no concept of art. We created that building out of the traditions of Angkorian architecture. But

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