PHNOM PENH: The first prize in the architectural design competition, "Pochentong Reborn: Transforming the Old Phnom Penh Airport into a Sponge City," was awarded to the "Queen Mother Library Architecture" team from the Documentation Centre of Cambodia (DC-Cam) following a meticulous assessment by the evaluation committee.
According to a DC-Cam press release, two of the top three finalists, announced by the competition's scoring committee on March 9, tied for first place.
Among them was DC-Cam's "Queen Mother Library Architecture" team. The team selected the project theme, "Transforming a Solid Cambodian Historical Site Through Green Infrastructure Engineering”.
After last year’s closure of the Phnom Penh International Airport, commonly known as Pochentong Airport, it was announced that the space would become a “sponge city park”, meaning it would use natural landscape features to catch, store and clean rainwater, and also be used for other public benefits.
Initiatives to redevelop the site were opened to a competition which attracted 250 teams comprising 850 young architects. The participants had to go through three elimination rounds — narrowing them down to 45 teams, and then to 10.
The sponge city park project concept focusses on absorbing, storing, filtering and releasing rainwater naturally.
Consequently, the former airport will be transformed into permeable walkways featuring green corridors where rainwater can infiltrate through bioswales, rain gardens and permeable paving, according to the press release.
A large portion of the airport grounds will be converted into wetlands, retention ponds and floodplains capable of mitigating stormwater, while the area will also support biodiversity and wildlife.
The project will enhance urban biodiversity and address environmental and social issues by reducing pollution levels, creating recreational spaces and fostering interaction between older and younger generations.
According to DC-Cam, the people-centric redesign of the former airport will set a standard for future development projects. This includes mitigating urban heat and opening public spaces, recreational areas, sports fields and cultural gardens for year-round public use.
The project will help meet the demands of sustainable future urban development, emphasising the importance of climate resilience, biodiversity conservation and Cambodia's natural heritage.
According to the architectural design by the DC-Cam team, the project integrates historical structures, including the Queen Mother Library; a memorial site dedicated to the heroic Cambodian soldiers who sacrificed their lives defending the nation's territorial integrity against recent Thai military incursions; a photo exhibition hall featuring world leaders who have arrived at Pochentong Airport; and a logistics centre.
DC-Cam's first-prize-winning "Queen Mother Library Architecture" team will now present their project at the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
