- Project: Wat Bo House
- Architect: UAD Architects
- Location: Cambodia, Wat Bo Village, Krong Siem Reap
- Year: 2025
- Area: 590 m2
- Photography: Oudompheaktra Ang
In the creative enclave of Wat Bo Village near Siem Reap, the recently completed Wat Bo House by UAD Architects emerges as a contemporary residence deeply rooted in local context, climate, and lifestyle. Spanning 590 m², this 2025 home speaks to a young couple’s desire for a dwelling that balances modern comfort, cultural sensitivity, and a strong connection to nature.
Contextual Sensitivity & Spatial Strategy
The design of Wat Bo House begins with respect for place: the architects forgo imposing a monolithic structure, instead crafting two distinct building blocks connected by a covered walkway, set between lush gardens and a reflective fishpond.
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Front block (single-story) frames the entrance and hosts an open garage topped by a versatile terrace — a welcoming zone for visitors or a quiet vantage point over the garden.
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Main block (multi-level) sits deeper on the site, preserving peaceful courtyards and gardens toward the street, buffering noise and offering privacy to the family’s daily life.
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Linking walkway softly guides movement through the building: from public to private, outside to inside, street to garden — embedding a sense of transition and ritual in daily life.
This spatial choreography is not only functional but poetic: voids, courtyards, gardens, and water features interweave to dissolve boundaries between built form and landscape — giving the house a quietly fluid sense of place.
Structure, Materials & Atmosphere
In line with its contextual ambitions, Wat Bo House employs a restrained and durable material palette. Natural grey granite tiles, exposed concrete and timber — chosen for their authenticity and longevity — ground the project in timelessness and restraint.
Surfaces interact with light and greenery throughout the day. The façades respond to shifting daylight, casting delicate patterns of leaf shadows and reflections from the pond. Inside, careful balance between solid volumes and open voids creates a heightened sense of calm, transparency, and intimacy — a modern home that still feels rooted in Cambodian soil.
Program & Layout: Living, Privacy, and Flexibility
Wat Bo House’s program is articulated thoughtfully across floors and volumes:
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On the ground floor: social areas, service zones, leisure spaces, and a guest bedroom — all oriented to gardens or courtyards to maximize indoor-outdoor living.
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The upper floors house three private bedrooms, a generous front terrace on the first floor, and — at rooftop level — a lightweight gym surrounded by greenery, offering both retreat and panoramic views over the site.
Spaces are conceived not just for static use but for evolving rhythms — morning light in a courtyard, afternoon shade by the pond, evening gathering on the terrace, a quiet workout at sunrise — the home adapts fluidly to daily life.
Integration with Environment & Climate Responsiveness
The arrangement of voids, courtyards, gardens, and water reflects a climate-aware design thinking. By distributing volumes and preserving generous outdoor space, the house promotes natural ventilation and encourages passive cooling — essential in Cambodia’s tropical climate.
The pond and surrounding greenery further modulate microclimate: evaporative cooling, shade, and lush planting all contribute to a comfortable living environment without overreliance on mechanical systems.
Cultural & Lifestyle Resonance
Beyond architecture, Wat Bo House is shaped by the spirit of its neighborhood. Its name references the creative energy of Wat Bo Village — a place where contemporary living meets tradition, art, and community. For its occupants, the house is more than a shelter — it’s a home that invites connection: to land, to neighbors, to daily rituals shaped by light, water, and greenery.
In doing so, UAD Architects avoid the aesthetic clichés of “tropical luxury,” instead offering a design that feels modest, enduring, and deeply human.
