For the first time, the private residence of Cambodia’s most influential architect is opening to the public through a permanent exhibition and archive: Vann Molyvann: Life, Work and Architectural Nationhood. Hosted at Brown Coffee Vann Molyvann Building, the project offers unprecedented access to the documents, drawings, and stories behind an architectural legacy that helped shape Cambodia’s modern identity.
At the heart of the initiative is a long-term commitment to architectural heritage. The archive room safeguards rare and previously unseen materials by Vann Molyvann and collaborators, including original blueprints, conceptual designs, and construction photographs. These records offer direct insight into the development of Cambodian modernism, and create a living reference for researchers, students, and the wider public.
“Hopes & Dreams Project”
This effort is made possible through collaboration. HKA + Partners and BROWN Coffee initiated the “Hopes & Dreams Project” with the shared belief that architectural heritage deserves more than preservation. It deserves care, restoration, and public celebration. The Vann Molyvann Family has also generously contributed original drawings, sketches, and photographs, entrusting them to a space created to share this legacy openly. Curatorial leadership comes from New Khmer-Architecture (NK-A) and The Vann Molyvann Project, whose years of research and documentation bring depth and clarity to the exhibition narrative. The initiative is supported by sponsor Urbanland.
A home returning to the public
The exhibition opened to the public on April 6th, 2025. The response has been remarkable, with architects, students, and the general public coming to experience the building firsthand. Many visitors shared emotional reactions, running their hands along the textured surfaces and crafted details that Vann Molyvann designed over five decades ago.
For the first time, the residence also hosts an Archive Room that allows visitors to book appointments to access original materials, offering an invaluable resource for researchers, architects, and students.
“I hope the house becomes a place where communities in architecture, art, and design can learn and engage for a better future for our city.”
A collective tribute
This project is the result of a unique collaboration between:
• The Vann Molyvann family
• Brown Coffee
• HKA + Partners
• New Khmer Architecture
• The Vann Molyvann Project
• Urbanland
Each partner contributed expertise, resources, and historic materials to celebrate a figure whose work shaped Cambodia’s architectural identity.