Paris to Cambodia

Located about 15 minutes from the bustle of Siem Reap, the newly opened boutique property Phum Baitang is a contemporary ode to Khmer village life.

Reminiscent of traditional houses found in rural Cambodia, the 45 single storey villas and public pavilions have been inspired by Khmer architecture and feature stilted foundations, extensive timber construction, pitched roofs with open trusses, palm leaf and bamboo criss-cross cladding, and generous open-air living terraces.

From the stables of Paris based architects AW2, the vision was to design a retreat where the built environment would quietly withdraw into the landscape; and for the surrounding rice paddies and lush gardens to be the heart of the property. The public spaces which include a fabulous 100 year old farmhouse reimagined as a cocktail & cigar lounge, two restaurants, a 50 metre infinity pool, a ‘temple-like’ spa and yoga pavilion are cleverly positioned at opposite ends of the site on a sunrise/sunset axis. However, it is the life sustaining still-active rice paddy landscape that maintains centre stage at all times.