Zen, Street 271
Phnom Penh, Cambodia | 2023 | Architecture & Interior design | Completed
A 200 sqm store fit-out and exterior renovation of three existing shophouses. The store combines stucco and exposed concrete with warm timbers arranged around a few strategically placed walls. The exterior has been elevated through the use of a semi-opaque mesh façade.
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Zen, the flagship store for a mattress and bedding brand in Phnom Penh, has been designed to create a calm and intimate atmosphere—a contrast to the busy road outside.
The project forms apart of three existing shophouses that have undergone piecemeal alterations over the years, leaving the building feeling disconnected and lacking a clear language or style.
The store combines stucco and exposed concrete with warm timbers. The structure of the existing buildings creates a grid for the shop to be arranged around. Key walls have been placed to further define the spaces and add moments of privacy around the store, allowing customers to feel comfortable.
A key feature of the store is the Zen Lab, where customers can test products before making a purchase. The space is anchored by a table with a soft, cushion-like countertop, illuminated by a large floating lightbox.
The new facade serves as a barrier to the noisy, chaotic environment, creating a calm interior while also providing shade and reducing sunlight into the building. The semi-opaque mesh imparts order to the building without completely concealing it, revealing some of the existing building's original features.
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Chhiv Inh Chao
Chinheab Ngor
Kanika Sok
Mouysuong Tang
Tobias Griffiths
Photographs by Robert Kleiner