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Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism The evolution of Khmer shophouses

Angkorian settlements strategically located along the hybrid shophouse model that continues to evolve. This
Mekong River. Despite the need for further investigation, article traces the architectural and urban development
archeological findings at Wat Oulalong suggest the of shophouses from their pre-colonial origins to their
existence of pre-Angkorian settlements in this region, contemporary developments.
reinforcing the area’s historical significance as a pre-
existing site of worship predating the establishment of Wat 2. Methodology and objectives
Phnom (Boswell, 2016). Excluding the brief period This research integrates historical analysis with field
between 1432 and 1505, when Phnom Penh served as the surveys conducted over the past 7 years by the Urban
capital of the Cambodian Kingdom, scholarly literature Lab research team at the American University of Phnom
often characterizes the city as a minor riverine settlement Penh. Employing a multi-method approach, it synthesizes
before 1866, when it was re-established as the capital under primary fieldwork with a wide range of secondary sources,
the French Protectorate (1863 – 1949) (Stetten, 1997). including scientific articles and monographs published
Nevertheless, historical landmarks such as the Cantonese over the past 3 decades. The study traces the evolution
temple Mountain of the Jade Palace (碧山宫; Bishangong), of the shophouse typology, from its pre-colonial origins
dating back to the 18 century, indicate that Phnom Penh through colonial and post-colonial transformations to
th
was home to a significant Chinese community well before its present-day forms, with a particular emphasis on
the colonial period. Organized into congregations, this Phnom Penh as representative of Cambodia’s broader
community benefited from established regional trade urban context (Figure 1). By addressing gaps in existing
routes (Filippi, 2012; Willmott, 1969). literature, the research provides a comprehensive
This study examines the shophouse in Cambodia, a analysis of the typology’s adaptability and its responses
pivotal architectural typology shaped by the merchant to technological, spatial, and socio-economic changes in
enclaves of Phnom Penh. This typology has profoundly urban environments.
influenced not only the city’s urban landscape but A key objective of this study is to present an unbiased
also suburban areas and rural settlements across the understanding of the Cambodian shophouse typology,
entirety of Cambodia. Indeed, it can be argued that the which reflects a nuanced interplay between local and
shophouse has become the dominant architectural model global forces. It deliberately avoids simplistic reliance
propelling the country’s contemporary morphological on imported or misinterpreted urban theories, instead
transformation. While this typology is prevalent across introducing the shophouse as a dynamic architectural
Southeast Asia, Cambodia’s unique blend of Sino-Khmer model that successfully reconciles traditional and
and French colonial influences has produced a distinctive modern spatial organization. This model significantly

Figure 1. Shophouse distribution in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Source: Drawing by the author (using Google Hearth Image as background).

Volume 7 Issue 3 (2025) 2 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.5410