Page 96 - JCAU-7-3

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism The evolution of Khmer shophouses

contributes to the structural framework of urban forms et al., 2020). In the 20 century, similar urban typologies
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in contemporary Khmer cities. While the study provides appeared, such as the tube houses in Hanoi (Ngo,
a broad but not exhaustive analysis, it does not delve 2021), while earlier precedents can be as far back as the
deeply into historical events or general socio-political 18 century in Batavia (present-day Jakarta) and Hoi
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factors influencing Phnom Penh’s urban development, as An (Luengo, 2021). The shophouse typology developed
these aspects have been extensively covered in previous as a hybrid architectural form, integrating Chinese
studies by the Atelier parisien d’urbanisme (APUR, 1997; architectural traditions with local influences from Malay,
APUR, 2003), Fauveaud (2015) and Carrier (2019), as well Javanese, Vietnamese, and Siamese cultures, along with
as historians such as Igout (1993), Chandler (1991), and Western colonial influences. Recent studies by Luengo
Osborne (2008). (2021) and Zhao et al. (2024) suggest a broader pattern
The research focuses on essential characteristics of cultural hybridization, emphasizing that the Chinese-
of the urban fabric that define typological variations, origin shophouse model exhibits notable morphological
rather than providing an exhaustive examination of each similarities with traditional mixed-use typologies found
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variation. For detailed morphological articulations, it in 18 -century Nagasaki, as well as earlier examples from
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draws on foundational studies by Japanese scholars such the 16 -century Surat and Manila.
as Hirohata et al. (2007), Wakita & Shiraishi (2007), In Cambodia, the shophouse became a prominent
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Shiraishi et al. (2020), and Fujisawa & Kuzuhara (2023). urban form in the early 19 century, appearing not only
This groundwork establishes a fundamental framework in Phnom Penh (Figure 2) but also in other cities such as
for subsequent qualitative and quantitative analyses, Battambang (Figure 3), Siem Reap, and Kampot, where
including comparative studies of models adopted in the the Chinese merchants played a crucial role in establishing
Asia Pacific region. these buildings along major trading routes (Collins, 2006;
Han & Lim, 2019). The shophouse soon became a defining
Adopting a constructive perspective, the research
highlights the productive potential of architectural feature of the urban landscape, particularly along main
roads, where commerce and domestic life intersected most
transformations in fostering more inclusive and diverse visibly. The first official land concession for shophouse
urban forms. It consciously avoids cultural biases that construction in Phnom Penh dates back to 1872, near the
overly critique the backgrounds of those shaping these Mekong River. These early examples followed the regional
transformations, instead focusing on their contributions to pattern, featuring a commercial front and a residential
the evolution of Cambodia’s urban landscape.
upper floor (Yam & Ju, 2016).
3. The origins of the traditional Sino-Khmer
merchant shophouse in Cambodia
The Chinese merchant shophouses originated in China
during the Song dynasty (960 – 1276) and subsequently
spread across the southern provinces, particularly Fujian
and Guangdong (Han & Beisi, 2015). These multi-story
structures were designed to fulfill multiple purposes
concurrently, with the ground floor typically dedicated
to commercial activities and the upper floors allocated
to storage and residential use. The spatial organization Figure 2. Traditional shophouses in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
of these buildings was optimized for land use efficiency, Source: Photo by the author (2024).
particularly in densely populated areas along thoroughfares
or within city blocks, which were eventually served by
internal ventilated courtyards, corridors, and back alleys.

As Chinese merchants expanded their commercial
networks across Southeast Asia beyond the Maritime Silk
Road, this architectural model was adopted in various
cities. The most notable instances of this phenomenon
emerged in the 19 century, particularly in Singapore,
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Penang, and Malacca, as well as in Bangkok and Medan
(Dai & Zhou, 2019; Han & Beisi, 2015; Han & Beisi, Figure 3. Traditional shophouses in Battambang, Cambodia
2016; Ongsavangchai & Funo, 2004; Savage, 2001; Zahrah Source: Photo by the author (2022).

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