Cities need a mingling of old buildings to cultivate primary diversity mixtures, as well as secondary diversity. In particular, they need old buildings to incubate new primary diversity.
Jane Jacob, the Death and Life of Great American Cities.
My Personal View of This Project
For the past few months, I have been digitising old maps from the Paris Urbanism Agency (APUR)’s building heritage list of Phnom Penh. It is a way for me to explore the city’s architectural gems, while also highlighting the uniqueness of Phnom Penh’s story through its architectural progression. Although I understand the need for development, it is heartbreaking to see many of these irreplaceable pieces of history fall victim to the desire for newer, shinier buildings. You cannot put a price on the soul of the city, and these old structures are woven into the very fabric of Phnom Penh’s identity.