Phnom Penh‘s Post Office is one of the capital city’s most iconic buildings and the public place in front of it surrounded by a homogeneous and aesthetically appealing ensemble of buildings from the French colonial is currently mostly used as a parking space for cars.

Build4People is highly convinced that this site offers a great potential for inclusive urban transformation increasing the overall public space quality and contributing to a higher perceived quality of urban life, not only for the citizens of Phnom Penh, but also for domestic and international tourists.

The design introduces a raised pedestrian crossing, wider sidewalks, shadowing by canopies and small trees, sidewalk cafés, and small urban amenities such as several benches or waste bins. By reorganizing the space and improving accessibility, the proposal aims to create a safer, more welcoming environment for all users, during daytime and during nighttime.

Inspired by the German artist Jan Kamensky’s Visual Utopias, exhibited at CityLAB Berlin, among others, Build4People together with the association of WAE (Women in Architecture and Engineering) have facilitated the development of visual utopias for Phnom Penh, aiming to create narratives and to use them as a state-of-the-art communication tool to foster inclusive and gender-sensitive urban transformation.

The third clip of our B4P Visual Utopias Clip series got technically supported by The Gentry Hub which is a Cambodian architecture news and media platform. It provides up-to-date information on architecture videos, news, competitions, and projects for architecture professionals. Their website features articles, interviews, and reviews on architecture and design, as well as a database of projects and architects.

Graphic Animator:

Vathana Meng [mengvathana1@gmail.com], born in Kandal province of Cambodia, is a creative visual editor at The Gentry Hub. As architecture graduate from Paragon International University, Vathana blends design expertise with video storytelling to promote sustainable architecture and thriving communities. His mission is to inspire beautiful, eco-friendly spaces for both today and the future.

Overall Guidance:

Sokunlanita May [lanitamaysokun@gmail.com], Founder of WAE, Women in Architecture and Engineering, which is a cooperation partner of Build4People during Implementation phase

#Build4People
#BMFTR_SUREregions
#inclusiveurbantransformation
#visualutopias
#justcities
#urbansustainability
#visioning
#urbanvisioning
#phnompenh
#childrenfriendlycities

The B4P Transition Manufactory 2026 #1 follows a living lab approach, involving multiple stakeholders to initiate a visioning process to create a clear, inspiring, and shared image of an alternative sustainable urban future.

The urban site we worked on during the B4P TM 2026 is Mekong Key Riverfront City, a 200-ha-development along Mekong River opposite Koh Norea developed by TP Moral Group. It is at an early planning stage which will hopefully allow for sustainability interventions from side of Build4People.

By means of the first B4P Transition Manufactory 2026 we are furthermore bringing in the Twin Transformation strategy by combing digital and sustainability approaches. We did trainings in the use of digital urban planning tools and wanted to develop step by step a dynamic urban digital model following the principles of our B4P Transformation Toolbox sustainability neighbourhood evaluation criteria.

Adding to technical digital design solutions we used the opportunity of the B4P Transition Manufactory 2026 to develop visual utopias of inclusive urban transformation in partnership with WAE (women in architecture and engineering), and to explore potentials of AI to visualize urban dynamics in partnership with the Cambodian Academy of Digital Technology (CADT), CityLAB Berlin and the GIZ founded Digital Transformation Center (DTC).

During the final Presentation Conference, the comprehensive results of different working groups were presented. The participating students received official Certificates of Appreciation to honour their dedicated and engaged work. After the presentation part, a Letter of Intent was exchanged between the Build4People representative and the CEO of TP Moral Group.

The whole Build4People team would like to express its deep gratitude to all participants of this exciting and inspiring collective endeavour, particularly the engaged students of six participating institutions of higher education, Royal University of Phnom Penh, Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia, Norton University, Royal University of Fine Arts, Western University, and Cambodian Academy of Digital Technology. Our special thanks go to Steven Petit, creative director of OMGEVING, based in Ho Chi Minh City, who support us in regard of the development of blue-green infrastructure solutions.

The outputs of the B4P TM Presentation Conference will get further refined over the next months until the 2nd B4P Transition Manufactory, due to December 2026.

Attendants were students of the Bachelor and Master Degrees guided by Assistant Professor Dr. Bunleng Se as part of his course on urban climate.

During the lecture Prof. Katzschner introduced about basic principles of climate-proof urban design.

He also presented the first urban climate map of Phnom Penh, developed by INKEK, the Institute of Climate and Energy Concepts, during the Build4People RD Phase.

Beside the presentation on urban climate, Geography sutdents were assigned to join in urban climatope design with the purposes of micro-climate measurement based on climatope map and instructed to conduct interviews the local population on their perceptions on thermal comfort in select locations using the B4P-RUPP Thermal Comfort App and weather measurement instruments.

Build4People is very grateful to Prof. Dr. Lutz Katzschner to continue his efforts to teach about the relevance of urban climate.

His stay as a Visiting Professor at Royal University of Phnom Penh got funded through the Johann Gottfried Herder-Programm of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) of the German Federal government.

The course aims to equip students with data analysis skills and to help them write academic papers for dissertations and journals. To complete the course, each student is required to write a manuscript of at least 5,000 words for the final term paper and present the paper for the mid-term exam.

To practice in the real world, students were asked to use the RUPP-B4P Citizen Science App developed by Build4People in cooperation with the RUPP IT Center and the RUPP Research office.

The data collected from a clone of the Citizen Science App, the so-called RUPP-B4P Thermal Comfort App, were used by students, analyzed, and presented as part of the course.

Due to the high-quality data collected by the RUPP-B4P Thermal Comfort App, students were able to conduct advanced analyses, including correlation and regression. The students benefited greatly from the App, which provided scientific, reliable data for analysis.

Now, students are working on a manuscript for publication in a local journal, which will be submitted in July or August 2026.

This example from teaching demonstrates that the RUPP-B4P Citizen Science App has strong potential as a scientific diagnostic tool.

Build4People strongly supports the further dissemination of the RUPP-B4P Citizen Science App not only as a scientific diagnosis tool but also as a public participation tool, and will continue its empowerment efforts for RUPP staff.

#citizenscience #Build4People #citizenscience_app #publicparticipation

The We-House Baakenhafen building combines abundant sustainable features, among others:

Life-cycle optimized climate-friendly hybrid wood construction with a renewable energy concept.
A rooftop forest and garden, as well as the green facades, improve the microclimate in summer and create habitats for birds and insects.
A large rooftop greenhouse which will provide the space for growing about 3 tons of crisp lettuce, herbs, and micro-greens for the we-house restaurant, as well as for several other gourmet spots in Hamburg.
Heat recovery from living space exhaust air is used to heat the rooftop greenhouse.
Rainwater harvesting for the rooftop greenhouse.
Heat recovery from the restaurant’s ventilation system.
Greywater from showers and sinks is treated into service water and used for toilets and garden irrigation.
Glue-free solid wood exterior walls for optimal indoor air quality and maximum comfort.
Concrete ceilings made from low-carbon cement providing optimal sound insulation between apartments.
Low heating requirements and low operating costs.
PV rooftop solar installations meeting the building’s electricity needs and powering the charging stations for e-vehicles in the garage.

Opening of this lighthouse project which has received six platinum certificates for its various sustainability qualities, in total, so far, is scheduled for October 2026.

This proposal focuses on improving pedestrian safety, accessibility, and overall public space quality around the roundabout. The design introduces a raised pedestrian crossing, wider sidewalks, accessible tree grates, and small urban amenities such as benches and waste bins. By reorganizing the pedestrian space and improving accessibility, the proposal aims to reconnect people to Wat Phnom Park and create a safer, more welcoming environment for all users.

Delicate sound effects were added to the clip to strengthen the vision of an inclusive and sustainable urban transformation.

Build4People ultimately aims to show the B4P Visual Utopias clips at the permanent exhibition of the recently opened Phnom Penh Smart City Hub located at the site of Wat Phnom.

Background / Rationale
Inspired by the German artist Jan Kamensky’s Visual Utopias, exhibited at CityLAB Berlin, among others, Build4People has facilitated the development of visual utopias for Phnom Penh, aiming to create narratives and to use them as a state-of-the-art communication tool to foster inclusive and gender-sensitive urban transformation.

Under the guidance of the association of WAE, Women in Architecture and Engineering, founded by Ms. Sokunlanita May and Build4People, led by Michael Waibel, William Cheav, student of Architecture and Urbanism at Norton University developed a visual utopia which he labelled “Wat Phnom Temple Site: Reconnecting Pedestrians to Wat Phnom Park”.

About the clip editor
William Cheav [williamcheav.sps@gmail.com] is a student of Architecture and Urbanism at Norton University. He is particularly interested in designing public and green spaces that encourage people to gather, interact, and reconnect within the city, through design, visual arts, and architectural visualization to communicate ideas clearly and effectively.

Survey support
Kimleng Keam [Kimlengkeam08@gmail.com] is a student of Architecture and Urbanism at BELTIE International University. She is particularly interested in exploring creative design approaches that shape meaningful and engaging spaces within the urban environment. She also uses design, visual arts, and architectural visualization to communicate ideas clearly and effectively.

Mentors
Vathana Meng & Daro Hor

Overall Guidance
Sokunlanita May [lanitamaysokun@gmail.com], Founder of WAE, Women in Architecture and Engineering, which is a cooperation partner of Build4People during Implementation phase

Jan Kamenski’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@visualutopias

#Build4People #BMFTR_SUREregions #inclusiveurbantransformation #visualutopias #gendersensiveurbandevelopment #justcities #urbansustainability #visioning #urbanvisioning #phnompenh

It is the follow-up format of B4P Ecocity Transition Lab series undertaken in 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024 with the city government of Phnom Penh together with major local property developer companies, various universities, and CIUS – Cambodian Institute for Urban Studies as local facilitator.

The B4P Transition Manufactory 2026 #1 follows a living lab approach, involving multiple stakeholders to initiate a visioning process to create a clear, inspiring, and shared image of an alternative sustainable urban future.

The urban site we worked on during the B4P TM 2026 is Mekong Key Riverfront City, a 200-ha-development along Mekong River opposite Koh Norea developed by TP Moral Group. It is at an early planning stage which we expect to allow for sustainability interventions from side of Build4People.

Adding to technical digital design solutions we used the opportunity of the B4P Transition Manufactory 2026 to develop visual utopias of inclusive urban transformation in partnership with the assocation WAE (Women in Architecture and Engineering), and to explore potentials of AI to visualize urban dynamics in partnership with the Cambodian Academy of Digital Technology (CADT), CityLAB Berlin and the GIZ founded Digital Transformation Center (DTC).

During the final Presentation Conference, the comprehensive results of different working groups were presented. The participating students received official Certificates of Appreciation to honour their dedicated and engaged work. After the presentation part, a Letter of Intent was exchanged between the Build4People representative and the CEO of TP Moral Group.

The whole Build4People team would like to express its deep gratitude to all participants of this exciting and inspiring collective endeavour, particularly the engaged students of six participating institutions of higher education, Royal University of Phnom Penh, Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia, Norton University, Royal University of Fine Arts, Western University, and Cambodian Academy of Digital Technology. Our special thanks go to Steven Petit, creative director of OMGEVING, based in Ho Chi Minh City, who support us in regard of the development of blue-green infrastructure solutions.

The outputs of the B4P TM Presentation Conference will get further refined over the next months until the 2nd B4P Transition Manufactory, due to December 2026.

A second shorter and more concise clip to document the first B4P Transition Manufactory 2026 process is under preparation and will get published soon.

#Build4People #BMFTR_SUREregions #livinglab #urbanvisioning #sustainabilityinterventions #integratedurbandesign #spongecity #bluegreeninfrastracture #naturebasedsolutions

Many discussions about urban development remain academic and technical, often making them difficult for the general public to access. Build4People therefore regards visual utopias as starting point of public awareness rising about inclusive, people-centered urban design, moving beyond purely technical planning.

This is particularly needed because, in Phnom Penh, as our empirical research has shown, the share of urban citizens with a deeper understanding of matters of urban sustainability seems to be rather limited. Furthermore, Phnom Penh suffers from urban issues like many cities in the world, such as limited public spaces limited, persisting accessibility barriers, domination of streets by car-traffic, and urban environments that are not always inclusive for women, children, older people, or people with disabilities.

Therefore, the first step was to observe and to analyze specific urban spaces in Phnom Penh with regard to different target groups and behaviors. In a second step animated digital “bevor- and-after” visualizations were created to illustrate alternative visions of sustainable urban development.

This first clip focuses on a major landmark of Phnom Penh, the Central Market, an iconic architecture from the French colonial era and the vibrant economic heart of the city. 

Under the guidance of the association of WAE, Women in Architecture and Engineering, founded by Ms. Sokunlanita May and Build4People led by Michael Waibel, two students from the Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning at the Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia – Va Meng Er and Prak Norak – developed a visual utopia which they labelled “Central Market for All”.

Their concept aims to promote walking by prioritizing pedestrians, particularly when crossing the road by the introduction of an elevated crosswalk that functions both as a speed bump and an accessible path for people with physical disabilities. Other measures suggest fixing the market stalls with a material that retains less heat and installing solar panels to improve energy efficiency. Finally, it is suggested to replace some parking spaces with green space and trees to reduce heat on the street and to orient the space for pedestrians rather than cars.

Delicate sound effects were added to the clip to strengthen the vision of an inclusive and sustainable urban transformation.

Build4People finally aims to show the B4P Visual Utopias clips at the permanent exhibition of the recently opened Phnom Penh Smart City Hub located at the site of Wat Phnom.

About the video clip editors:

Va Meng Er is currently a student of architecture and urban planning of Pannasastra University of Cambodia. She had previously participated in various workshops and activities with Build4People and City Hall. Besides architecture and urban planning, she also has interest and experience in video editing (vamengerva@gmail.com).

Prak Norak is an architecture and urban planning student at Pannasastra University of Cambodia. He has an interest in designing spaces that are livable, foster human activities and interactions (norakprak@gmail.com).

Further information:

Sokunlanita May, Founder of WAE, Women in Architecture and Engineering, cooperation partner of Build4People: lanitamaysokun@gmail.com

Jan Kamenski’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@visualutopias

#Build4People #BMFTR_SUREregions #inclusiveurbantransformation #visualutopias #PhnomPenh #gendersensiveurbandevelopment #justcities #urbansustainability #visioning #urbanvisioning

May the year ahead be full of joy, prosperity, decent health, and good fortune!

Our deep gratitude goes to Prof Nyda Chhinh from Royal University of Phnom Penh for editing the Khmer language.

The primary objective of this workshop was to discuss further steps for the continued development of digital applications to support scientific research and teaching at RUPP.

Particular focus was placed on the newly developed RUPP-B4P Thermal Comfort App. Results from recent field testing were presented, and students developed ideas on how to visualize the current survey results. In addition, participants discussed potential future applications of the RUPP-B4P Citizen Science App as both a teaching and research tool.

Our heartfelt thank-you goes to all speakers and participants, and particularly to the hosts at the Cambodia-Korea Cooperation Centre and the Royal University of Phnom Penh for making this collaborative event possible .

#Build4People #UrbanTransformation #SustainableCities #Cambodia #RUPP #ScienceWorkshop #InterdisciplinaryResearch #GreenUrbanDevelopment #CitizenScience #CitizenScienceApp #CitiesforPeople #PublicParticipation #BMFTR_SUREregions