The glass facade of a brand recent skyscraper flanked by ancient picket houses and golden pagodas; a shiny art deco tower towering over the market square. To say that Phnom Penh’s skyline is eclectic is an understatement. While this mix of various styles and designs defines town’s architectural landscape, a brand new project is emerging in the guts of Phnom Penh that’s unlike anything in Cambodia’s capital.
With a groundbreaking ceremony on June 11 signaling the beginning of Odom construction, a brand new gold standard in Cambodian architecture is taking shape in Phnom Penh, encompassing sustainability and a brand new image of what city life can mean.
“The Odom design draws inspiration from three important contextual factors – climate, culture and community,” explained Khai Saharom, the architect behind the revolutionary project. “The result – a skyscraper that breaks away from the typical design of glass and steel buildings and seeks to honor the city’s rich culture and the community’s aspirations for a dynamic and sustainable future.”
With a dual-use tower as the place to begin for Urban Living Solutions’ (ULS) latest project, the corporate – already experienced within the Cambodian market – saw a necessity for an ambitious designer who could bring its vision to life. Enter Khai and Singapore-based firm Kite Studio Architecture. A young brand that has won many awards, including recognition as Top 20 Architects in Singapore Under 40Khai applied his talents to Odom’s unique concept, which eschewed traditional, single-function design for a more human-centered approach.
Located in each private residences and company office spaces, Odom’s multi-functional functionality is reflected within the constructing’s contrasting twin-tower architecture. On the one hand, the 40,000 square meters of office space span entire floors that will be tailored to the precise needs of enormous corporations, to smaller options perfect for certainly one of the 1000’s of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Cambodia. The 45-story luxury business constructing – Odom Tower – is supplied with all amenities, five underground floors with parking and a non-public rooftop members’ club, perfect for after-work drinks and company events.
Just a brief walk across the sky bridge – the green space stretching between two towers 60 meters above the bottom – are Odom Living residences. 18,000 square meters spread over 22 floors provide residents with all modern amenities and luxuries and a wide selection of layouts to pick from. Larger-than-average living spaces include one, two, three and 4 bedrooms and are equipped with balconies, floor-to-ceiling windows and a totally equipped kitchen, suitable each for leisurely dinners at home and for entertaining guests. In addition to straightforward amenities and household appliances, Odom residents have access to a world-class gym and swimming pool, private parking, 24-hour security and a rooftop terrace with spectacular views of town.
As Cambodia’s economy continues its pre-pandemic growth path and demand for brand spanking new office space and modern residences increases, Odom fills a really real gap within the local market. Add to this the project’s prime location in Phnom Penh’s central business district, just minutes from the capital’s vibrant nightlife and easy accessibility to the international airport, and the appeal for residents and investors alike is obvious.
“We have a very limited number of international quality achievements, let alone relevant luxury projects,” explained Kim Leang Kean, founder and managing director of ULS. “This gives us confidence that the market is wide open to good designs that can deliver quality at this level.”
While the enduring style and splendid features of each offices and residences actually attract attention, what truly sets Odom aside from other developments in Phnom Penh are its community-focused shared spaces. In addition to Odom Square, a podium occupying the primary five floors of the tower that houses shops, restaurants and cascading green spaces, each towers are home to 6 “Sky Villages” that play a central role in Odom’s vision as a spot where people come together and communities are formed.
“We approach everything differently, both in terms of our design approach and our core target market,” Kean said. “Don’t get me wrong, investment properties are good and necessary, but it’s the long-term residents who own and live in properties that build communities and the long-term value of projects.”
These community green spaces are open to the general public and help create an urban oasis unlike anything in Phnom Penh. Additionally, Odom’s LEED Gold pre-certified status, awarded to high-performance green constructing developments that show “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design,” further reflects ULS’ strong commitment to sustainability and eco-conscious practices. The tower’s revolutionary concrete-on-glass architecture, energy-efficient design and other features akin to waste management procedures, electric vehicle charging stations and AI-powered elevators helped Odom earn this classification and further differentiate the project from other developments in town.
Taken apart, these unique features generate buzz, increasing interest in Odom as the most recent addition to Phnom Penh’s ever-changing skyline. Overall, Odom signals a brand new era in Cambodia’s development that redefines the spaces through which we work and live, places where residents and society can meet, share experiences and create relationships that strengthen communities.
Looking to the longer term, a commitment to people-centred development will develop into a key element of city life, for each residents and visitors. In Cambodia and across Southeast Asia, Odom represents the promise of community-centered design, the potential of people-first architecture, and a brand new vision for the longer term of urban living.
For all details about Odom, click Here.
