Brown Norodom

Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Project Type: Commercial
Services: Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape Design
Status: Completed 2015
Architects: Hok Kang

Located on the busy Norodom Blvd in Phnom Penh, this Brown Coffee and Bakery infuses modern minimalist design with life. Customers are greeted by a living wall on the building’s exterior, which mirrors the flora that take root within. At the heart of the cafe, a sculptural terrazzo planter box houses a feature tree and other tropical plants, then extends into a communal table. The planter is surrounded by a halo of natural light that connects the outside sky with the interior. The minimal tonal qualities of the marble bar and concrete flooring are softened by wood detailing, brass, and warm lighting. Large windows sit under traditional wooden shutters, a motif that is repeated in the horizontal lines of the exposed ceiling design and furnishings.