Small Houses by Bloom Architecture, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Small Houses by Bloom Architecture is a compact residential project located within a colonial-era urban block in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Designed in 2019 and completed in 2020, the project reimagines high-density urban living through a contemporary interpretation of traditional Cambodian wooden houses. Conceived as a collection of three small houses, the development offers a calm, green refuge set back from one of the city’s most active streets, demonstrating how sensitive infill housing can restore human scale and community life in rapidly densifying Southeast Asian cities.

Creating a Green Urban Village in the City Center

Accessed through a narrow alleyway, the site’s constraints became a key architectural driver. Rather than treating limited access as a drawback, Bloom Architecture transformed it into an opportunity to create a small residential community hidden within the urban fabric. The project maintains a village-like scale, a rare quality in central Phnom Penh, by clustering the houses around shared outdoor spaces, including a courtyard, alleyway, and communal rooftops. This spatial strategy fosters social interaction and a strong sense of belonging among residents, many of whom are young urban professionals, designers, and families.

Compact Living and Innovative High-Density Typology

Each of the private houses rises over four levels, with reduced footprints and shared boundary walls. This compact vertical arrangement introduces an innovative housing typology suited to city centers where land is scarce and real estate prices are increasingly prohibitive. By stacking living spaces vertically, the project achieves density without sacrificing light, ventilation, or privacy. Irregularly positioned openings are carefully calibrated to bring daylight deep into the ground floors while limiting direct visual connections between neighboring houses.

Facade Design, Craftsmanship, and Climate Responsiveness

A defining feature of the project is its double-layered facade system on the lower levels. Custom-designed cement block screens, handmade by local craftsmen, create a porous envelope that filters light, enhances ventilation, and ensures privacy. The laterite-orange hue of the blocks, achieved through natural pigments, references local material traditions while providing a warm, tactile identity. These screens also act as an ideal support for tropical vegetation, allowing greenery to climb and soften the architecture, reinforcing the project’s biophilic and climate-responsive design approach.

Interior Spaces and Vertical Living Experience

Inside, the houses are organized to respond to daily life in a dense tropical city. Living, dining, and kitchen spaces are positioned to maximize natural light and cross-ventilation, while upper levels open toward longer views over the surrounding neighborhood. As residents move upward, the relationship with the city becomes more expansive, shifting from inward-focused privacy at ground level to openness and visual connection on the upper floors. This vertical progression enhances spatial variety within compact dwellings and supports long-term livability.

Community, Sustainability, and Contemporary Urban Living

Beyond individual homes, Small Houses emphasizes shared living and collective identity. The shared alleyway, courtyard, and rooftops encourage informal encounters, children’s play, and everyday social exchanges. By combining local craftsmanship, climate-sensitive materials, and a community-oriented layout, the project offers a sustainable alternative to generic urban housing models. It demonstrates how contemporary residential architecture in Phnom Penh can balance density, affordability, and quality of life while remaining deeply rooted in local culture and context.

Small Houses by Bloom Architecture stands as a compelling example of urban infill housing that merges vernacular inspiration with modern design strategies. It shows how small-scale architecture, when thoughtfully designed, can create meaningful places, strengthen community ties, and introduce greenery into the heart of fast-growing cities.

Project Information

  Location: Phnom Penh, CambodiaArchitects: Bloom ArchitectureLead Architects: Antoine Meinnel, Bloom ArchitectureYear: 2020Area: 600 m²Engineering & Consulting: Paradise Phnom PenhPhotography: Hiroyuki Oki  

All photographs are works of Hiroyuki Oki