Boreys find fertile ground for growth in Battambang

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgugwerEnbUyeihDwZ_QVU070J2fjCaS4gKM9TWS196yVVjy7uNjxShwq-AmJs6yor9_tOFAQEeU4cXlDWTc4Mh4vwSMIj0OCdb0tHNhtawv7_AOQSfh_Vl10FZ5DcTjwStUwga3KkWWp8/s1600/statue_of_ta_dumbong_at_battambong_province_by_hong_menea_2_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgugwerEnbUyeihDwZ_QVU070J2fjCaS4gKM9TWS196yVVjy7uNjxShwq-AmJs6yor9_tOFAQEeU4cXlDWTc4Mh4vwSMIj0OCdb0tHNhtawv7_AOQSfh_Vl10FZ5DcTjwStUwga3KkWWp8/s640/statue_of_ta_dumbong_at_battambong_province_by_hong_menea_2_web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Phou Puy is a towering figure in Battambang province. A prominent businessman, he heads the provincial chamber of commerce, operates some of the country's biggest rice mills, and chairs the firm behind the rice paddy bank. But he is also a developer, with several small projects under his belt and more in the pipeline.<br /> <br /> His latest, a borey (gated residential community) on 20 hectares near the centre of Battambang town, aims to satisfy the growing demand for quality housing among Battambang's emerging middle class.<br /> <br /> Located in Ochar commune just off National Road 5, construction on Borey Phou Puy broke ground late last year. The project will be carried out in stages. Puy declined to say how many units would be constructed, only that each stage would see houses built "according to the demand of buyers".<br /> <br /> "This project focuses on the houses for average-income customers as each house is priced between $34,000 and $60,000," he said, adding that improving incomes in the provincial capital have fuelled demand for affordably priced homes.<br /> <br /> The new borey occupies land adjacent to Puy's first project in Battambang, a multistorey market building that fronts National Road 5 and will serve the borey's residents, as well as traffic along the busy highway. The linkage of these two projects would appear to follow a model Puy first hashed out in Pursat province, where he is developing a two-storey shopping mall and borey on 30 hectares of land, also fronting National Road 5.<br /> <br /> National Road 5 is an economic artery for Cambodia's northwestern provinces, serving both domestic and cross-border traffic.<br /> <br /> The region is also expected to see rapid economic growth with the resumption of commercial and passenger rail service on the 385-kilometre Northern Line that runs between Phnom Penh and Poipet via Battambang. Passenger services resumed on a rehabilitated 48-kilometre section of the line between Sisophon and Poipet earlier this month. Work is underway to complete the repairs on the rest of the line, which was abandoned for decades after sustaining heavy damage during Cambodia's civil war and Khmer Rouge period.<br /> <br /> Grace Rachny Fong, CEO of real estate firm Century 21 Cambodia, said Battambang stands out among the other northwestern provinces in its strong potential for growth, thanks in part to its high population density. She said the province is developing rapidly and the expansion of commercial activity is driving the local residential market.<br /> <br /> "The commercial trend in this province is getting a lot better, and there are many residential projects being developed as well," she said, adding that several borey projects have already broken ground.<br /> Borey developments in Battambang city currently under construction include Reaksmey Battambang and Borey Rum Chek.<br /> <br /> According to Fong, prices on commercial real estate in the city increased by an average to 5 to 10 percent in the first quarter of 2018, compared to a year earlier. Land in the city's central commercial zone is currently selling for between $1,500 and $2,000 per square metre, while land in the outerlying residential areas ranges from $70 to $125 per square metre.

Boreys find fertile ground for growth in Battambang

Phou Puy is a towering figure in Battambang province. A prominent businessman, he heads the provincial chamber of commerce, operates some...

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Capital looks to the south for new developments

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhyphen421g2uY-Ca4D_g_1J3aDlhIlY_6Fnsf3MAHCqkJ84l0qYYw2RdJ5Jjaue2Z-Z2-2EK9VkPSUIPuydzzfVL2_B9cY4JVUd4Xh4w0U5Q-HgtYBl4duTDoUWzBSHzprW2G1IfnGFEEA1M/s1600/townweb1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhyphen421g2uY-Ca4D_g_1J3aDlhIlY_6Fnsf3MAHCqkJ84l0qYYw2RdJ5Jjaue2Z-Z2-2EK9VkPSUIPuydzzfVL2_B9cY4JVUd4Xh4w0U5Q-HgtYBl4duTDoUWzBSHzprW2G1IfnGFEEA1M/s640/townweb1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> The late Vann Molyvann, the doyen of modern Khmer architecture, once mused that the urban expansion of Phnom Penh should head south as that side of the city has the most favourable topography and is not prone to seasonal flooding.<br /> <br /> Some of the capital's most ambitious development projects are pushing the city's limits in this direction, the grandest being ING City, a colossal satellite city project that covers an area the size of Macau. Built on a sprawling 2,572 hectares, much of it on reclaimed land, the project is being developed in four stages by local conglomerate ING Holdings.<br /> <br /> The company has put the price tag on the satellite city at $700 million, and is bringing in private developers to construct sections according to its 2014-2020 master plan.<br /> <br /> At the project's core is Hun Sen Road, a 60 metre wide, 9.4 kilometre artery that opened last year and dissects the satellite city from north to south.<br /> <br /> Many of the largest developments are along this road including R&F Magnificent Mansion, a mixed commercial and residential development announced in December. Chinese developer Guangzhou R&F Property is injecting $700 million to develop the 7.7 hectare project, which includes nearly 560,000 square metres of building area.<br /> <br /> Further along in development is Borey Woodland, a gated residential community of townhouses and villas that began construction in October 2016, and PH Diamond Plaza, a two-storey shopping mall at the heart of Borey Peng Houth's mixed-use development, The Star Diamond.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8-m4ayDkvxa7XCpL2aSSr9eeCFlmu7NnzMdYdnvu522qjEvPC3hKpA60WgWYfBEMhMgVh36HbGwreL6kRTEO4pAit9zuXPm4rMXJ3XkPqEruJa7a6sKWBaWmDaCbg3kjsCE5xWwfCtU/s1600/diamondweb2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="780" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8-m4ayDkvxa7XCpL2aSSr9eeCFlmu7NnzMdYdnvu522qjEvPC3hKpA60WgWYfBEMhMgVh36HbGwreL6kRTEO4pAit9zuXPm4rMXJ3XkPqEruJa7a6sKWBaWmDaCbg3kjsCE5xWwfCtU/s640/diamondweb2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Chrek Soknim, CEO of Century 21 Mekong, said the southern side of Phnom Penh has high potential for growth as it is within easy reach of the city centre, has favourable topography, and has been zoned as an upscale district of malls and high-rise buildings.<br /> <br /> "This area has been recognised as one with high potential for a long time, not only now," he said.<br /> <br /> One lingering concern is air pollution. Several factories in the area, mostly producing garments and foodstuffs, emit fumes with unpleasant odours or possible health risks.<br /> <br /> However, Soknim suggested the rise in property values in the area is making it unsuitable for industry and he expects the existing factories to relocate to cheaper land further outside the capital. Most should be gone by the time ING City and other projects start seeing tenants move in.<br /> <br /> "Typically, each construction project requires about three to five years to complete," he said. "So the factories will have already moved by the time these projects are done."<br /> <br /> The massive new development on the capital's southern frontier has enormous economic benefits, but it also comes with a social and environmental cost. More than 500 families could be displaced from their homes to make way for the ING City project, and much of the construction is on land reclaimed from Boeung Tumpun lake and Choeung Ek wetlands, which historically served as an important drainage basin for Phnom Penh.<br /> <br /> ING Holdings could not be reached for comment. However a representative previously told The Post that the satellite city development was a long-term investment intended to turn the area into a modern city, and efforts would be made "to protect the environment and value the residents' lifestyle".

Capital looks to the south for new developments

The late Vann Molyvann, the doyen of modern Khmer architecture, once mused that the urban expansion of Phnom Penh should head south as th...

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Who's Who: Teang Borin steps out from behind the canvas

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfk2cItkHxhdwXM9XEDQWASiLxRFErJbD_mrQp14PpFW210QYUIw4LKUDsTX78Bomsi9-tkxchyphenhyphen0fRyDYkXb42lmi840oaFr4a_JO7O27JjGIIBlXaeT8YcxxQ9-TSeg7K5T4BEs1qE5w/s1600/whoswhoweb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfk2cItkHxhdwXM9XEDQWASiLxRFErJbD_mrQp14PpFW210QYUIw4LKUDsTX78Bomsi9-tkxchyphenhyphen0fRyDYkXb42lmi840oaFr4a_JO7O27JjGIIBlXaeT8YcxxQ9-TSeg7K5T4BEs1qE5w/s640/whoswhoweb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Teang Borin's paintings have filled galleries and exhibits – and have adorned the walls of some of the most expensive properties in the country.<br /> <br /> Cambodian artist Teang Borin, or Din as he is commonly known, spends much of his days with a paintbrush in hand, staring at a stark white canvas and envisioning how he will transform it into a masterful expression of colour, energy and ideas. While his paintings, including his signature abstracts of traditional Apsara dancers, sell in galleries, they are just as likely these days to end up on the walls of Phnom Penh's luxury hotels and fine dining restaurants.<br /> <br /> The self-taught 37-year-old artist says he majored in architecture in university but felt his career options – or at least his creativity – would be limited in that field. Instead, inspired by performances of Apsara dancers, he began sketching in his spare time, honing the creativity and artistic talent he had possessed since an early age and which previously he had applied to interior design.<br /> <br /> Borin's unique style – which captures the fluidity and motion of his subjects – has garnered the attention of local and international art lovers. It also caught the eye of IKARE organisation, which is covering his expenses to visit the United States and prepare a series of nearly two dozen paintings to be exhibited during the 2018 Festival of Nations in Saint Paul, Minnesota in May.<br /> <br /> Borin says he is honoured to join artists from 200 countries attending the event, and as the only artist selected from Cambodia. Having arrived in the US in March, he is now working to complete the paintings he will present during the event, which he says provides an opportunity for participants "to get to know Khmer culture, and put Khmer art on the international stage".<br /> <br /> The Kampot native says the increased knowledge and appreciation of Khmer art from locals and foreigners is encouraging him to spend more time on his paintings. He says he wants to ensure his art meets their expectations.<br /> <br /> Obviously, it has. Borin says his smaller Apsara portraits start at about $600, while larger pieces can fetch several thousand dollars. Many of his works are displayed for sale in local art galleries and online. They can also be seen around Phnom Penh, adorning the walls of private villas and upscale hotels, including Raffles Hotel Le Royal, The Great Duke Hotel (formerly InterContinental Hotel), and the Sun & Moon Urban Hotel.<br /> <br /> "The value of Khmer art is rising in the eyes of Cambodians and foreigners alike," he says. "These days, I can barely keep up with all the orders from my clients."<br /> <br /> Borin's passion for art started when he was in elementary school. One of his early influences was his father, a high school chemistry teacher who always kept a sketchpad handy.<br /> <br /> "My interest in painting was sparked by my father, because when I was young I noticed that he frequently liked to draw pictures to aid in his teachings at school," he says.<br /> <br /> Borin's early drawings were mostly of the countryside around Kampot. Sketching remained a hobby as he completed his education, and while completing a degree in architecture at Norton University in Phnom Penh. He worked at an architectural firm for six years, but says he was turned off of the profession by the long timelines of projects, often many years, which was less satisfying than the artistic work he does now, where a painting can be completed in a matter of hours or days.<br /> <br /> In 2014, Borin quit the firm to work as a freelance architect while pursuing his dream of opening his own art gallery. The launch of his workshop and display space, DinArt Gallery, the following year gave him a chance to devote a full-time effort to developing his artistic talent. Now, with a reputation as one of Cambodia's most celebrated artists, he is looking to expand his gallery to Siem Reap.<br /> <br /> Borin says he hopes to spend more time at Angkor Wat, whose centuries-old temples are covered in sculptures, carvings and paintings that can inspire him.<br /> <br /> "Painting traditional arts is a form of culture conservation that I always hold dear to my heart," he says.​

Who's Who: Teang Borin steps out from behind the canvas

Teang Borin's paintings have filled galleries and exhibits – and have adorned the walls of some of the most expensive properties in t...

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Third Ring Road draft plans revealed

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNV51BFXwRqsWtRypoa-oMZ9dwAndkbDsXsT1v41lU7SVU89r580YAepjJug5bx2tdCyQD3_LXiXuUnBw3UuGVrFj0p4_hNqrvFT_kfZ43Lapgpfcx2smhnkIX_wz7WDY4PpnXOTpVLok/s1600/ringroadcrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNV51BFXwRqsWtRypoa-oMZ9dwAndkbDsXsT1v41lU7SVU89r580YAepjJug5bx2tdCyQD3_LXiXuUnBw3UuGVrFj0p4_hNqrvFT_kfZ43Lapgpfcx2smhnkIX_wz7WDY4PpnXOTpVLok/s640/ringroadcrop.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> With Phnom Penh having outgrown its First Ring Road and the Second Ring Road due to open in 2019, the government is making plans for an even grander Third Ring Road that will encircle the the capital and ease traffic congestion. The proposed 47-kilometre road will be the outermost concentric circle around the capital, allowing vehicles to travel from one outerlying area to another without having to pass through the city itself.<br /> <br /> According to Kong Sophorn, deputy governor of Kandal province, the Third Ring Road will form a semicircle that starts at National Road 4 west of the capital and arcs south and east to National Road 21 before crossing the river and heading northwards to connect to National Road 1. Overpasses will be built to cross National Road 4, 3 and 21, and a 25-metre-long bridge will span the Bassac River in Sa'ang district.<br /> <br /> Sophorn said the Third Ring Road will extend a total of 47 kilometres, passing through two districts in Phnom Penh and three districts in Kandal province. He said the infrastructure project is one of the country's priority state-funded initiatives and impact studies have shown that it will reduce traffic congestion in Phnom Penh, accelerate city development, and lead to positive development along national roads in Cambodia.<br /> <br /> Under the draft plan, a portion of which was seen by The Post, the Third Ring Road will start at Tomnop Kob Srov road in Chaom Chao commune in Phnom Penh's Por Sen Chey district and cut across Kontaok and Pleung Chheh Roteh communes. The road will continue south, traversing Kong Noy, Sak Samphov, Pong Teuk and Prateah Lang communes in the capital's Dangkor district.<br /> <br /> From there it will enter Kandal province, traversing Preah Puth, Cheung Keub, and Khum Kandaok communes in Kandal Steung district. It will then run through Khum Kos Onlong Chen, Sit Tbo and Roka Khous communes in Sa Aang district before crossing the Bassac River. The final stretch of the road will cut through Kampong Svay, Chheu Teal, Dey Eath and Bantey Dek communes in Kean Svay district to its terminus at a junction with National Road 1.<br /> <br /> Va Simsorya, spokesman for the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation, emphasised that "all the plans that have been shown are just the first draft," and the final route of the Third Ring Road could change. He said construction could begin as early as 2019, "if there's enough money by then," but added that he was unaware of the project's budget.<br /> <br /> While the route is not set in stone, property speculators have already sprung into action.<br /> <br /> Say Long, a local resident in Kandal province's Kean Svay district, said he has observed Chinese architects doing survey work and marking sections of road near Prek Svay village, which is where the Third Ring Road is expected to cross. He said land prices in the surrounding areas have spiked recently, in some cases by three times their value.<br /> <br /> However, he said most local area residents welcome the roadworks project as it will make them feel closer to the capital.

Third Ring Road draft plans revealed

With Phnom Penh having outgrown its First Ring Road and the Second Ring Road due to open in 2019, the government is making plans for an e...

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Will 2018 be remembered as the Year of the Mall?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqqQd6MyVb0C7lc72HP0f-Y8PKrsXEcC0Bm1JgeZcd67qQWmfdjLaHO-AymmXaOonLYA4dlJkROqJW28o3TO5ZN8YnN_9W7hGmSbn0fPxOHti4GBobp5CUic4AmZYIDV1rCx7juPlHIU/s1600/phnom-penh-megamall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqqQd6MyVb0C7lc72HP0f-Y8PKrsXEcC0Bm1JgeZcd67qQWmfdjLaHO-AymmXaOonLYA4dlJkROqJW28o3TO5ZN8YnN_9W7hGmSbn0fPxOHti4GBobp5CUic4AmZYIDV1rCx7juPlHIU/s640/phnom-penh-megamall.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <b><br /></b> <b>Nearly a dozen new malls are slated to open in Phnom Penh by this year, doubling the capital's total retail space.</b><br /> <br /> Nearly a dozen new malls will open in Phnom Penh by the end of the year, increasing the competition to secure retail tenants and doubling the capital's total clustered retail space.<br /> <br /> The new malls are led by Aeon Mall 2, with 70,500 square metres of retail space, and the Phnom Penh MegaMall, with Cambodia's first Parkson department store and a total 70,200 square metres of retail space. Other malls and shopping plazas expected to open this year include Midtown Community Mall, The Bridge, Downtown 93, The Park, Noro Mall, Prince Plaza Mall, Eden Garden and Olympia Plaza Mall<br /> <br /> The new malls will increase the total retail space in the capital to 450,000 square metres, about double the existing total after last year's opening of Exchange Square, whose retail podium added 10,700 square metres, according to real estate firm CBRE Cambodia.<br /> <br /> Ann Sothida, director of CBRE Cambodia, said the Kingdom's retail sector is showing many positive signs of growth, and even as the number of malls keeps adding up it is an increasingly segmented market, with the various malls marketed to different target consumers and in different locations.<br /> <br /> "The continuous rise of the purchasing power and changing lifestyle trends in Cambodia is spurring on the growth in the number of malls in the country," she said.<br /> <br /> Many of the projects nearing completion are smaller and personable open-air venues known as "community malls". At least four are scheduled to open in 2018, including Noro Mall, which picked up the award for Best Retail Architectural Design at this year's PropertyGuru Cambodia Property Awards<br /> <br /> These smaller malls also mark a departure from the trend of bigger and sleeker malls designed as platforms for big-name international retail brands.<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlALlS-5nD7tiQ1aD6Bp4VhQsrVRCtMqkvFzOEvFjRMz_FSm4aJsrIOGNZbogYY5dpdLzrRP6coXjSQt1y119Xqo6C_4rk2F4w95-_blL4KohaE-CF2im0OT_8O_XYcGKFmdlQsq2twbA/s1600/midtown1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="780" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlALlS-5nD7tiQ1aD6Bp4VhQsrVRCtMqkvFzOEvFjRMz_FSm4aJsrIOGNZbogYY5dpdLzrRP6coXjSQt1y119Xqo6C_4rk2F4w95-_blL4KohaE-CF2im0OT_8O_XYcGKFmdlQsq2twbA/s640/midtown1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Sear Rithy, chairman of WorldBridge Group, the Cambodian partner in the joint venture behind the 20,000 square metre retail podium in The Bridge, said the Cambodian market is not yet ready for international brand outlets. He said high-end shopping malls, including The Bridge, are struggling to attract these retailers because the few Cambodians with enough money to afford their designer or luxury goods tend to travel abroad to buy them.<br /> <br /> "It's not just here in Cambodia, but even wealthy people in Vietnam would rather shop for expensive brands outside the country," he said.<br /> <br /> However, Rithy said he expects this trend to change in the next five to 10 years as people recognise the high cost in time and money of overseas shopping trips and look to pick up the same quality goods at home.<br /> <br /> The rise of modern malls would appear to threaten the traditional markets that have historically been where Cambodians do most of their shopping.<br /> <br /> However, Leng Kimsrong, director of O'Russey market, a sprawling multi-level indoor complex of market stalls in central Phnom Penh, said there is room for malls and traditional markets to co-exist. He said the two types of shopping experiences "target a different type of consumer and offer a different range of products".<br /> <br /> Rather than fear them, he said traditional market vendors could learn a lot from the modern malls springing up around the capital. The popularity of malls shows that local consumers value the increased order and security they offer. Vendors in traditional markets should try to follow the example of mall store employees and adopt a more soft-spoken, polite, friendly and inviting approach to customers.<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJL6tBOs409hkg32hWKZ_OTygKeTkzaA_tGa2wkDei5tZtXagDcN0NTNCwXQo8Ah9_jQzj-riGQiBFnO7aZ1vawMy-NE24iCesYKo27CZtZZ32BjAuxdWh3VZcMbw0ba8B7JJujWKeZVg/s1600/aeon-mall-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="780" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJL6tBOs409hkg32hWKZ_OTygKeTkzaA_tGa2wkDei5tZtXagDcN0NTNCwXQo8Ah9_jQzj-riGQiBFnO7aZ1vawMy-NE24iCesYKo27CZtZZ32BjAuxdWh3VZcMbw0ba8B7JJujWKeZVg/s640/aeon-mall-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Chor Saing, general manager of Ratana Plaza in Sen Sok district, said he is not worried about competition from the new malls coming into the market as his shopping plaza already has a secure customer base, especially from tourists staying in the hotel on the top floor of the retail complex.<br /> <br /> "Competition is good, because it can help us attract different types of customers and strengthen the quality of our services so that our customers will be more satisfied," he said.<br /> <br /> He added that despite the increased competition, he had no plan to reduce the lease rates for retailers in the plaza as demand remains high.<br /> <br /> Yet the arrival of bigger, modern malls such as Aeon Mall, which opened in 2014, have pushed some of the capital's older malls to update their design and services.<br /> <br /> The former Sorya Mall, which was the first mall in Phnom Penh when it opened in 2003, reopened last December after a $5 million renovation. Rebranded as Sorya Centre Point, the eight-storey retail complex was revamped to broaden its appeal to both local and foreign shoppers, who have more shopping options than when the mall first opened 15 years ago.

Will 2018 be remembered as the Year of the Mall?

Nearly a dozen new malls are slated to open in Phnom Penh by this year, doubling the capital's total retail space. Nearly a dozen n...

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Riverfront plaza set to fill capital’s tourist entertainment gap

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5T080X9utGtFoeZUNKH0stgwyYMuUMgAy6dvb7ItH5NpXvN9B1a_mwRNBIdNY4Z1-57c4D4_K7pdgFdhheZ45ar7lzzhukt2hP95YxrCVW1nGZsE-feqxn6UeQMuEOThOfu-TO5qiHg8/s1600/riverfront-plaza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5T080X9utGtFoeZUNKH0stgwyYMuUMgAy6dvb7ItH5NpXvN9B1a_mwRNBIdNY4Z1-57c4D4_K7pdgFdhheZ45ar7lzzhukt2hP95YxrCVW1nGZsE-feqxn6UeQMuEOThOfu-TO5qiHg8/s640/riverfront-plaza.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Phnom Penh is short on tourist attractions and has never really had a "destination" for local families and tourists to visit for dining, shopping, leisure and live entertainment, so the Worldbridge Group decided it was time to build one.<br /> <br /> Construction is already underway on a new integrated leisure and entertainment complex on the Bassac River south of Phnom Penh designed to attract local families, expats and foreign tourists.<br /> <br /> Local developer Worldbridge Group is investing $10 million to build WB Arena, an open-air plaza on 1.3 hectares in the capital's Chak Angre Krom commune set between the river and National Road 2. The project includes retail, dining, leisure and entertainment components, anchored by a 400-seat theatre for nightly live events.<br /> <br /> Tan Teck Kee, executive director of Worldbridge Land, said he expects the riverfront complex to become "the go-to place for family leisure" when it opens this November.<br /> <br /> "It will be a riverfront entertainment destination for local families, tourists and expats," he explained. "We have put in place an arena that will be holding many sports and other events. We have also planned activities within for all ages."<br /> <br /> Designed by Chin Kam and Associates (CK&A), the same Singaporean architect firm that Worldbridge Group and its joint venture partner Oxley International Holdings brought in to design The Bridge and The Peak, the WB Arena project is modelled loosely on Singapore's Clarke Quay. Careful thought was given, however, to adapting the waterfront entertainment concept to the local setting.<br /> <br /> "We have uniquely planned it to suit Cambodians and appeal to tourists visiting Cambodia," said Tan.<br /> <br /> According to Simon Griffiths, managing director of Urban Asset Solutions, the project's commercial consultant and leasing agent, WB Arena will include 6,000 square metres of net leasable space divided into areas for retail, F&B and leisure.<br /> <br /> The retail hub centres on a shopping market with 90 stalls where local vendors sell a range of fashion goods, gadgets and health and beauty products.<br /> <br /> "We want something that appeals to tourists," said Griffiths. "About 70 percent of the 90 stalls will target tourists, the rest will be cross-over targeting both tourists and local shoppers."<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrsh7VipyrtnNxQrfr0wUiLN4RNDUMjnHvM3FFqMS9RTRMsLkky8M32bKHyqbwgyQmFHFZXUmEO8Ky-vCRd0ygatjXFUQ_8MjMPHHIKUAmsc2DP0POQkbQV1-PZbUPj_rzivd3jXGjdQ/s1600/riverfront-plaza-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrsh7VipyrtnNxQrfr0wUiLN4RNDUMjnHvM3FFqMS9RTRMsLkky8M32bKHyqbwgyQmFHFZXUmEO8Ky-vCRd0ygatjXFUQ_8MjMPHHIKUAmsc2DP0POQkbQV1-PZbUPj_rzivd3jXGjdQ/s640/riverfront-plaza-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> There will be plenty of food and beverage options for visitors, as well as al fresco dining along the wide palm-lined riverside promenade. A dozen F&B brands have already booked spaces, and Urban Asset Solutions is in talks with three operators to manage a unique concept of food court.<br /> <br /> The heart of the WB Arena complex is a 400-seat theatre designed for a stage or boxing ring. The building will be used for nightly live events, such as Khmer boxing or performances by local theatre guilds and special events.<br /> <br /> "For local residents we considered a cinema as an anchor, but we settled on a theatre, which is more appealing to tourists but we hope everyone will enjoy the shows," explained Griffiths.<br /> <br /> But the live performances will not just be in an arena. Electrical outlets will be set in three entertainment zones – one on the river and two inside the complex – where buskers can plug in their equipment.<br /> <br /> "The idea came from the London Underground, where they put a sticker on the floor where musicians can perform," said Griffiths. "We'll have coloured floors in these zones and there will be no fees to perform."<br /> <br /> There will also be an area for children, with carnival stalls and a supervised play area.<br /> <br /> Designed as a "destination" and reachable by road or river, WB Arena is intended to fill a glaring gap in the capital's tourism market.<br /> <br /> "Phnom Penh really lacks things for tourists to do, especially at night," said Griffiths. "This is the first integrated entertainment destination for the whole family."<br /> <br /> Private boats and charter vessels will pick up and drop off tourists at WB Arena's pier, and the complex could become a stop on the capital's new water taxi service, which is set to run from Prek Pnov in the north of Phnom Penh to Takhmao City.<br /> <br /> "It's designed around entertainment and fun, starting from the boat trip that gets you there," he explained. "We expect to see tourists coming at night to dine by the river, see a show, do a little shopping and have a massage while the kids play."<br /> <br /> Construction on WB Arena, already underway, is scheduled to wrap up in June with F&B tenants to start fitting out their spaces in July. A soft launch is set for November 1, with the grand opening two weeks later – just in time for the annual Water Festival.

Riverfront plaza set to fill capital’s tourist entertainment gap

Phnom Penh is short on tourist attractions and has never really had a "destination" for local families and tourists to visit fo...

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