via Phnom Penh Post, 08 March 2021: The demoliton of a rare example of post-Angkorian architecture.
The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts said it approved the demolition of the 92-year-old temple located at Svay Pope pagoda in Phnom Penh at the request of the pagoda’s chief monk after inspections revealed that it was heavily damaged and structurally unsound.
The demolition went through despite concerns of some architects who said the “rare Buddhist structure” should have been preserved.
A clarification by the culture ministry on March 7 said a working group had found that the temple was an old, tall structure which had been partially renovated and refurbished. It said some parts of the temple had scratches, cracks, rust, faded colouring and the temple itself was occupied by people who were living there in an unclean manner without proper hygiene.
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“I acknowledge that critics have a point, but please also think about the difficulties the pagoda faces. In fact, we have a school here and we need the space to build a place for monks and students to stay. This temple is too old, it cannot be used,” he said.
A Cambodian architect who asked not to be named told The Post on March 8 he regretted that the post-Angkorian sculptural temple were being demolished because it was very rare. He said only three in this style remained: one at the Svay Pope pagoda and another two in a pagoda in Kampong Cham province.
“I don’t want the temple to be demolished because the architecture is rare in terms of post-Angkorian Buddhist structures, so it should be maintained. Buddhist structures were very badly affected during the Khmer Rouge period, so it should be preserved as it is during this peaceful era,” he said.
