Traditional Khmer housing

In Cambodia, there are many Khmer style houses that are built in different ways depending on hierarchy and purposes.

In special terms, the house is a symbol of prosperity in the national society, and it serves the lives of the people in each village, which is culture and nature[1] The Khmer has long been known to traditionally live on different designs of stilt house and also has a multi-leveled floor and gable finials at both ends of the roof ridge.

The earliest record of Cambodian housing is from the Chinese record of Funan kingdom (1st-7th century AD) where the residents were described as people who lived on stilt houses, cultivated rice and sent tributes of gold, silver, ivory and exotic animals.

[3] During the Khmer Empire (8th-15th century), high-status people were known to live in large houses, parts of which were covered in roof tiles where commoners lived in smaller houses with thatched roofs from perishable materials where they were not preserved until today.

Additionally, houses were built on stilts so that the living floor was above the ground, according to Zhou Daguan who visited Angkor in 13th century.

For instance, the magnificent stone temples at Angkor were the only remains of a vast wooden settlements and palaces at the height of Khmer civilization.

[6] During Funan period, palaces and royal residences were mentioned in Chinese records, however, their actual appearance is unknown.

The palace and royal residence of the succeeding Chenla kingdom (6th-9th century) with its centre at Isanapura were also in discussion.

In Angkorian period, palaces were built in various locations such as on Kulen mountain (Mahendrapavarta), Hariharalaya, Koh Ker (Lingapura), and Angkor (Yasodharapura).

However, Chinese emissary to Angkor in 13th century described the palace as a series of commanding buildings covered with lead tiled roofs.

The rooms are really quite grand looking, and the long corridors and complicated walkways, the soaring structures that rise and fall, all give a considerable sense of size.

In the place for doing official business there is a gold window, with rectangular pillars to the left and right of the crosspieces… I have heard that there are many wonderful places in the inner palace, but it is very strictly out of bounds and I could not get to see them.’[4] Moreover, French Archaeologist Bernard-Philippe Groslier who conducted excavations at Angkorian Palace enclosure in the 1950s and 60s provides another useful description: ‘…in former days Angkor was a sea of roofs.

In the centre of the city sparkled the green and gold tiles of the royal palace, rising above its plain surrounding wall of red laterite.

The general plan of the palace buildings resembles that of the flat temples: a series of main buildings intersecting at right angles and marking off various courtyards and quarters according to their respective functions – reception rooms, private apartments, gynecology and offices.

The state rooms must have been magnificent: steep roofs carved and gilded arched roof-trees, and walls of precious woods…the audience hall…was supported by pillars resting on consoles…At the end of the hall was the elevated window where the king sat…This was the only part of the building open to the public.’[4]As Angkorian palace and royal residences were all wooden and the bas reliefs do not depicted the entirety of the royal residence compound, there are several alternative sources of comparison to reconstruct the appearance of the palace.

Khmer people construct their house differently based on their social status, wealth, preference, and geographical location.

Normally, the pattern on the ridge and the top is called " Meat " (Not sure this is correct because it is not included in the Cheonan Dictionary), as shown .

Initially, the King Sisowath ruled people wanting to build a house with small roof.

Third, in the third reign, King Norodom Sihanouk,[7] Vannavann Khmer was popular in most part of Phnom Penh, most houses in the Kingdom of Cambodia, while Thoranouk Chhouk and Duong were not very constructive.

While looking outdoors seem simple, in fact, they have various ways of organizing indoor for fulfill Cambodian favorite style , for example, below the roof they liked to build a shelf so they can be used it for store other things.

The height of the house is depending on the condition of the land, but if it built directly to the ground, it is called a "Tream".

Also, most of the houses are rented by monks when they see some rows drop down the roof sometimes in front of the side to create the next apartment.

To make Khmer houses, they have to have long sticks to be made of piles and rooftops and to use solid wood.

[8][15][16] Construction of rest houses were famous during the reign of Jayavarman VII, the great king of Khmer Empire.