Hilltop Theatre

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This Hilltop Theatre is located in the southern part of Cambodia at Kep province on the foot of a mountain which is the place for young students go for their camping activities. The place is called Shalom Valley. I will tell the story of how I am able to have the great opportunity to design this chapel building. 

First, I was recommended by my former director to do a freelance project for Shalom Valley (SV). The first project I did was designing a public toilet for camping students. Most of the layout was already designed by client. They just needed an architect to help making the plan right into architectural plan set of 2D and 3D view for construction. The thing is they really love my work so they start to like working with me. Months later, SV introduced me another toilet design and they ended up to like the project again. The toilet has a good natural ventilation then allows bad smell go out and fresh air come it. Another one project was a construction detail drawing of a playground. The 3D playground concept was designed by another architect company but it did not have construction document so SV gave this project to me again. Months later, I also was offered to do the coffee shop renovation. That is how it starts. It starts from designing a toilet. 

The chapel was originally designed by a foreigner group in a curve roof shape which the design was never built because of budget and technical challenges. Fortunately, the client remembered about my design work with them so far.  As I wanted to design church for long time ago with one of the reasons I study architecture, I started to design with a prayer. Prayer does work. It is my very first design concept that the client just saw it at the first sight and love it. They said Yes to the 3D look and how I presented to them. " The space itself brings people together. There will be the sound of prayer, praise, talk and joy. This is called ‘chapel’, a church located in southern province in Cambodian, Kep. The presence of light on vertical wall creates a cross shadow on horizontal floor gives meaning to all worshipers His grace and goodness." 

Below are design principles and concept ideas for this chapel: 

1. Natural light and ventilation: no electricity use in the building. 
2. Pool is placed in front of the building for its symbolic of baptism. 
3. 7 Stairs to the highest point of worship space and to stage 
4. Natural materials of local stones
5. Cross in shade of white color background is the iconic of salvation and Jesus Christ
6. Slope roof 
7. Garden and plant 




Front View from a wooden bridge 


7 steps to enter the chapel and standing area around the baptized pool


The back view with 3 doors to underground storages and toilet



Stage with cross lighting



white background cross










Cross Shadow





 Cross in the sky 

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