EGBOK Mission is a Siem Reap-based NGO that provides residential hospitality training for young Cambodians. To date they have had over 595 graduates pass through their doors.
In addition to their existing facilities, EGBOK required a professional environment for the students to practice and polish their skills and a place for EGBOK to show-case their work. A brief was established for a cafe, teaching kitchen and multi-purpose assembly space to be located in the front area of the main hostel site.
The design is for a bamboo pavillion that houses the cafe and assembly space under a single sweeping roof. Through its siting it creates a series of courtyard gardens and mediates the levels of privacy between visitors and students.
The pavillion is constructed from a series of bamboo frames that fan around the cafe garden into an L-shaped plan and thus create a welcoming entrance. The fanning allows the cafe and assembly spaces to be used both as discrete spaces and to be opened up into one big space for larger gatherings and events. High level clerestory screens provide drama and ventilation.
The teaching kitchen faces the ‘student’ courtyard to the front of the hostel, connecting spatially with the student assembly space and the hostel. It intersects the corner of the bamboo pavillon and leads through to the bar and cafe - thereby also affording visitors glimpses back into the kitchen.
The cafe opened in October 2016. Within four month it had reached the top spot for Siem Reap on Trip Advisor.
