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The Independence Hotel was designed by French architect M. Mondet of the partnership Leroy & Mondet. They were also responsible for many more important constructions in Phnom Penh and the provinces built during the fifties and sixties.Nowadays, Cambodians still refer to the Independence Hotel as the "7 storey hotel". It is a direct reference to this outstanding landmark which sits like a beacon on a promontory in the heart of the tropical forest. One hallmark of modernist architecture is the use of a site to add prominence to the architect's intentions. In this particular case, the marriage works well with the hotel positioned to command views of coastline and the rolling hills of Sihanouk Ville in every direction.
Built at a cost of 30 million riel, the hotel was constructed to complement the burgeoning tourist influx in Sihanouk Ville. In 1963, the state tourism authority built economy-class beachfront Krung Preah Sihanouk motels. With the construction of the new port and villas that mushroomed along O Chheuteal Beach, Sihanouk Ville was soon vying with Kep for the custom of beachgoers.
The reinforced concrete building rises 7 floors above a generously high-ceilinged foyer, entrance lobby, restaurant and dance floor.
As the building was designed to be air conditioned, there are considerable areas of aluminium-framed glazed windows. The hotel had 32 air conditioned and 13 tourist class rooms. At the time of inauguration, however, Norodom Sihanouk felt the need to consider the addition of another 50 tourist-class rooms in the form of bungalows.
Norodom Sihanouk's interior design included the use of wall-to-wall carpeting decorative metalwork screens, fabric-covered wooden lounges and chairs and imported bohemian crystal chandeliers. Norodom Sihanouk also designed the Promenade des Anglais - a garden and walkway at the base of the rocky outcrop that skirts Independence Beach. The lounge and the dining room were furnished Directoire style. The royal suite had three lounges, two dining rooms and two bedrooms and bathrooms. Photographs from the period show colour schemes of ochres, oranges, red and black, mint green, reds and chartreuse adding to the vivacity of interior design in keeping with a destination for holiday traveller. The hotel was closed during the mid-seventies and abandoned to squatters. |
