The Central Market (Khmer: ផ្សារធំថ្មី, Phsar Thum Thmei; meaning "New Grand Market") is a market and an art deco landmark in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. The bright yellow building completed in 1937 has a 26-metre high central dome, with four tall arch-roofed arms branching out diagonally across the block, creating vast hallways housing countless stalls and a variety of goods. Initially designed by city architect Jean Desbois, construction works were supervised by French architect Louis Chauchon. When it first opened in 1937, it was said to be the biggest market in Asia; today it still operates as a market.
After Phnom Penh became the capital of the French protectorate of Cambodia within French Indochina in 1867, the population grew enormously and the French set about creating a spacious modern city. The decision to build a market dates back to the end of the 1920s in response to the increase in the population to 90,000 inhabitants. It was decided to build it on a marshland in the center of the Chinatown of the time, but the project did not start until 1934 because of the turmoil of the Great Depression. The market was designed by Jean Desbois, the architect of the city from 1931 to 1937,[1] and its implementation was supervised by Louis Chauchon and the engineer Wladimir Kandaouroff. Construction was carried out by the Société indochinoise d'études et de construction (English: Indochinese Company for Studies and Construction), frequently abbreviated SIDEC, which had built the markets of Battambang and Cholon. The marsh was drained and work began in August 1935. Construction was completed 22 months later; the market was inaugurated by King Sisowath Monivong in September 1937.
Since its completion, wet season flooding around the market has remained a problem, a reminder of the marshland it once was. The areas between the four diagonal arms and the surrounding streets were originally planted as gardens; over the years the gardens were gradually filled with various temporary structures, greatly increasing the number of stalls. During the Franco-Thai war in 1941 the market was bombed by Thai aircraft, causing heavy damage, and it had to be temporarily closed. After the end of World War II it was restored much as it was.
From 2009 to 2011, it underwent a US$4.2 million renovation funded by the French Development Agency. This renovation repaired and restored all the original reinforced concrete structure, and added low arched roofed stall areas in the originally open areas on all four sides.[2] The entrances to the market are lined with souvenir merchants hawking everything from T-shirts and postcards to silver curios and kramas. Inside is a dazzling display of jewels and gold. Electronic goods, stationery, secondhand clothes and flowers are also sold.
^Lomholt, Isabelle (2016-07-14). "Phnom Penh Central Market in Cambodia". e-architect. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
Bibliographyedit
Callebaut, Corinne (2011). Marché Central : histoire d'une rénovation = Central Market : story of a renovation. Phnom Penh: Melon Rouge. ISBN978-99963-511-3-6. OCLC 767615998.
About this book:
Penh, Melon Rouge Agency - Phnom (2012-02-04). . melonrouge.asia. Archived from the original on 2013-08-29. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
External linksedit
PNOM-PENH : LE GRAND MARCHÉ PHSAR THMEY (1937) History of the market and its architects (in French)
360° aerial panorama of Central Market
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Phsar Thom Thmei.
January 01, 1970
central, market, phnom, penh, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, central, market, phnom, penh, news, ne. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Central Market Phnom Penh news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2020 Learn how and when to remove this message This article contains Khmer text Without proper rendering support you may see question marks boxes or other symbols instead of Khmer script The Central Market Khmer ផ ស រធ ថ ម Phsar Thum Thmei meaning New Grand Market is a market and an art deco landmark in Phnom Penh the capital of Cambodia The bright yellow building completed in 1937 has a 26 metre high central dome with four tall arch roofed arms branching out diagonally across the block creating vast hallways housing countless stalls and a variety of goods Initially designed by city architect Jean Desbois construction works were supervised by French architect Louis Chauchon When it first opened in 1937 it was said to be the biggest market in Asia today it still operates as a market Central Marketផ ស រធ ថ ម Aerial view of the market 2021LocationKamet St 53 Phnom PenhCoordinates11 34 10 N 104 55 16 E 11 56944 N 104 92111 E 11 56944 104 92111Opening date1937ArchitectJean DesboisLouis ChauchonNo of floors1 Contents 1 History 2 Gallery 3 See also 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksHistory editAfter Phnom Penh became the capital of the French protectorate of Cambodia within French Indochina in 1867 the population grew enormously and the French set about creating a spacious modern city The decision to build a market dates back to the end of the 1920s in response to the increase in the population to 90 000 inhabitants It was decided to build it on a marshland in the center of the Chinatown of the time but the project did not start until 1934 because of the turmoil of the Great Depression The market was designed by Jean Desbois the architect of the city from 1931 to 1937 1 and its implementation was supervised by Louis Chauchon and the engineer Wladimir Kandaouroff Construction was carried out by the Societe indochinoise d etudes et de construction English Indochinese Company for Studies and Construction frequently abbreviated SIDEC which had built the markets of Battambang and Cholon The marsh was drained and work began in August 1935 Construction was completed 22 months later the market was inaugurated by King Sisowath Monivong in September 1937 Since its completion wet season flooding around the market has remained a problem a reminder of the marshland it once was The areas between the four diagonal arms and the surrounding streets were originally planted as gardens over the years the gardens were gradually filled with various temporary structures greatly increasing the number of stalls During the Franco Thai war in 1941 the market was bombed by Thai aircraft causing heavy damage and it had to be temporarily closed After the end of World War II it was restored much as it was From 2009 to 2011 it underwent a US 4 2 million renovation funded by the French Development Agency This renovation repaired and restored all the original reinforced concrete structure and added low arched roofed stall areas in the originally open areas on all four sides 2 The entrances to the market are lined with souvenir merchants hawking everything from T shirts and postcards to silver curios and kramas Inside is a dazzling display of jewels and gold Electronic goods stationery secondhand clothes and flowers are also sold Gallery edit nbsp Central Market View from West Side to East nbsp One of the Central Market s entrances nbsp Central Market under the dome nbsp Central Market Phnom Penh in 2017 nbsp Central Market view into one of the arms 2014 nbsp A walkway lined with shops in 2020 nbsp Activity in the market in 2020See also editList of markets in Phnom PenhReferences edit Personne Jean Desbois Archi Wiki www archi wiki org Retrieved 2019 11 15 Lomholt Isabelle 2016 07 14 Phnom Penh Central Market in Cambodia e architect Retrieved 2019 11 15 Bibliography editCallebaut Corinne 2011 Marche Central histoire d une renovation Central Market story of a renovation Phnom Penh Melon Rouge ISBN 978 99963 511 3 6 OCLC 767615998 About this book Penh Melon Rouge Agency Phnom 2012 02 04 Portfolio Publishing Graphic Design Web Design Photography melonrouge asia Archived from the original on 2013 08 29 Retrieved 2023 09 15 External links editPNOM PENH LE GRAND MARCHE PHSAR THMEY 1937 History of the market and its architects in French 360 aerial panorama of Central Market nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Phsar Thom Thmei Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Central Market Phnom Penh amp oldid 1202000537, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
