SMILE VILLAGE 2017

Starting off as a participatory project, this community involvement program identified the issue of scorching weather, seeing an opportunity in making the existing playground a more comfortable space for children of the village to play in.

Bakau poles, agricultural nettings, cement and sand were sourced locally from the Russian Market in Phnom Penh within the first week, and the entire shelter was constructed together with the locals over the second week. Each individual poles up to 5m long was cast into 1m deep potholes, together with traditional lashing techniques and bolts were used to brace the entire sheltering structure.

The tectonics of the shelter saw itself as a continuity and extension of the existing playground, integrating new routes of play space for the hyperactive children living in the village.