Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - New RUFA building to embody classical Khmer form

New RUFA building to embody classical Khmer form

The current Royal University of Fine Arts building, which houses much traditional and cultural design forms, will be completely converted into an expansion of the National Museum of Cambodia within the next few years.
The current Royal University of Fine Arts building, which houses much traditional and cultural design forms, will be completely converted into an expansion of the National Museum of Cambodia within the next few years.

New RUFA building to embody classical Khmer form

The peninsula of Chroy Changvar will soon see a new addition to its land, with the new Royal University of Fine Arts (RUFA) building slated to commence construction there in April. The reasons for relocation: better aesthetics, less traffic congestion, fresher air.

At the same time, the current RUFA building will be converted into an extended annex of the National Museum of Cambodia, which lies to the east of the school.

While details are still being refined and withheld from the general public, Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts spokesman Thai Norak Sathya said the new RUFA building would sprawl over a land area of four hectares. It would externally embody the artistic intricacies and sculpture of traditional Khmer buildings, while its interior would project elements of modern minimalism.

Although Sathya said he was not a hundred per cent clear on the design, as the master plan is still in the final stages of fine-tuning, he explained there would be up to three buildings that would rise over three storeys each. What he emphasised was how the new building needed to be housed in a more spacious area away from the fumes of traffic.

Besides housing the university’s five faculties – Archaelogy, Architecture and Urbanism, Fine Arts, Choreographic Arts, Music – there would be gardens, underground parking lots, sports parks, a library, and a performing arts theatre.

On how long the building will take until its completion, Sathya said it would take a number of years, neither giving a definite timeframe nor confirming if it would take more than two years.

As of now, he revealed that the budget allocated for RUFA’s new building was $12 million. However, in the event that it went over the budget, “we will try to find funding to complete the project,” said Sathya.

He explained that the National Museum taking over the current RUFA building was to portray the Kingdom’s art and culture to the world, thus it was vital to retain the original structure of the university buildings.

The new RUFA development is being undertaken by a local architectural company which is working in conjunction with professors of architecture in RUFA, one of whom is Tang Sovichet Vitou.

“More details about the full design of the new RUFA building can be given once I get the consent from the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts,” said Vitou.

RUFA recently celebrated its 100th anniversary with an exhibition that ran from March 23 to 25.

MOST VIEWED

  • Joy as Koh Ker Temple registered by UNESCO

    Cambodia's Koh Ker Temple archaeological site has been officially added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, during the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 17. The ancient temple, also known as Lingapura or Chok Gargyar, is located in

  • Famed US collector family return artefacts to Cambodia

    In the latest repatriation of ancient artefacts from the US, a total of 33 pieces of Khmer cultural heritage will soon return home, according to the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts. In a September 12 press statement, it said the US Attorney’s Office for the

  • Tina rebuffs ‘false claims’ over falling paddy price

    Agriculture minister Dith Tina has shed light on the trade of paddy rice in Battambang – Cambodia’s leading rice-producing province – in a bid to curb what he dubs a “social media fact distortion campaign” to destabilise the market. While acknowledging that the prices of paddy

  • Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing

    To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable

  • Kampot curfew imposed to curb ‘gang’ violence

    Kampot provincial police have announced measures to contain a recent spike in antisocial behaviour by “unruly’ youth. Officials say the province has been plagued by recent violence among so-called “gang members”, who often fight with weapons such as knives and machetes. Several social observers have

  • PM outlines plans to discuss trade, policy during US visit

    Prime Minister Hun Manet is set to meet with senior US officials and business leaders during his upcoming visit to the US for the UN General Assembly (UNGA), scheduled for September 20. While addressing nearly 20,000 workers in Kampong Speu province, Manet said he aims to affirm