Empowering Communities Through Design: M.Arch Students’ Social Architecture Journey in Cambodia

In February 2025, eight M.Arch students embarked on a nine-day field trip to a Cambodian village, where they engaged directly with the site and its stakeholders. This immersive experience was part of the Architectural Design Options Studio, taught by Associate Professor Tan Beng Kiang, whose teaching and research interests include Participatory Community Design & Planning, Service Learning, Social Housing, Design for Aging, and Learning Environments.

At the heart of the studio was a challenge that extended beyond designing a building. Students were encouraged to explore how architecture could support sustainable livelihoods by identifying income-generating activities and enterprises to be integrated into the facility. The aim was to create a self-sustaining model that could help finance children’s education while empowering the local community. To achieve this, the studio adopted a deeply experiential and community-centered pedagogical approach.

This semester, the students are engaged in a real-world social architecture project for ROOTS—a Cambodian NGO dedicated to providing education for disadvantaged children in rural villages—in collaboration with NUS alumna Ms. Trecia Lim of WeCreate Studio, Singapore. The project involves designing a learning and social enterprise facility in Rolous Commune, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia.

“Every moment during the trip was simply amazing, but the time I spent experiencing communal life within the village was the most memorable and eye-opening experience I have ever had. I enjoyed connecting with various community members—even though I couldn’t speak Khmer, I was able to get to know them and understand their perspectives better through body language and translation devices,” said Ryan Ho Zi Hao, one of the student participants.

Jordan Yeo, who was his trip buddy, quipped, “My favourite part of the trip was the community engagement sessions, where I got to know the villagers on a more personal level. I learnt how important community engagement is in empowering communities, enabling them to see their own possibilities and imagine their futures. It helps them to align and discover their own aspirations. I realised how essential it is to participate in community engagement to truly understand their values, realities, and ambitions.”

Through homestays in the village and participatory workshops with teachers, parents, and students, the team gained valuable insights into local needs, community assets, and traditional craft skills. Students presented their initial design ideas during the trip and received constructive feedback from the community. Visits to local material suppliers and vernacular buildings further enriched their understanding of regional construction methods and sustainable practices.

Shiu Jerome Millian, who looks forward to more such opportunities, shared, “The study trip to the village in Siem Reap was an eye-opening experience that deepened my understanding of community engagement and participatory design. One of the most important lessons I have learnt is that meaningful design comes from actively listening to the community. Engaging with students, families, and teachers allowed us to discover new insights that we would not have known otherwise.”