Khmer Palm Sugar Center, Seven Mountains, An Giang

The project “Research and Promotion Center for the Khmer Palmyra Sugar Craft Village in the Bảy Núi region, An Giang” sets forth the dual objective of safeguarding a traditional craft—recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage—and generating momentum for sustainable community development.

The architectural program is structured around four functional groups: (1) preservation of history and culture; (2) research and technological innovation in production; (3) promotion and experiential engagement with the craft village; and (4) training and local economic development. These functions are coherently linked through an internal–external circulation system. At its core lies the central festival courtyard—the symbolic “soul” of the project—derived from the spatial logic of the Khmer phum (village). Internally, pedestrian pathways and clear internal roads enable a continuous visitor flow through exhibition, experiential, research, and seminar spaces; externally, connections are reinforced by motorized transport.

The architectural form draws inspiration from the cross-section of the palmyra fruit, where the outer “shell” comprises functional blocks enclosing the central festival space. The landscape design adapts to the mountain slope, with palmyra trees as a defining element. Indigenous materials such as bamboo, timber, palmyra leaves, and Tà Pạ stone are employed extensively, integrated with bioclimatic solutions and contemporary production technologies.