The habitude of social beings

The evident practices of the vendors in the MARKET to create a space for the children

Location: Central Market, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Work by: Angkeaneath KONG

This project seeks to provide spaces for children in the Central Market, Phnom Penh. Which fosters a sense of care, whilst keeping the children within the culture and liveliness of the market space, thus exposing them to a range of different and daily activities.

Due to socio-economic circumstances, pre-school and school aged children congregate at the market with their mothers throughout the day, with their screens on to keep them distracted. By observing market activities, market has a rich and diverse space filled with learning opportunities.

Through close observations of the vendors, a suit of design tools has been developed which will be utilized to create a space within the market for the children.

This will be done through rooms in rooms approach that are adaptable, scalable and ultimately co-created on a daily basis by the children.

Through detail observation of the market, how are these tools creating a space for the children?

Central Market is located in the city center of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. It is one of the landmarks that receive numbers of locals and tourists. Moreover, it is one of the hot-spot for diverse range of goods from fresh seafood, meat, clothing, souvenirs, local ready-made food, snacks, etc.

I started off with a huge research understanding the history behind this market. It allows me to carefully documented socio-economic and construction, re-construction phase of the market along the timeline.

Explore Central market in-between stalls

  • The main entrance

    This is one of the main entrances and widest walkways in the market. The picture shows a diverse range of people, including vendors, motor, and tuk-tuk drivers, engaged in various activities such as displaying products, performing services, and arranging goods. A notable feature observed is the extended roof providing shade for the vendors.

  • The fruit market

    The area is situated adjacent to the public road, which attracts many customers before they enter the market. The vendors in this area construct their own stalls utilizing parasols to provide shade for their merchandise, they re-create crates and plastic chairs as display tables and transport goods by carrying them manually.

  • The Clothing section

    This clothing stalls area is situated next to the market dome. The sugar-cane vendor created her own stall using a sugarcane vending machine. This area has partial zinc roofing, so the vendors use nets for shade. The nets provide support for vendors without their own stalls and also offer shade to customers.

  • The Clothing section

    Another section of the clothing stalls area in the market included a vendor selling pickled fruit, who set up her stall using plastic chairs. This vendor transported her goods by carrying them on her head from the entrance to this part of the market. In addition, this area has established a community beneath the protective shading net.

  • The Clothing Section Community

    The image captures clothing stalls from various perspectives. The image depicts vendors extending their displays beyond the stalls using mannequins and handles tied to zinc frames to present their items. This arrangement allows customers to view and access goods from outside the stalls. Vendors also transport goods from outside for display.

The above images were examined in the specified area of the market, which is highlighted in this floor plan.

activity analysis

This area was designated as a site for detailed examination of activities. The series of activities were documented in the sketches below on 13th April 2019, a day before the Khmer New Year.

These four sketches illustrate various activities occurring in this in-between area of the market, which contribute to forming a community.

DATE
13/04/2019

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