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Romonea Villa is a luxury boutique hotel hidden along the road linking the charming colonial city of Kampot and the old seaside resort of Kep in Southern Cambodia. Beyond its comfort inspired by modern tropical architecture of the mid-sixties, Villa Romonea is all about the incredible story of Kep…
KEP- This house could stand somewhere along the Spanish Coast, on the southern side of the French Atlantic Coast or even as a luxurious dwelling on the outskirt of Brazilia… The white walls of the villa, the large bays opening on the garden and the sea, the ellipsoidal stairs driving to the first floor with its balconies, all details recalls about the architectural genius of Le Corbusier . “Except that this house was not designed by a Westerner but entirely by one of Cambodia’s most famous architects in the sixties, Lu Ban Hap, an adept of the New Khmer Architecture movement”, explains Stephane Arrii, Property Manager.
The villa is a luxury boutique retreat facing the sea and an immense garden. The careful restoration of the house was achieved in 1968 for a wealthy Sino-Khmer family at a time where Cambodia started to sink into chaos. The villa remains a poignant and wonderful testimony of a nostalgic time where Kep was called the St Tropez of Indochina.
Kep was created by French during the colonial times in the early years of the 20th century. Located less than two hours away from Phnom Penh, the resort station carried the spirit of French seaside resorts on the Mediterranean Sea- or better observed of the Atlantic Coast- with its large trees overlooking the beach and its zigzagging roads opening on vast gardens and their prominent villas.
In the years of Prince Sihanouk, Kep became the chic retreat of an emerging Cambodian bourgeoisie. Minimalist or modern tropical was in. All during the sixties, the triumphant New Khmer architecture from architect Vann Molyvann and disciples translated of hundreds of villas on the hills and along the shady roads of Kep. Villa Romonea is one of the last remain of this golden era, gone forever in history.
From the seventies, Kep was progressively abandoned and plundered by the Khmer Rouge. “They sold walls and the construction of the villas to Chinese in return of weapons or food supply”, explains Stephane Arrii. “Kep came back to life only in the mid nineties when the last Khmer rouge left the area. Since then Kep is turning again into a popular destination. But, they are probably only two or three dozens of villas in New Khmer Architecture style left”, laments Stephane Arrii.
The Villa Romonea offers only six rooms for twelve guests and has turned almost into a pilgrimage site for world architects, who wonder about the exquisite volumes of the house and its incredible emerging harmony. Fortunately, despite all destructions, some owners are now realizing that the villas are a wonderful asset for Kep and could help putting the seaside resort as a new trendy retreat for architecture and luxury lovers. A few more villas are now being restored and turn into chic boutique hotels. Is Kep finally clinging back into its prestigious past. At least, it is hoped that Kep will avoid the fate of Sihanoukville who has turned into a rather low class seaside resort, emulating in many aspects Pattaya…
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
