ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

New Khmer Architecture

New Khmer architecture is a style of building that was popular in Cambodia in the 1950s and 1960s. This type of architecture was influenced by Western modernism, which means that it used clean, simple lines and geometric shapes in its design.

Imagine building blocks that are all different shapes and sizes. Now imagine putting them together in a way that makes a building. That's kind of what New Khmer architecture looks like. The buildings are made up of different shapes, like squares, triangles, and circles, and they are put together in a way that makes them look cool and modern.

One of the most well-known examples of New Khmer architecture is the Chaktomuk Conference Hall in Phnom Penh. It looks like a giant circle with a roof that kind of looks like a flower. Another example is the National Sports Complex, which has big triangular shapes that look like they're pointing up at the sky.

People liked New Khmer architecture because it was different from the traditional buildings in Cambodia. It looked modern and cool, and it showed that Cambodia was keeping up with the rest of the world. However, not everyone liked it. Some people thought it was too different and didn't fit in with the traditional Cambodian style.

Today, many of the New Khmer buildings have fallen into disrepair or have been demolished. But some of them are still standing and are now considered landmarks of Cambodia's modern architecture history.