Southeast Asian Architecture

William Mungall’s projects often bring him to Southast Asia.  When working there, it is important to know the history of the region’s architecture.  Below find some brief highlights from the architecture of Southeast Asia.

Many of the most significant works of Southeast Asian architecture are found in the countries of Cambodia, Loas, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, The Philipines, Singapore and Indonesia.  William has completed award winning projects in both Singapore and Malaysia, but the architectural history of this region goes much deeper than the modern styles in fashion today.

The majority of significant sites in the region are Indian royal temples.  Most of these were built in or around the 13th century AD.  These were usually made out stone, but could also be made of brick and stucco.

Pagan, Myanmar

One of the region’s most beautiful locations is Pagan in Myanmar, traditionally known as Burma.  The city is a site of pilgrimages for devout Buddhists and is home to important cultural sites like the Ananda Temple, Bupaya Pagoda, and Lawkananda Pagoda.  Sadly, many of the beautiful buildings were damaged or totally destroyed by an earthquake in the 1970s.

Angkor Wat

This complex of temples was originally built as a series of Hindu shrines, but was eventually converted to Buddhist in the thirteenth century.  The complex, which is considered to be one of the prime examples of Kher Architecture, is widely thought of as the largest religious worship ground in the world.

Borobudur, Indonesia

Borobudur is a Buddhist temple located in Central Java, Indonesia.  Built in the 9th century AD, the site boasts over five-hundred Buddha statuettes are varying scope. It has been restored multiple times, most recently being completed in 1982.  The restoration led to Borobudur being counted among UNESCO’s Word Heritage Sites.

More Information

For more info on these amazing locations, watch this National Geographic documentary on Angkor Wat.