Pochentong Reborn winners named as Cambodia advances former airport sponge city plan
Cambodia announced the winning concept in the Pochentong Reborn competition, aiming to transform the former airport into climate-resilient public green infrastructure.
Cambodian organizers have confirmed the winning design direction for the former Pochentong airport site, with a sponge city framework intended to absorb and manage stormwater while opening new public space. The plan, associated with the Queen Mother Library Architecture team from DC-Cam, combines permeable landscapes, retention zones and biodiversity-oriented design. Public descriptions indicate the redevelopment will include flood-mitigation features such as bioswales, rain gardens and wetland-like areas, alongside recreation, cultural and civic uses.
The concept reflects a policy shift toward climate-adaptive urban planning in Phnom Penh, where heavy rainfall events and heat pressures are shaping land-use priorities. The proposal also integrates historical references into the site’s future layout, signaling that the conversion is being treated as both environmental infrastructure and civic memory work. While implementation details, funding and phasing will determine final outcomes, the project is positioned as a major adaptive-reuse effort for Cambodia’s capital.
If delivered at scale, the redevelopment could serve as a regional case study for converting legacy transport infrastructure into multifunctional public green systems that support resilience, social access and long-term urban sustainability.
Source: Phnom Penh Post