Khoan Partners has successfully transformed an abandoned concrete framework into a vibrant tropical café called Phum Sambo Café Eatery in Cambodia through their innovative renovation project titled "A Living Frame." The original structure consisted of an unfinished concrete building with a rigid structural grid featuring exposed slabs, beams, and columns that were initially intended for utilitarian purposes but were left incomplete. Rather than demolishing the existing framework, the architectural firm chose to preserve its structural integrity while introducing new layers of warmth, environmental responsiveness, and human-scale design elements.

The design approach focused on creating a climate-sensitive architectural solution that works harmoniously with Cambodia's tropical environment. Khoan Partners organized the layout strategically, with the ground floor opening into a shaded, open-air zone that connects directly to the surrounding landscape and promotes natural cross-ventilation, significantly reducing the need for mechanical cooling systems. The firm incorporated passive shading strategies throughout the structure, along with wooden railings and a green roof system on the upper levels that provides thermal insulation, ensuring comfortable interior conditions despite the challenging tropical climate.

Timber components play a crucial role in both the aesthetic and functional aspects of the renovation. The architects installed operable louvers, soffits, and wooden cladding that serve as a warm counterpoint to the harsh concrete surfaces while effectively regulating sunlight penetration. These wooden elements not only soften the appearance of the concrete frame but also introduce tactile qualities that enhance the human experience of the space. The timber components work as functional elements that moderate solar exposure and contribute to the overall thermal comfort of the building.

Greenery has been integrated as a fundamental design material throughout the project, with cascading vines and climbing plants weaving through the concrete structure to blur the boundaries between architecture and nature. These plants operate as natural filters that cool the air, cast dynamic shadows throughout the day, and foster biodiversity on the site. The vegetation creates an ever-changing pattern of light and shadow that transforms the space throughout different seasons and times of day, making the café a living, breathing environment that responds to natural cycles.

The project demonstrates an innovative approach to sustainable architecture by treating the building as an adaptive system that maintains an ongoing dialogue with its climate and context, rather than creating a sealed, climate-controlled enclosure. This renovation illustrates an alternative approach to construction where adaptation and reuse replace demolition and erasure. By carefully layering new elements onto the existing concrete skeleton, Khoan Partners has shown how unfinished or abandoned structures can be transformed into sustainable, inhabitable spaces that are deeply rooted in their local environment and context, offering a model for similar projects in tropical regions worldwide.