For years an architectural gem has lain empty and overlooked on Mao Tse Tung Boulevard near Tuol Tom Pong. Now entrepreneurial Cambodian coffee chain Brown has stepped in to save the former Vann Molyvann house, securing the future of a valuable piece of the city’s built heritage and creating a stunning new venue in the process.

The house was built in 1966 as the home and workshop of Vann Molyvann, the revered Cambodian architect behind the capital’s iconic Independence Monument, whose modernist vision created a new physical landscape for post-colonial Phnom Penh. Brown’s architects have carried out a careful, creative and contemporary restoration of the too-long unloved property, with the support of the Molyvann family and the Vann Molyvann Project , the organization dedicated to documenting and promoting the architect’s heritage.

Designed by Brown Co-Founder Hok Kang of HKA & Partners, the new Brown capitalizes on Molyvann’s approach to promoting natural light and airflow, typical of the New Khmer Architecture style he originated. The layout spans four floors and mezzanine levels, some of which have yet to be put to use but have obvious potential. The minimalist ground floor is effectively an air-conditioned glass box that sees the building flooded with light while leaving visible the original exterior with its striking concrete brise soleils.

There’s shady outdoor seating, two private meeting rooms and a lush courtyard garden. As with all Brown branches, the furnishings and fittings are stylish and original. Walls and surfaces are adorned with artworks and artefacts that reflect the vintage architectural theme and customers can even browse and buy stationery and artworks. All in all it’s a delight to enjoy Brown’s flavorsome, house-roasted coffee in such special surroundings.

Brown itself is a home-grown success story. Since its launch in 2009 by a group of young Cambodian entrepreneurs, the company has grown to boast some forty, frequently very individual branches and a solid reputation among locals and expats alike. The new branch serves the menu of hot and cold drinks, cakes, pastries, sandwiches and other snacks familiar to Brown aficionados and the staff are typically friendly and efficient.

Tragically, few of Molyvann’s original buildings remain; those that do include the Olympic Stadium, the riverside Chaktomuk Theatre and several university buildings. The Vann Molyvann Project has established a bijou museum within the new Brown that explores his legacy. Follow the signs by the spiral staircase to see the display of original photos, re-created architectural drawings, scale models and other curated material relating to existing buildings and others, like the grand National Theatre, that have failed to survive.

A highly recommended way to discover more about Van Molyvann and New Khmer Architecture in general is by taking one of the excellent Khmer Architecture Tours.