voice Redefining luxury in Cambodia By ALISSA PONCHIONE Photography by ALEX TEUSCHER Cambodia's lush landscape and rice fields were at once a challenge and a benefit for AW2's Réda Amalou when crafting Phum Baitang, a 5-Star resort in Siem Reap from Zannier Hotels. The region's distinct history and culture required the designer to redefine the idea of luxury while staying true to the location-the gateway to the ruins of Angkor Wat-without being too literal. "We reinvented [elements] in line with the expectancy of a high-end resort," explains the founder of the Paris-based firm. "Each aspect has meaning." 1. The spa reception recalls temple architecture with a stone floor, tall ceilings, and windows adorned with spindle columns instead of glass. 1 2. In true Khmer style, suites are placed on stilts, preventing water from reaching the rooms when it floods. 2 hospitalitydesign.com March/April 2016 147http://www.hospitalitydesign.com