Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

Cental Plaza with Memorial Stupa for the victims on the background

"lock·down
/ˈläkdoun/
1. The confining of prisoners to their cells, typically after an escape or to regain control during a riot.
2. a state of isolation or restricted access instituted as a security measure."

Due to worldwide uptrend of "lockdown", we decided to pick this specific lockdown facility in the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh to be exact. The only difference here is the "permanent" lockdown. There's no way to get out of this place unless you're deceased.

Introducing Tuol Sleng

Breeze Block Detail

Food Rationing

We're talking about Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, the memorial site of the S-21 interrogation and detention center of the Khmer Rouge regime from its rise to power in 1975 to its fall in 1979. Formerly the Tuol Svay Pray High School, named after a royal ancestor of King Norodom Sihanouk, the five buildings of the complex located in the heart of Phnom Penh were converted in March/April 1976 into a prison and interrogation center.

Tuol Sleng (Khmer: ទួលស្លែង Khmer pronunciation: [tuəl slaeŋ]) means "Hill of the Poisonous Trees" or "Strychnine Hill". Tuol Sleng was just one of at least 150 torture and execution centers established by the Khmer Rouge.

How To Torture Prisoners with The Gallows

The Gallows

We're talking about Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, the memorial site of the S-21 interrogation and detention center of the Khmer Rouge regime from its rise to power in 1975 to its fall in 1979. Formerly the Tuol Svay Pray High School, named after a royal ancestor of King Norodom Sihanouk, the five buildings of the complex located in the heart of Phnom Penh were converted in March/April 1976 into a prison and interrogation center.

Tuol Sleng (Khmer: ទួលស្លែង Khmer pronunciation: [tuəl slaeŋ]) means "Hill of the Poisonous Trees" or "Strychnine Hill". Tuol Sleng was just one of at least 150 torture and execution centers established by the Khmer Rouge.

Wooden Cells

High Officials_ Cell

The compound became notorious because an estimated 20,000 people were imprisoned at Tuol Sleng (the real number is unknown) from 1976-1979. At any one time, the prison held between 1,000–1,500 prisoners. They were repeatedly tortured and coerced into naming family members and close associates, who were in turn arrested, tortured and killed. In the early months of S-21's existence, most of the victims were from the previous Lon Nol regime and included soldiers, government officials, as well as academics, doctors, teachers, students, factory workers, monks, engineers, etc. Even foreigners considered as a threat to the regime was held there.

High Officials Cell Interior

Classrooms Division Into Cell Blocks

To Those Who Are No Longer Here Sculpture at The Central Plaza

In 1979, Hồ Văn Tây, a Vietnamese combat photographer, was the first journalist to document Tuol Sleng to the world. Hồ and his colleagues followed the stench of rotting corpses to the gates of Tuol Sleng. The photos of Hồ documenting what he saw when he entered the site are exhibited in Tuol Sleng today.

When visiting the compound, you can notice some visitors just stoned, or even cried upon witnessing what was left there. It's almost hard to believe what men were capable of doing to their fellow beings; an extremely emotional spatial experience I'd say. And this is how architecture should be able to make you feel.