ANGKOR: APSARA National Authority is cooperating with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) through the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation (KCHF) to restore the Chorm Temple using the anastylosis technique which involves dismantling the temple structure to repair the foundation, strengthening the lower structures, repairing broken stones, and reassembling the temple to its original form.

APSARA National Authority architect Thai Yamang said that the project began in 2019. The team started with excavation, research, damage assessment, planning, sourcing documents from the French colonial era, and dismantling the stone with anastylosis technique, which was divided into two stages. The temple is made of 35 stone layers with 3,580 pieces of sandstone and 4,100 pieces of laterite. He added that collapsed in the damaged areas of the foundation needed to be replaced with new laterite and that his team is currently running tests to restore the floor and reassemble the entire temple.

Thai Yamang added that about 30% of the original stones that had fallen from the structure were found, with some damaged and requiring careful repair and treatment. He noted that finding the temple’s original stones is difficult because some are mixed with piles of stone in the surrounding area.

Chorm Temple has nearly lost its original shape due to its age, lack of long-term maintenance, damage during the war and natural factors such as rainwater erosion and invasive tree roots. The team hopes the restoration project will be completed in 2025.