26TS.9

 

Angkor Wat: outside pathways:

The strict conservation requirements to be observed regarding the monuments must not leave out the quality requirements regarding their showcasing.
The present quality of Angkor Wat’s outside presentation is clearly under-developed because of a network of peripheral pathways created some ten years ago. Their orthogonal layouts and grey gravel surfacing are not appropriate to the overall esthetics of the site nor suited to any genuine functionality with regard to visitor the flows.
Given this unsatisfactory situation for the image of the temple as it stands, conspicuous at ground level as well as from the upper parts of the temple and even in aerial views, the ad hoc group of experts recommends that the APSARA National Authority remove completely this unnecessary network of pathways and simply grass over the soil surface, thus re-establishing the continuity and harmony of the temple’s inner green space.