Kang Hok is shaping the future of Cambodia – although the modest architect won’t admit it. “I don’t think I’ve changed architectural perceptions in Cambodia, that goes to Vann Molyvann,” he said referring to the visionary Khmer architect who died in June at the age of 92.

Hok’s most famed achievement is Brown Coffee and Bakery, which he launched with Liv Chhoung and cousins in 2009. When he returned from the US, coffee culture in Cambodia was limited to street cafes and the global coffee chain, Cafe Fresco.

Wanting to ensure they built a brand that was strong enough to compete against major international coffee shop players, the co-founders spent time researching the market and testing products. Chhoung and Chang Bunleang also spent a year studying coffee in Singapore and bakery in Thailand.

Then came the task of designing a Cambodian coffee shop that stood out. “We wanted to create a coffee shop with a bit more of a Western influence. We were looking at a space that’s a bit more comfortable and modern. A place where you can meet and talk business that manifests itself into a space that’s more contemporary and minimalist.”

He recalled the typical local coffee and bubble tea shops at the time being dark and stuffy inside. “If you want to spend time studying or holding business meetings, it can’t be dark. There has to be some nature to it and light.”

Hok also wanted to create an alternative to the shophouse homes that were common in the 1990s and early 2000s. “They have no natural light coming in. When you go to a coffee shop, you want something different from where you live, and this is where the idea for the design of Brown started.”