Our Story
There is an undefined magic and spirituality in the grounds of Angkor that was a life-changing experience. I dreamt I could share it with our guests and introduce them further deep into Cambodian culture…
…a hotel with a soul and a story
Maison Polanka was born in 1992 as a place of peace and refinement, when Jean Pierre moved from his native France to Cambodia to found the Chantiers Écoles, a public vocational training school for underprivileged young Cambodians. Along the way of this adventure, he met and fell in love with Nathalie, a French-Cambodian woman who had returned to her homeland to rediscover her roots. Before it was transformed into a luxurious boutique retreat, Maison Polanka was the couple’s much-loved home where their two children were raised.
Nathalie
A pioneer in Cambodia
Nathalie grew up in Phnom Penh before being forced to leave Cambodia under the bombings with her Cambodian-French family. In France, she completed her studies in Political Sciences at Paris “Sciences Po” followed by a doctorate in Khmer civilization studies. Her ambition was at that time to enter diplomacy in order to come back to Cambodia. Circumstances decided her instead to join the Paris bases Compagnie Francaise de l’Orient et de la Chine. She travelled extensively through China ad South East Asia, in search of unique objects for high-end line of handicrafts.
After the Paris Peace agreements were signed in 1991, Nathalie quit her established life in Paris and returned to Cambodia.
She implemented an inventory of Khmer crafts after twenty years of war. She was at the very start of the Artisans d’Angkor crafts collection before launching her own vision of Khmer excellence in crafts “Khmer Attitude”, followed by a pop up conceptual store upholding fair trade values, Galerie Cambodge.
Throughout the years, Nathalie has been involved in local NGOs and supports cultural and designer projects around Siem Reap.
Nathalie
A pioneer in Cambodia
Nathalie grew up in Phnom Penh before being forced to leave Cambodia under the bombings with her Cambodian-French family. In France, she completed her studies in Political Sciences at Paris “Sciences Po” followed by a doctorate in Khmer civilization studies. Her ambition was at that time to enter diplomacy in order to come back to Cambodia. Circumstances decided her instead to join the Paris bases Compagnie Francaise de l’Orient et de la Chine. She travelled extensively through China ad South East Asia, in search of unique objects for high-end line of handicrafts.
After the Paris Peace agreements were signed in 1991, Nathalie quit her established life in Paris and returned to Cambodia.
She implemented an inventory of Khmer crafts after twenty years of war. She was at the very start of the Artisans d’Angkor crafts collection before launching her own vision of Khmer excellence in crafts “Khmer Attitude”, followed by a pop up conceptual store upholding fair trade values, Galerie Cambodge.
Throughout the years, Nathalie has been involved in local NGOs and supports cultural and designer projects around Siem Reap.
nowadays...
Maison Polanka was born in 1992 as a place of peace and refinement, when Jean Pierre moved from his native France to Cambodia to found the Chantiers Écoles, a public vocational training school for underprivileged young Cambodians. Along the way of this adventure, he met and fell in love with Nathalie, a French-Cambodian woman who had returned to her homeland to rediscover her roots. Before it was transformed into a luxurious boutique retreat, Maison Polanka was the couple’s much-loved home where their two children were raised.
FRIENDS, Family, Tribes, Clan, Humanist, SHARE, Spirituality, SOUL, Artist, Parties, vibration, HOME, Universe, SECRET, personality…
L’OFFICIEL VOYAGE
Maison Polanka was born in 1992 as a place of peace and refinement, when Jean Pierre moved from his native France to Cambodia to found the Chantiers Écoles, a public vocational training school for underprivileged young Cambodians. Along the way of this adventure, he met and fell in love with Nathalie, a French-Cambodian woman who had returned to her homeland to rediscover her roots. Before it was transformed into a luxurious boutique retreat, Maison Polanka was the couple’s much-loved home where their two children were raised.
Maison Polanka was born in 1992 as a place of peace and refinement, when Jean Pierre moved from his native France to Cambodia to found the Chantiers Écoles, a public vocational training school for underprivileged young Cambodians. Along the way of this adventure, he met and fell in love with Nathalie, a French-Cambodian woman who had returned to her homeland to rediscover her roots. Before it was transformed into a luxurious boutique retreat, Maison Polanka was the couple’s much-loved home where their two children were raised.