The concept of the project is a hybrid space without fixed determinations or boundaries. We envision a space that seamlessly integrates botany, meditation, and art—a sanctuary where individuals can care for themselves slowly and mindfully, embracing relaxation.

Drawing inspiration from nostalgia and natural materials, the space is crafted by artisans and adorned with artworks that celebrate beauty in imperfection, echoing real environments. The façade is constructed from breezeway blocks, allowing sunlight and natural ventilation to flow through, eliminating the need for artificial air conditioning systems.

A spiral staircase wraps around the courtyard, featuring a rendered banister and concrete treads, leading to an open art workshop and meditation space designed to inspire tranquility and creativity.

The overarching goal is to foster a minimalist lifestyle that honors the slow passage of time. Lava stones, with their textured surfaces, reflect dynamic shades as sunlight moves throughout the day, creating an ever-changing interplay of forms and light.

Type
Residential
Year
2020
Location
Ho Tram, Ba Ria Vung Tau
Team
Ho Viet Vinh, Tran Thanh Hai, Le Van Thoi, Ngo Dang Linh
Contractor
Cuong Quang Construction
Interior Designer
Ho Viet Vinh
Structural Engineer
Nam Vie
Photo
Ho Viet Vinh

Ancient Greek legend has it that the pig was the favorite animal of Demeter – goddess of crops and farming on earth. This was the holiest god for the Greeks. Since ancient times, people have used pigs to sacrifice this goddess. The magical transformation that turns humans into pigs appears in many myths, such as in Homer’s epic Odysseus. In this story, the crew of the hero ship was turned into pigs by the goddess Circe. Pig is one of the 12 animals that represent the 12-year cycle of Dizhi of China, Vietnam, Japan, Korea, North Korea and many other countries in Asia. It is associated with the Zodiac Pig. Those who believe in Chinese astrology have always attached pig characteristics to people born in the year of the Pig. Those born in this year are often considered lucky and have a prosperous and leisurely life. PIG House is life within and beyond the form of this animist.

Picture architecture in Vietnam and you might imagine ancient temples buried down countryside lanes or faded colonial buildings lining the city streets. But spurred by unprecedented economic growth, this Southeast Asian country of almost 100 million is revamping its traditional image – and architecture is part of the overhaul. After decades spent trying to keep Vietnam’s unrelenting jungles out of the cities, visionary architects now harness the wilderness to enhance their urban creations. And the countryside is no longer designated for relics of the past – but also innovations for the future. From contemporary art hubs hiding in the hills to city tower blocks blooming with foliage, here is the architecture that is making its mark on Vietnam.

Lebadang Memory Space, by Architect Ho Viet Vinh

Nestled in the countryside together with Hue’s centuries-old royal tombs, Lebadang Memory Space is a lively architectural update to the city’s monarchical heritage. This contemporary art museum is dedicated to late local artist Le Ba Dang, who sketched the drawing that the blueprints are based on. Local architect Ho Viet Vinh designed the structure, completed in April 2019, with a central skylight that allows beams of light to track through the exhibition hall throughout the day.

Sky House by MIA Design Studio

Vegetation bulges from the balconies and rooftops of Sky House, a home in Ho Chi Minh City completed in December 2019. The plot was spacious enough to accommodate a large townhouse, but instead of creating unrequired rooms, MIA Design Studio designated half the house to light, wind, water and trees. The result is a generous sky well that feeds light to the habitable rooms and chambers with no practical purpose but to house plants, trees, and indoor ponds.

Chicland, by Vo Trong Nghia

Award-winning architect Vo Trong Nghia is celebrated for his use of natural materials and foliage, such as bamboo and tropical plants. The 21-floor Chicland Hotel, completed in June 2019 in the modern seaside city of Danang, features both. The on-site café has earthy bamboo interiors while the balconies overflow with greenery. Similarly biophilic, Vo Trong Nghia’s Silver Cloud, slated for completion later this year, is a leafy long-stay hotel that blends with the lakes and mountains of Cuc Phuong National Park, 100km south of Hanoi.

Brick Cave, by Doan Thanh Ha

In Vietnam, bricks have been used for at least a millennium. Doan Thanh Ha, who recently won the Turgut Cansever International Award, constructed the Brick Cave in the suburbs of Hanoi with an additional exterior wall to form a narrow atrium around the house. This perforated exterior casing with large windows invites natural light into the family home while keeping it cool during Hanoi’s scorching summers. The rooftop features a vegetable garden.

Central Park, by LAVA and ASPECT Studio

LAVA and ASPECT Studio won the commission to revamp Ho Chi Minh City’s September 23 Park, one of the city centre’s largest green spaces. As well as outdoor art galleries, performance pavilions and sport zones, LAVA and ASPECT Studio are deploying smart city artificial trees. Water purification trees collect and recycle rainwater, ventilation trees provide fresh air and solar trees generate power. Construction is scheduled to begin later in 2020.

VAC Library, by Farming Architects

While large-scale ventures are making a bold impact, smaller innovations are surfacing more quietly. In Hanoi, VAC Library by Farming Architects (Pictured above) is both climbing frame and reading room set within a three-dimensional grid fashioned from wooden beams. Other small projects of great promise include the Chieng Yen Community House in Son La Province by 1+1>2 Architects, which has a semi-cylindrical thatch roof supported by a bamboo frame. In Danang, architecture studio Tropical Space used brick to construct Cuckoo House, a family home perched above a café.

Empire City, by Ole Scheeren

As Vietnam’s commercial capital, Ho Chi Minh City is entertaining many of the country’s most ambitious projects. With Empire City, Ole Scheeren explores how ‘nature can become an iconic element of architecture’ with a complex of three towers overlooking the Saigon River. At the building’s base, layered platforms evoke the swirling rice terraces of northern Vietnam. Over halfway up Empire Tower 88, the tallest of the three skyscrapers at 333 metres, sits the Sky Forest with verdant water gardens that echo the country’s jungles. Construction is expected to start in early 2021.

See the original article at the link.

Maison de la Lune embodies a poetic interplay between architecture and nature, where the invisible space reflects upon the surface of existence. The fluid curves of the structure mirror the organic forms of the surrounding environment, creating a harmonious dialogue between the built and the natural. The expansive glass panels invite the outside in, blurring the boundaries between interior and exterior. Light and shadow dance across the surfaces, evoking a sense of tranquility and introspection. This architectural masterpiece is a serene sanctuary, a place where the essence of nature is captured and reflected, offering a contemplative retreat from the chaos of the world.

Lake Community Park is situated at the heart of the Huong Thuy new urban area, approximately 13.5 km southeast of Hue city center. The Park is conveniently located near Phu Bai Airport and the North-South railway line, just 3.5 km from Huong Thuy station, offering easy access for tourists traveling to and from the area.

Lake Community Park is built upon five core values:

1. Green Lung: The park features over 23% water surface area and over 16% natural coverage.
2. Central Location: Strategically positioned to connect neighboring areas and Hue city center.
3. Transport Hubs (TOD): Integrated with national highways, railways, and aviation systems.
4. Balanced Spaces: Harmonizing ecological, agricultural, and eco-residential areas.
5. Enhanced Land Use Value: Diversifying functions based on ecological footprints to maximize value.

HVV Recruitment:
In 2025, HVV is looking to recruit talented individuals for the following positions:

• 2 Urban Planners;
• 2 Landscape Architects;
• 2 Architects specialized in Architecture and Interior Design.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field for each position;
• 2–3 years of work experience;
• Proficiency in commonly used design software, such as ACAD, SU, Lumion, Rhino, 3Dmax,…;
• Skilled in one or more of the following areas: 3D and 2D concept visualization, design implementation, design management;
• A professional attitude, eagerness to learn, creativity, and integrity.

Join us in creating inspiring living spaces that reflect cultural identity!
At HVV, we are not just looking for talented architects but also seeking to collaborate with creative minds who are passionate about innovation and aspire to achieve timeless values. Let your talent bring meaningful projects to life and leave a lasting mark with us.
Contact:
HVV Architect and partners
Architect Ho Viet Vinh
Phone: +84 908 376 727
Email: [email protected]
Join us now to turn unique ideas into reality!

“Happy Teachers will change the world.”

Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh

“The beauty of the four seasons helped him heal his mind and heart from the wounds of war. The peaceful and wholesome atmosphere of the campus helped him have many deep insights, flowers, and fruits of the practice. Perhaps that is why Thay always remind us that nature can help us heal ourselves.”

Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh – [At home in the World]

Location:
Tan Binh commune, Nhu Xuan District, Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam
Size:
1,53 hectares
Services:
Master plan, Architecture and Interior design
Status:
Approved Master plan at scale 1/500, 2024
Under construction.
Team:
HVV Architect & Partners

Intro

As our society advances and technology continues to evolve, our quality of life has seen remarkable improvements. Yet, the desire for relaxation, tranquility, and a deeper connection with oneself has become a fundamental part of our daily existence. This need is increasingly pressing, given the rising prevalence of mental health challenges like stress and anxiety.
The relentless pace of modern life, combined with the pressures of work, often leads to heightened stress, anxiety, and various mental health concerns. Taking a moment to pause and breathe can offer us a valuable chance to reconnect with nature and reflect on ourselves. Nature holds a profound healing power: when our minds are no longer disrupted by the constant noise of traffic, when our emotions are no longer constrained by concrete jungles, and when we can breathe clean, unpolluted air, we experience true inner peace. Immersed in nature, we rediscover the serenity that lies within our souls.
Thus, creating a meditation retreat that harmonizes with nature is essential. This sanctuary will offer a tranquil haven where individuals can find solace, cultivate mindfulness, practice meditation, heal their souls, and share positive values with the world.

Site location

Tue Giac Zen Monastery is located northwest of Song Muc Lake – in Ben En National Park, Tan Binh Commune, Nhu Xuan District, Thanh Hoa Province; The distance from this area to Tho Xuan airport is about 143374ft along National route 15.

The planned research area features a convergence of hillside topographical elements, with valleys and lakes nestled below. It is a location that boasts pristine natural landscapes. Furthermore, the terrain’s structure and geomorphology provide many sites with expansive, diverse, and breathtaking views.

Design principles

Master plan

To create a space for returning, studying, and practicing the teachings of Buddhism, cultivating virtue, and enhancing moral awareness. A place that offers a harmonious environment with nature, where individuals can engage in meditation, seek enlightenment, and liberate themselves from the afflictions and suffering of life.

The architectural layout harmonizes seamlessly with the natural terrain, incorporating a variety of structures within distinct spaces to create visual appeal. The pagoda, meditation hall, main hall, guest house, and dining hall are arranged in a descending terraced formation. The design employs overlapping and rhythmic elements, offering dynamic perspectives from different viewpoints and highlighting the surrounding natural beauty of the mountains, lakes, and cliffs. The architecture, landscape, and on-site activities are interwoven in a cohesive and fluid manner.

The exhibition “Dong Chim Day Nuoc”, taking place at Wiking Salon from December 14, 2024 to January 19, 2025, is an event marking the more than three-decade artistic journey of the famous painter Ca Le Thang. With more than 20 emotional works, the exhibition not only reflects childhood memories of the flood season in the West, but also tells the story of inner rebirth through abstract art. Curated by Le Thien Bao, this event promises to bring an in-depth look at the journey of searching for and affirming the unique artistic language of one of the pioneers of Vietnamese fine arts.