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

Ngẩng đầu nghe gió hát,
Tắm mát mạch nguồn khơi,
Chơi vơi miền êm ả,
Nghiêng ngã một đời không?

Ho Viet Vinh

“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 interlocking rock columns are arranged naturally,
Shoulder and shoulders depict rapids,
Standing likes the shape of the mountain,
Look down at the waves of the sacred place.

ho viet vinh

TP.HCM đang tổ chức cho người dân cả nước góp ý, hiến kế về “Công trình biểu tượng ghi nhận sự chung sức, đồng lòng của người dân vượt qua đại dịch COVID-19” tại TP.HCM ở khu đất số 1 Lý Thái Tổ (phường Vườn Lài).

Theo kiến trúc sư Hồ Viết Vinh,
Đối với đồng bào thành phố đã nằm xuống trong cuộc chiến chống đại dịch cần được tri ân, ghi nhớ một cách trân trọng tại công trình trên bằng cách khắc tên ở công trình. Rất nhiều công trình tưởng niệm trên thế giới đều có khắc tên các nạn nhân như công trình kỷ niệm sự kiện 11-9 ở Mỹ hay trận động đất ở Đường Sơn, Trung Quốc…
Đối với 23.000 đồng bào mất đi cần được nhắc nhớ một cách trang trọng để mọi người còn biết tưởng nhớ đến ai, tri ân ai. Những người đã nằm xuống cho cuộc sống hôm nay thì bất kể họ là ai, không phân biệt, phải được những người hôm nay, thế hệ sau đến công trình tham quan tự lắng đọng, biết ơn mới thể hiện sự nhân văn.

Vui lòng đọc đầy đủ nội dung bài báo tại link này (bấm vào đây).

Trong ánh sáng mờ ảo của buổi chiều tà, màu xanh của cổ rêu trở nên lung linh hơn, như những viên ngọc bích nhỏ bé, lấp lánh giữa không gian yên tĩnh. Những đường vân của rêu, như những nét vẽ tinh tế của một họa sĩ tài hoa: tạo nên một bức tranh thiên nhiên sống động, đầy cảm hứng.
Mỗi không gian cổ rêu là một câu chuyện, một mảnh ghép của quá khứ, gợi nhớ về những ngày tháng vàng son của triều đại xưa. Đôi khi, một cơn gió nhẹ thổi qua, làm rêu lay động, như những dòng chữ cổ xưa đang thì thầm kể lại những bí mật của thời gian.
Cổ rêu tại Cố đô Huế không chỉ là một phần của cảnh quan, mà còn là biểu tượng của sự trường tồn, của vẻ đẹp giản dị nhưng sâu lắng, khiến lòng người không khỏi bồi hồi, xao xuyến mỗi khi bước ngang qua nó.

Kiến trúc sư Hồ Viết Vinh, Huế. 2025

Hồ Viết Vinh 29.12.2024 (Commemorating the announcement of the resolution establishing Huế as a centrally governed city)

Legend, memory, and romance breathe life into the Ancient Capital of Huế.
Huế stands as one of the rare ancient capitals in urban history, crafted with emotion; it embodies unique human values and serves as a perfect bridge between humanity and the cosmos. As one wanders through its Imperial City, a poetic soul seems to linger, inviting reflection. Time flows slowly here, awakening seeds of love that draw us back to childhood memories. Every street corner, every road, and every structure is steeped in nostalgia and gently dusted by time. Each architectural masterpiece tells its own historical tale, weaving the legend of this Sacred Land. The poetic city of Huế manifests not only in its physical form but also in the mythical tales surrounding its river’s origins. Whether these stories bring joy or sorrow, they remain an integral part of us. The endless inspiration for love that creates this poetic city originates from the Perfume River and Ngự Bình Mountain. Cao Bá Quát once likened the Perfume River to: “A long river standing like a sword in the blue sky.”

Huế: A land of Legends, with its tangible and intangible cultural heritage of the Chăm community. From the Phú Diên Tower and Hòn Chén Temple to the Thành Lồi Citadel, these are remnants of the Champa Kingdom in Huế. The influence of Chăm aesthetics in music, architecture, sculpture, and cuisine is distinctly evident in Huế’s cultural treasures.

Huế: A land of Memory, continuing the legacy of the Tây Sơn and Nguyễn dynasties, both glorious and tragic. With nine Lords and thirteen Nguyễn emperors, it formed the land of Thuận Hoá over 720 years, contributing eight cultural heritages to the world.

Huế: A land of Romantic Wisdom. The great intellectuals of Vietnam in modern history were directly or indirectly influenced by the magnificent and splendid culture of Thuận Hoá-Phú Xuân.

Today, Huế has reclaimed its position as a unique cultural center of Vietnam and Asia, embodying the nation’s spirit of integration to enrich its treasury of wisdom and romance for enduring values. The journey is carried by the love for the homeland and the wisdom of the era, crafting a new visage worthy of history and the times. A message both affirming and reminding us not to forget, as playwright Đào Tấn expressed: “Together we drink the waters of the Perfume River, yet none comprehend its fragrant essence.”

“Cộng ẩm hương giang thuỷ
Vô nhân thức thuỷ hương.”

Playwright đào tấn

Returning to the forest is like being immersed in pure silence. Each breeze caressing the skin penetrates deep into each cell to wake up the body after a long deep sleep. The breath slowly fills all the skin, making the whole body immersed in the sweetness of heaven and earth. Returning to that place is the way returning your true home.