“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.

Evoking the tranquil undulations of the river a symphonic concerto of colors whispering the poetics of the natural world. The geometric shapes, with their curves and angles, juxtapose the organic with the mathematical, creating a visual sonnet that blurs the lines between the ephemeral and the eternal.

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.

“Artists dismiss me as an architect, so I am not in their box, and architects dismiss me as an artist, so I’m not in their box. I don’t know whose box I’m in, and I don’t really care.”
Frank O Gehry

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

The “Dance of light” stirring a feeling of motion and vitality. This interplay between brilliance and obscurity crafts an enigmatic allure, coaxing the observer to explore the depths of light.

Ho Viet Vinh

(Vinhho, Acrylic on canvas, 130x97cm, Maison de Corail.2024)

Cơ duyên cho Tôi gặp và hóng chuyện với danh hoạ Hồ Hữu Thủ: là một trong những tên tuổi hàng đầu của nền mỹ thuật Việt Nam.
Thế giới nghệ thuật của ông là sự kết hợp độc đáo giữa các hình tượng quen thuộc: thiếu nữ – hoa sen – mảnh trăng. Những hình ảnh này không đơn thuần là miêu tả hiện thực, mà đã được chọn lọc và biến thành những biểu tượng mang vẻ đẹp tinh khiết, hồn nhiên trong một không gian vừa thực vừa siêu thực.

Ghé thăm triển lãm “Hội hoạ trừu tượng Cha và Con” tại TAA Gallery, Tôi như được gặp lại phong thái nho nhã pha lẫn minh triết nơi Ông.