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

Nestled quietly under the canopy of the coconut forest swaying in the gentle breeze, the simple house comes into existence thanks to the reflections of the dawn sunlight. The house has a simple modern look, inheriting the shape of a traditional house with 3 compartments and 2 wings, with a large veranda surrounding it. The veranda is a transitional space and acts as a climate regulator for the whole house. Not only that, but it is also a place where countless activities connect people with the surrounding open space. The rooms all open to the garden and the doorways pull the garden into its deepest recesses. The nuanced transitions of time and space also take place in the cut of this patio.

“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

A symphony of earth and water that whispers of hidden desires. This enchanting scene blurs the line between reality and illusion, inviting the viewer into a realm of sublime beauty. The interplay of light and shadow evokes a sense of eternal mystery, reflecting the poet’s fascination with the ephemeral and the divine. It is a mesmerizing vision of a garden stripped bare, revealing the seductive essence of nature’s true form.

IMMENSE

Its simplicity and complexity, serves as a portal to the immeasurable – seducing the viewer into the depths of the infinitesimal and the expanse of the limitless. Such a piece transcends its medium, embodying the essence of “Immense” through the poetic interplay of light and shadow, color and form.

Ho Viet Vinh

At 4:30 p.m. on February 28, the Trịnh Công Sơn Park in Gia Hội Ward, Huế City, will host a significant event—the unveiling of a bronze statue of Trịnh Công Sơn, sculpted by the late artist Trương Đình Quế (1939–2016). This bronze statue, weighing 500 kg, stands 170 cm tall, with a width of 230 cm and a depth of 160 cm. Its design exudes a sense of intimacy and familiarity.

The project is the culmination of years of dedication by Mr. Lê Hùng Mạnh from Gia Hòa Company in Ho Chi Minh City. The journey to place a statue in a public space was far from simple, but his passion for commemorating artists didn’t stop there—he dreams of creating similar tributes for other cultural icons, such as the poet Bùi Giáng.

The choice of Trương Đình Quế as the sculptor was deliberate. He was one of Vietnam’s most renowned visual artists, celebrated with numerous national and international accolades. Born in 1939, the same year as Trịnh Công Sơn, Quế graduated from the Gia Định College of Fine Arts in 1960—the very year Trịnh penned his first song, Ướt Mi. This synchronicity in their lives laid the foundation for a deep friendship rooted in a shared passion for art and music, allowing Quế to capture the essence of his lifelong friend with ease.

The statue took a year to complete at Giang Điền Waterfall in Đồng Nai. Reflecting on the creative process, Mr. Mạnh shared, “Trương Đình Quế and I agreed on how Trịnh should be depicted—as you now see him, leaning forward, as if gazing into a book, or perhaps into his own soul. Naturally, we couldn’t forget the ‘companion’ who stayed with him from ‘the day my mother bore me into this life of burden’ to ‘the noon field, where we met and vanished into the void’—his guitar.”

“The image of Trịnh bowing is intentional,” Mạnh explained, “and it aligns with his own lyrics: Cúi xuống. Cho tình dấy lên. Cho da thịt mềm. Cho cơn mặn nồng ngất lịm. Cúi xuống. Cho đời lãng quên. Cho mây trời chìm. Cho đêm mở hội âm thầm.

When designing the statue’s base, we collaborated with architect Hồ Viết Vinh, who envisioned it as an eye—650 cm long, 350 cm wide, and 55 cm high. This symbolic choice reflects Trịnh’s longing for human compassion: Những con mắt trần gian, Xin nguôi vết nhục nhằn. Những con mắt muộn phiền, Xin cấy lại niềm tin. Even when inspired by Bùi Giáng’s poetry, Trịnh expressed hope and tenderness: Con mắt còn lại nhẹ nhàng từ tâm. Nhìn em ra đi lòng em xa vắng. Con mắt còn lại là đêm tối tăm. Con mắt còn lại là đêm nồng nàn.

This collaboration between sculptor Trương Đình Quế and architect Hồ Viết Vinh embodies the essence of Trịnh Công Sơn’s music—where visual art and sound converge in a harmonious message of love and humanity.

Today, as we gather to unveil this statue on Trịnh Công Sơn’s birthday, it is more than a celebration—it is the realization of a dream. With hearts full of love for his music, Mr. Mạnh and his team gift this statue to the city of Huế as a gesture of gratitude.

“With this sincere endeavor,” Mr Lê Hùng Mạnh remarked, “we are grateful for the support from the Huế City authorities and the province of Thừa Thiên-Huế, who have made this possible. Today, as the statue of Trịnh Công Sơn stands in the park bearing his name, we believe it brings joy to millions across the country who remember him. And surely, our gifted musician and his dear friend, sculptor Trương Đình Quế, would be pleased. For in life, they shared many moments of artistic communion, exchanging ideas and toasting to the beauty of creation.”

See the original article at this link.

Solid and rough are the emotions of Da Lat. Spatial topography consists of interlaced hills, layers hidden under layers of cold pine forests. In that autumn silence, the clouds are the witch who transforms to soften the rough, dry and cold.

CLOUD STREAM
Following the wind, the stream flows in all directions,
The foggy road is dotted with flying dew drops.
Love is drunk at night in dreams,
Filled with the call of the human realm.

SUỐI MÂY
Theo làn gió suối tuôn về muôn nẻo,
Đường mù sương lấm tấm hạt sương bay.
Tình men say gối đêm vào giấc mộng,
Cho ngập lời tiếng gọi cõi nhân sinh.

ho viet vinh. dallat 2019

Inviting a contemplation of the divine within the mundane, a glimpse into the aura of life itself, forever capturing the transient light and darkness that dance within the soul’s depths.
Ho Viet Vinh