“If you don’t know how to relax in the pure land,
A life will pass without ever touching happiness.”

Thay Thich Nhat Hanh

The Zen garden embodies the breath of nature, nestled in a coniferous forest that greets the morning sun and immerses itself in the cool embrace of the beach. Here, people move freely in an open space, unbound by positions or frames of reference.
Movement transcends traditional notions of inside and outside, high and low, creating a seamless unity between heaven and earth, plants, flowers, and people. Each step taken resonates with the essence of the pure land, harmonizing all into a single breath of serenity.

Type
Architecture design, Interior design
Year
2019
Location
Ho Tram, Vietnam
Team
Ho Viet Vinh, Tran Thanh Hai, Tran Thi Thu Ha
Collaborator
Quang Nhat Furniture, RitaVo Company, KOHLER

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

Vinhho Biography
Ho Viet Vinh is a Vietnamese architect who graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1995 from the University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where he received an award for creative design in his final year. He is a Registered Architect in Vietnam, a Registered Urban Planner in Ho Chi Minh City, and a member of the Association of Architects and Urban Planners of Vietnam.
Vinh’s career began in 1995 with participation in several design competitions in Ho Chi Minh City. That same year, he became a lecturer in the Urban Planning Department at the University of Architecture.
In 1998, he won second prize in the international competition organized by the Summer Workshop of Cergy-Pontoise, France, with the theme “Ho Chi Minh City and the Saigon River.”
In 2005, he was awarded a special prize in another international competition by the Summer Workshop of Cergy-Pontoise, France, for his project “Can Gio Emotional City.”
In 2010, he participated in the U.S. International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) focusing on Sustainable Urban Planning.
In 2015, Vinh was selected by the Lebadang Creative Foundation to design the Lebadang Memory Space Museum in Hue. During this time, he also became the Director of the Fund.

Bước đi trên thửa ruộng, một bên đang chín vàng và một bên tuổi mười sáu, lòng như bước vào một ngã rẽ thời gian. Vựa lúa đồng bằng không ngủ để mang thóc gạo đến các hải cảng, để chuyển đến nơi cần đến. Vậy mà nó không một khoảng lặng nghỉ ngơi giữa các mùa vụ để hồi sinh. Ngày xưa, người dân cho đất nghỉ sau các mùa vụ canh tác; thế mà giờ đây nó phải đầu tắt mặt tối, phải gồng gánh sức nặng của mưu sinh. Một khi không được nghỉ ngơi vào mùa nước tràn đồng thì đất sẽ suy kiệt do không ngậm được phù sa, cái thưở mùa nước nổi cả đồng bằng như vào một ngày hội lớn: sự tất bật tạm lắng lại để tiếng cười và tiếng thở của đất được rền vang và hồi phục. Giờ đây, đến mùa nước nổi, cánh đồng vẫn vậy, nước không tràn qua đê bao bảo vệ mùa vụ. Dòng phù sa được ví như dòng sữa mẹ nuôi dưỡng vùng Châu thổ thì giờ đây đã cuộn cuộn chảy ra biển tạo thành các cù lao, ụ nổi ngăn đường ra biển lớn.

Ruộng thức là trăn trở và tâm sự của một vùng châu thổ trù phú đất ngậm phù sa một thời.

KTS. Hồ Viết Vinh

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

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.