HO CHI MINH CITY, 31.05.2024
THE NEW VERNACULAR
On 31 May 2024, the JUNG Architecture Talks were held for the first time in Vietnam, at the German House in Ho Chi Min City. Renowned design and architecture experts from Vietnam, India and Germany engaged in a lively dialogue across cultural and geographical boundaries under the theme The New Vernacular.
In recent decades, we have witnessed the return of an exciting trend: the resurgence of vernacular architecture. Rooted in a cultural and environmental context, vernacular architecture uses local building techniques and materials, and responds with an intimate understanding of the surrounding climate and landscape. This architectural approach has recently been reinterpreted and transformed through the lens of contemporary design.
What new approaches and opportunities does vernacular architecture offer to consider the symbiotic relationship between culture, environment and construction? Ambrish Arora of Studio Lotus in New Delhi, Hoang Thuc Hao of 1+1>2 Architects / Vice President of the VIETNAM ASSOCIATION OF ARCHITECTS in Hanoi, Tran Le Quoc Binh of QBI Design Studio in Ho Chi Minh City and Peter Ippolito of Ippolito Fleitz Group in Stuttgart shed light on this and more in their presentations.
The evening was hosted by Dijane Slavic from JUNG.
In recent decades, we have witnessed the return of an exciting trend: the resurgence of vernacular architecture. Rooted in a cultural and environmental context, vernacular architecture uses local building techniques and materials, and responds with an intimate understanding of the surrounding climate and landscape. This architectural approach has recently been reinterpreted and transformed through the lens of contemporary design.
What new approaches and opportunities does vernacular architecture offer to consider the symbiotic relationship between culture, environment and construction? Ambrish Arora of Studio Lotus in New Delhi, Hoang Thuc Hao of 1+1>2 Architects / Vice President of the VIETNAM ASSOCIATION OF ARCHITECTS in Hanoi, Tran Le Quoc Binh of QBI Design Studio in Ho Chi Minh City and Peter Ippolito of Ippolito Fleitz Group in Stuttgart shed light on this and more in their presentations.
The evening was hosted by Dijane Slavic from JUNG.
Impressions
AMBRISH ARORA
STUDIO LOTUS, NEW DELHI
Ambrish Arora is Founding Principal at Studio Lotus, a multidisciplinary Aga Khan Award-nominated practice that aims to craft spaces addressing the emerging future of work, leisure, and living. The practice’s work is rooted in Conscious Design—an approach that celebrates local resources, cultural influences, keen attention to detail, and an inclusive process that seeks to bring out the best in every stakeholder.
Ambrish’s role is largely studio-focused, leading design processes that direct the trajectory of projects. He is deeply involved with assessing benchmarks of innovation and sustainability for the studio’s ongoing work—including aspects related to thermal comfort, and localization of material and process. Ambrish has persistently campaigned for the amalgamation of vernacular wisdom with modern building practices; for frugal and passive means of construction—often achieved through integration of artisanal skillsets—as a means to achieve cultural, social as well as environmental sustainability. A custodian of the guiding values that have served as a cornerstone for the practice since its inception, he is personally involved in leadership development for the studio’s teams. Aside from being an amateur triathlete and meditator, Ambrish is a mentor to many creative businesses and believes in embedding self-awareness as the bedrock of organizational and team development.
www.studiolotus.in
Ambrish’s role is largely studio-focused, leading design processes that direct the trajectory of projects. He is deeply involved with assessing benchmarks of innovation and sustainability for the studio’s ongoing work—including aspects related to thermal comfort, and localization of material and process. Ambrish has persistently campaigned for the amalgamation of vernacular wisdom with modern building practices; for frugal and passive means of construction—often achieved through integration of artisanal skillsets—as a means to achieve cultural, social as well as environmental sustainability. A custodian of the guiding values that have served as a cornerstone for the practice since its inception, he is personally involved in leadership development for the studio’s teams. Aside from being an amateur triathlete and meditator, Ambrish is a mentor to many creative businesses and believes in embedding self-awareness as the bedrock of organizational and team development.
www.studiolotus.in
PETER IPPOLITO
IPPOLITO FLEITZ GROUP, STUTTGART
Peter Ippolito founded the Ippolito Fleitz Group together with Gunter Fleitz in 2002. The interdisciplinary studio always implements projects from multiple perspectives and combines the diverse skills and experiences from the disciplines of (interior) architecture, communication and product design. The studio's works have now won 400 national and international awards.
"Our studio's mission is to translate our clients' complex identities into appropriate designs. We see ourselves as "Identity Architects". Identity is a fluid process for us. The basis of the design process is a strong conceptual idea that can be translated into space as well as communication."
www.ifgroup.org
"Our studio's mission is to translate our clients' complex identities into appropriate designs. We see ourselves as "Identity Architects". Identity is a fluid process for us. The basis of the design process is a strong conceptual idea that can be translated into space as well as communication."
www.ifgroup.org
HOANG THUC HAO
1+1>2 ARCHITECTS, HANOI
In 2003, Hoang Thuc Hao established “1+1>2 Architects” an architecture firm that focuses on social architectural projects supporting disadvantaged communities and promoting cultural diversity in the context of rapid urbanization. Hoang Thuc Hao and the 1+1>2 Architects have garnered nearly 100 domestic and international prestige prizes.
He is also the first Vietnamese architect to win the 2016 SIA-GETZ Award for Outstanding Architect in Asia and the first Vietnamese to be awarded 2 major triennial awards. The Vassilis Sgoutas Prize for Implemented Architecture Serving the Impoverished 2017 and The Robert Matthew Prize for Sustainable and Humane Environments 2023 by the International Union of Architects (UIA). In 2015, he was winner at WAF in the Civic and Community category. Along with that Hao has exhibited his works and given lectures at many universities, such as Chicago, Columbia, Yale and Cornell University (US), NUS (Singapore) as well as in Berlin, Shenzen, Quebec … etc.
UIA said: “Hoang Thuc Hao is one of the few Vietnamese architects with a clear community mindset in combining the natural and living environments with strong community and cultural connections. His architecture focuses on the practical support of disadvantaged communities through diverse projects such as community houses, workers´houses, schools for disadvantaged children, new rural villages, etc. An effective approach, combining academic knowledge and folk experience, natural elements, and core indigenous culture, his work is an effective testament to the preservation and promotion of local identity in a contemporary context. He proposed the philosophy of “architecture of happiness” – architecture is not simply about designing and creating space but can bring about justice and happiness.”
www.112.com
He is also the first Vietnamese architect to win the 2016 SIA-GETZ Award for Outstanding Architect in Asia and the first Vietnamese to be awarded 2 major triennial awards. The Vassilis Sgoutas Prize for Implemented Architecture Serving the Impoverished 2017 and The Robert Matthew Prize for Sustainable and Humane Environments 2023 by the International Union of Architects (UIA). In 2015, he was winner at WAF in the Civic and Community category. Along with that Hao has exhibited his works and given lectures at many universities, such as Chicago, Columbia, Yale and Cornell University (US), NUS (Singapore) as well as in Berlin, Shenzen, Quebec … etc.
UIA said: “Hoang Thuc Hao is one of the few Vietnamese architects with a clear community mindset in combining the natural and living environments with strong community and cultural connections. His architecture focuses on the practical support of disadvantaged communities through diverse projects such as community houses, workers´houses, schools for disadvantaged children, new rural villages, etc. An effective approach, combining academic knowledge and folk experience, natural elements, and core indigenous culture, his work is an effective testament to the preservation and promotion of local identity in a contemporary context. He proposed the philosophy of “architecture of happiness” – architecture is not simply about designing and creating space but can bring about justice and happiness.”
www.112.com
TRAN LE QUOC BINH
QBi.corp, HO CHI MINH CITY
Architect Tran Le Quoc Binh founded Qbi.corp in 2005.
He has implemented many projects for houses, hotels, spas, restaurants, etc. throughout Vietnam.
Regardless of the types of projects, he always listens to the investor´s story and retells it in a contemporary architectural language, yet incorporating the indigenous flavors through the use of traditional elements and locally available materials.
Besides, he also engages in teaching and writing for specialized magazines.
www.archdaily.com
Besides, he also engages in teaching and writing for specialized magazines.
www.archdaily.com
