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Parallel design studio Hasselt University (BE) – Ton Duc Thang University (VN) - HCMCU of Technology and Education (VN)
What if we would design the city as a place for staycation… a place that you don’t want to take a vacation from, because of its abundance of public space and nature, because you can connect with it, because it cares about you.
Forty-one students from 3 universities exchange ideas and visions for staycation opportunities in each others' cities. Their projects for Brussel's Canal zone and Ho Chi Minh's District One aim to inspire, to design resilient, inclusive spaces, around those that live in it.
Searching for hidden gems, local (hi)stories, human and natural riches, we explore the city as a visitor, from afar or from around the corner. With new eyes and wonder, we identify, analyze, conceive and design spaces of hospitality to create a neighbourhood that receives visitors with empathy and balance, to envision the city as a place for living together, for visiting, as a migrant, citizen, tourist or temporary worker.
Three projects for Ho Chi Minh City are presented here.
AHIMSA
Anissa FilleeA sustainable home for Ho Chi Minh's silk tradition
Ahimsa creates an oasis of local silk production and cohousing in the bustling city center, building upon the concept op Ahimsa: 'respect for all living things'
Keywords: silk, tradition, cohousing, local economy, biocrete, identity, generous
Ahimsa creates an oasis of local silk production and cohousing in the bustling city center, building upon the concept op Ahimsa: 'respect for all living things'
Keywords: silk, tradition, cohousing, local economy, biocrete, identity, generous
STAGING THE CITY
Bram VanweldeReclaiming vacant buildings as a stage for urban daily life
The never completed Saigon One Tower is a unique opportunity to reclaim precious space for urban daily life and connect the city centre with its waterfront
Keywords: reuse, vacant spaces, art centre, bottom-up, local artist and art traders, public space, community
The never completed Saigon One Tower is a unique opportunity to reclaim precious space for urban daily life and connect the city centre with its waterfront
Keywords: reuse, vacant spaces, art centre, bottom-up, local artist and art traders, public space, community
PRESERVING SAIGON’S CHỢ CŨ
Christina LemaA safe space for children to play and the community to interact
Redesigning its street section to create an opportunity for the community to rally for preservation of the authentic fabric of their Ton That Dam Market
Redesigning its street section to create an opportunity for the community to rally for preservation of the authentic fabric of their Ton That Dam Market
Keywords: heritage, playground, public space, third space, community daily life
more Ahimsa
Silk weaving, one of vietnam’s oldest and best-known traditions, is still alive and well in the streets of Ho Chi Minh today. Situated in District 1, amidst a multitude of silk stores and tailor ateliers, this project builds on the rich tradition and gives it a new, innovative future by adding the concept of Ahimsa - meaning respect for all living things. Its proximity to the river is a nod to the historic Silk Road.
Stepping away from the hectic streets of Ho Chi Minh, the project welcomes you into an urban oasis of nature and knowledge, overwhelming the visitor with a sense of calmness and ease. Here, the silk is harvested without causing harm to the moths. The concept of Ahimsa is not only visible in the process of harvesting, but also in the spatial setting of the project, using low-tech bioclimatic principles and innovative, local materials. The spatial organisation is characterized by multiple inner patios -filled with greenery- which can be opened towards the streets. This way the project adds publicness to the neighbourhood and its residents while at the same time filtering dust and pollution. Sculpted chimneys within these patios contribute to the natural ventilation system.
Both bamboo and biocrete reflect the calm and organic atmosphere of the project’s setting. The bamboo is used for the patios, where it forms an open structure. Biocrete, made out of rice husks and lime, defines spaces that are in need of more privacy: the bedroom, a living room.. Not only does it flourish with the humid climate, but it also adds a unique tactility to the project.
Traditional places return unique local identities to our globalised cities; they are an opportunity to bond with age-old handicrafts and a reason to rediscover your own city during a staycation. Now more than ever, traditions deserve a place in the city.
Stepping away from the hectic streets of Ho Chi Minh, the project welcomes you into an urban oasis of nature and knowledge, overwhelming the visitor with a sense of calmness and ease. Here, the silk is harvested without causing harm to the moths. The concept of Ahimsa is not only visible in the process of harvesting, but also in the spatial setting of the project, using low-tech bioclimatic principles and innovative, local materials. The spatial organisation is characterized by multiple inner patios -filled with greenery- which can be opened towards the streets. This way the project adds publicness to the neighbourhood and its residents while at the same time filtering dust and pollution. Sculpted chimneys within these patios contribute to the natural ventilation system.
Both bamboo and biocrete reflect the calm and organic atmosphere of the project’s setting. The bamboo is used for the patios, where it forms an open structure. Biocrete, made out of rice husks and lime, defines spaces that are in need of more privacy: the bedroom, a living room.. Not only does it flourish with the humid climate, but it also adds a unique tactility to the project.
Traditional places return unique local identities to our globalised cities; they are an opportunity to bond with age-old handicrafts and a reason to rediscover your own city during a staycation. Now more than ever, traditions deserve a place in the city.
more Staging the city
Ambitiously planned as a new landmark for Ho Chi Minh City, the never completed Saigon One Tower is a unique opportunity to reclaim precious space for urban daily life and connect the urban centre with the waterfront.
The existing building is stripped down to its basic structure. New staircases, elevators and voids create openness and flexibility in the building. Using pallets, scrap wood and low-tech services, the ‘inhabitants’ can reprogramme the structure easily, build rooms, create spaces and stages for/to accommodate new ideas/activities. The new and flexible façadesystem strengthens the open and easy-to-adapt character of the building, adds greenery and defines the appearance of the building and is also an opportunity to earn electrical power for the building and provide a good indoor climate. In a final stage, the tower will be a vertical representation of the urban context, with housing facilities, offices and coworkspaces, sports facilities…
The art centre on the lower floors functions as a stage for the local street artists and art traders, which are an important part of the economic system and tourist attractions in HCMC. The building provides exhibition rooms, studio’s, theatre halls... and a scenographic route leads the visitors through the process of art production and the exhibited art. The centre also defines the connection between the building and the broader urban context and implements a way to extend the street activities from the urban centre to waterfront park and the building itself.
The reclamation of urban ruins as a way of urban renewal and creation of informal meeting spaces forms an actual strategy that can be applied to other, similar locations.
The existing building is stripped down to its basic structure. New staircases, elevators and voids create openness and flexibility in the building. Using pallets, scrap wood and low-tech services, the ‘inhabitants’ can reprogramme the structure easily, build rooms, create spaces and stages for/to accommodate new ideas/activities. The new and flexible façadesystem strengthens the open and easy-to-adapt character of the building, adds greenery and defines the appearance of the building and is also an opportunity to earn electrical power for the building and provide a good indoor climate. In a final stage, the tower will be a vertical representation of the urban context, with housing facilities, offices and coworkspaces, sports facilities…
The art centre on the lower floors functions as a stage for the local street artists and art traders, which are an important part of the economic system and tourist attractions in HCMC. The building provides exhibition rooms, studio’s, theatre halls... and a scenographic route leads the visitors through the process of art production and the exhibited art. The centre also defines the connection between the building and the broader urban context and implements a way to extend the street activities from the urban centre to waterfront park and the building itself.
The reclamation of urban ruins as a way of urban renewal and creation of informal meeting spaces forms an actual strategy that can be applied to other, similar locations.
more Preserving Saigon's Cho Cu
“Ton That Dam Old Market - Soon To Disappear + Must Eat Places Before It’s Too Late”Currently this is the branding statement for Saigon’s historic Ton That Dam market Fusing Chinese and Vietnamese culture and architecture. The market is more than a popular tourist destination as it is also a neighbourhood that is run by its vibrant and close community. The delicious home-made street foods and friendly people, make the whole experience unique. Recently, the City has authorized taking down the market and thus soon its history will fade along with the community. Captivated by the rich heritage and daily life, my project focuses on Ton That Dam’s ‘third space’, where commercial actors and residents co-live. I designerly researched a section of the street, blending new architectural interventions in this historic context and enriching its gradients of publicness.On one side of the street, an adventurous playground is created for Hoa Binh elementary school. Outside school hours, it opens up to all kids of the Ton That Dam community, giving them more space to explore and play around. On the other side, a street lounge houses a series of freely accessible, informal meeting spaces for the community. It is sort of a ‘neighbourhood living room’ that enlarges the private residences and adds a luxurious breathing space. In between, the market finds its place, a brickwork, bamboo and greenery, giving this intervention its identity and connectivity. Through the improved street’s conditions, with subtle design techniques and local materials, I hope to create an opportunity for the community to rally for preservation of the authentic urban fabric of their Ton That Dam Market.
2021 ahimsa.pptx2021 staging the city.pptx2021 preserving saigon's cho cu.pptxoverview 2021 brussels-ho chi minh.pptxteam
studio coordinators Hasselt University: arch. Peggy Winkels, arch. Ken De Cooman
coordinator internationalisation Hasselt University:dr. Els Hannes
studio coordinators Ton Duc Thang University/Ho Chi Minh University of Technology and Education: dr. Ngo Le Minh, dr. Do Xuan Son, dr. Khánh Võ Hoàng, me Quyên Lê To, dr. Thinh Do Duy
coordinator international 5-partner workshop week: dr. Tu Anh Trinh
guest jury: landscape architect-urban planner Steven Petit, landscape architect-urban planner Peter Swyngedauw, architect Sander Lambrix
coordinator internationalisation Hasselt University:dr. Els Hannes
studio coordinators Ton Duc Thang University/Ho Chi Minh University of Technology and Education: dr. Ngo Le Minh, dr. Do Xuan Son, dr. Khánh Võ Hoàng, me Quyên Lê To, dr. Thinh Do Duy
coordinator international 5-partner workshop week: dr. Tu Anh Trinh
guest jury: landscape architect-urban planner Steven Petit, landscape architect-urban planner Peter Swyngedauw, architect Sander Lambrix
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