PORTFOLIO
preface
The origin of architecture could be traced back to primitive huts, the first typology of housing architecture. Huts, as a replicate “caves “, a place where Homo sapiens settlement, protected them from climate catastrophy and predators, were made by tied trunks and covered with dry leaves. Instead of hiding from nature, they chose to faced again nature, to conquer nature, as a commune. Throughout the history, the [boundaries] were slowly been sharpened. The enclosure of building against nature, the seperation between interior and exterior, the segregation between social classes, the rising of individualism were conflicted with the nature of human being. On the contrary, in Vietnamese traditional architecture, the [boundaries] between nature and man-made, adaption and resistance were blurred out since the start of the civilization. Until the Age of Colonization, when Western architecture was brought in Viet Nam, the [boundaries] was quickly be closed. ‘How can I reintroduce the “openess” within the [boundaries], even though 100 years had passed?’ Through my first 2 years studying architecture and urban design, these projects are my experiments of [boundaries].
“In order to design building with a sensous connection to life, one must think in a way that goes far beyond form and construction” Peter Zumthor
table of contents
[ site analysis ]
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[ kaizen ]
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[ ecotopia ]
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[ site analysis ]
[ introduction ]
This project took place in Bình Đông Wharf, Ward 14, vDistrict 8 of Hồ Chí Minh City, which used to be Chợ Lớn in the past, has 4-face toward water surface. The place is well-known for its tradition, “on the boat, off the dock”, depicting the hustle scenery of trading lifestyle as the name “Chợ Lớn”, which means “big market”. Back to XVII century, Vietnamese started the reclamation to the south. The topography was swamps interleave with forests, and the main transportation route was waterway. Because of this specific condition , building materials and goods including food were transported by waterway. Canals were also digged to shorten the amount of travelling time. In Sài Gòn - Chợ Lớn, man-made canals’ names were correlating to the famous goods of the places they went by. Lò Gốm canal was famous for pottery, Tàu Hủ canal means “tofu canal”, etc. A huge amount of Chinese had come to Chợ Lớn, brought commercial culture with them, which made this place be a “big market”, though Sài Gòn was known for its political history. Fun fact, before the French colonization, which is Chợ Lớn nowadays was Sài Gòn, and so does the present Sài Gòn. But, how did merchants get the goods from? The one and only one way importing goods were transport from the South West Việt Nam, from Vàm Cỏ Đông river - the boundary between South and West Việt Nam - through Bến Lức river to Chợ Lớn. Bình Đông Wharf was one of the stops when travelling on Tàu Hủ canal - Lò Gốm canal, explaining why the place was well-known for the lifestyle “on the boat, off the dock”. In such position surrounded by water surface on 4 sides of a rectangle, the site took advantages of the water transportations, and also water killed which used-to-be potential because of modernization, led to a sequence of issues, which will be present in the next 4 pages.
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[ gentrification ]
Modernization happened, follow by the housing renovation and the rising of housing demand, and the invasion of various immigrants from provinces in Việt Nam and nearby country, led to consequences: replacing tradition houses by modern houses, vacant clearance, abandoned real estate project, pollution, which, did not what the habitants asked for.
1. One of the standout house that I and my friends found out during the field trip. The house was told to be belonged to a Chăm family before passing to the current owner. ( Illustrated by author, 2023 ) 2. The abandoned residential project because of contractor’s bankrupcy since 2022. ( Illustrated by author, 2023 )
[ poverty ] Through observation and interviewing, I conceive how ruthless the modernization did to the residence. There is not even a tiny sight left of the glorious scenery of the “on the boat, off the dock” tradition when look into the reality of waste collecting, miserably retailing shop. The required amenities for a life are compacted in the area at the minimum scale. Sarcastically, people are so thoughtful that they also have 2 conffin retailer in the site.
Waste collector by Hoài Thanh street. ( Illustrated by author , 2023 )
[ segregation ] Society in Ward 14 had been separated ever since before the modernization: The inner and the outers of perimeter road. In the past, there used to be encroached houses. But over the the past few years, the landscape rennovation project took place, and the only trace left is on the outer side of Hoài Thanh street.
Community separation. ( Illustrated by author, 2023 )
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[ social disorganization theory ]
In 1942, two criminology researchers from “Chicago School” of criminology, Clifford Shaw and Henry D. McKay developed social disorganization theory through their researchs. The theory states, a person’s physical and social environments are primarily responsible for the behavioral choices that a person makes. They discovered that there were four specific assumptions in order to explaining deliquency: The first assumption is the collapse of community based - based controls and people living in these neighborhood are responding to the natural environmental conditions. The second is the rapid growth of immigration in urban disadvantages neighborhoods. The third is business located closely to the disadvantaged neighborhoods that are influenced by the “human wellbeing approach” of competition and dominance. The fourth and last assumption is disadvantaged urban neighborhoods lead to the development of criminal values that
[ crime ] Bình Đông Wharf is best known for drug dealer and drug addict. Since Đổi Mới, a large amount of immigrants to Bình Đông Wharf, bringing all types of social evils, including drug dealing, buglar, thieves, gangsters. 20s was the era of crminial and deliquency. But, in recent years, the crime rates start to decrease.
[ isolation ] The location of a site can tell us a lot about its characteristic, in this case is the isolation. Ward 14 is isolated, both in social and economic aspects, as the result of lack of connection to neighboring and the passive segregation.
Community separation. ( Illustrated by author, 2023 )
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[ kaizen ]
[ approach ]
This apartment unit is designed for the low-income and middle - income residents in Ward 14. In order to maximize the capability of functions and dimensions and payment and monthly cost for an apartment unit, I designed through these criteria: Natural ventilation is a must. Each room is natural illuminated. Maximize the human capacity. Smallest floor area with most sufficient functions and human comfortabilitily. Using multi - functional interior space and prefabricated elements.
First concept plan
The idea is such simple that making sure all rooms have both at least one opening and facing outward. From the “centralised plan”, I came up with the idea of splitting the unit into 2 parts, which in case not create a dominance on one side of the unit. I did think of a way to combine two “dwelling” in one “unit”, one for a family living in, the other is for rent. But it is lack of the first
Second concept plan
Combined plan
third concept plan
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[ floor plan ]
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“Kaizen, the combination of 2 words: “kai” - ongoing and “zen” - improvement, is the main concept for design, which aiming to provide a better life for user in Binh Dong dock, in this case the unit is designed for a family of six. With natural ventilation and natural lighting, the using of warm light color material warm laminated wood and the appearance of plantation both in interior and exterior of the house, dwellers are provided better quality than the affordable cost for low-income residents.
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[ interior ]
Using laminated woods in order to cost minimun and bringing plantation indoor is such a cozy fusion for both an aesthetic and regenerative space after a day.
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[ ecotopia ]
[ detecting problems ]
This was the stage when we had to work as a group from 3 to 4 students. Combining the issues each of us had analyzed from the first stage, and the aprtment units we designed in stage 2, we were able to develop strategies for 2.1 ha land. My team was about 3 people, including me. Coincidentally, we were, at most aspects, having the same thought and same issue analysis about the site, except the insufficience of green space and gathering space, especially for alleys’ residents. Residents encroached the pavements, if there were pavements in alleys, on the pathway, at the corner of dead end alleys, claimed these spaces for gathering by the act of placing tables and chairs, and sat there for days.
Project site. ( Illustrated by author, 2023)
From the urban grain, we spotted out that, Ward 14 was shaped by combine 2 rectangles having one same dimension, and inside each rectangle, there were alleys, interlaced alleys, but could be categorized in two types: throughout alley and dead end alley. There were 5 main streets in Ward 14: Bình Đông Wharf street, Ngô Sĩ Liên street, Hoài Thanh street, Hoàng Sĩ Khải street, and the overlapped street - Cây Sung street. And, because of this, trees were only be planted on 2 sides of a streets, and based on the low - density of trees by observation in alleys, plus the one and only “park” as Google Maps cited ( the scale was only be seen as a “community garden” ). Road network. ( Illustrated by author, 2023 )
we came to two final conclusion about the site: Ward 14 is lack of greenery and gathering space. Ward 14 was made from alleys. There was segregation between alleys’ residents and streets’ residents The isolation of the site led to the degeneration in economy and human well- being.
community garden
Vo Van Kiet landscape axis urban design project is launching, and Ward 14 is part of the project in regenerate the “on the boat, off the dock” tradition, and we thought that we could take advantages of this in planning toward the future. Greenery. ( Illustrated by author, 2023 )
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[ concept and strategies ]
“Ecotopia” is the combination of two words, “ecological”, the adjective of “ecology”, means the relationship between a living being and the environment, and “utopia”, which means the ideal society where people live happy ever after. By the intention recreating the “utopia” for not only the apartment owners but also Bình Đông residents, the project has shown a reimagination of how a settlement was made in relation to three majors aspects: environment, society and economy. By realizing the sequence:
environment
society
economy and the existing issues, we designed [ ecotopia ] based on 3 main strategies, which blend together in design process:: -
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The first is maximizing the capability of greenery. The second focuses on Elongated connection. The third is creating dynamic public spaces.
[ NIMBY - not in my back yard ]
[ section ]
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master plan
west elevation 20
[ green maximization ]
By concentrating dweller buildings to the first half of the land, the percentage of land using for transportation is minimized to 8.8% site coverage, for concrete building is 23.8% site coverage, left out 67,4% site coverage for users’ demands. Not only greenery on ground floor, we also bring greenery up to each floor opening and rooftop. By implement greenery as shared property, people naturally build their responsibility in taking care of and protecting the environment.
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[ zoning plan ]
Functional zones are divided into 3 parts based on the site’s shape. First zone and third zone are in order semi private and semi public zone, where most activities happen. The seconnd works as a buffer zone, to mediate and transist from Zone 1 to Zone 3. People use floor gound as retailing spaces,. Thus, to maximize users area, clinic and community center are located at the ground floor of 2 blocks. Entrances are opened at the intersections of valleys and the site, intend to lengthen the path and connect both people inside and outside the land area, forming a stronger bond community in order to fix the segregation caused by the insufficiency of collective spaces. The openings lead to com-
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1. Apartment building 2. Multifuctional courtyard
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3. Clinic 4. Community center 5. Communal yard 6. Outdoor gym
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7. Seating 8. Sport field
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9. Kindergarten 10. Playground 11. Park 12. Community garden
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[ zone 1 ]
[ units ]
By creating courtyard at the front, we arranged unit block along the site perimeter. In order to achieve largest unit quantity and shortest horizontal circulation, at the same time apply crossed - ventilation, these arrangements came out as a result of calculation.
[ the neat ] This apartment is designed to create a new living space for people living in Binh Dong Wharf. Moreover, it elevates their life condition to a new level. The main goal of this design is to optimize the living space and simultaneously guarantee the comfortability in living.
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[ kaizen ]
[ the affordable ] This meticulously crafted apartment aims to revolutionize the residential experience for residents of Binh Dong Wharf. The primary objective of this design is to maximize the utilization of living space while ensuring an unparalleled level of comfort and convenience. By seamlessly blending functionality with aesthetics, this apartment promises to redefine the way people inhabit and thrive in Binh Dong Wharf.
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A.1
B.1
B.2
A.2
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[ diagram ]
rooftop garden
apartment blocks
parking spaces
ground floor retail shop clinic community center
multi functional courtyard communal yard
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[ sky garden ] It used to be a collective garden space in between two apartment blocks. What would happen if we bring that concept from down earth to up roof ? Each block could be divided into four equal parts, as the responsibility to take care of four subdivided garden. Community interaction may occupy in normal activities, as in gathering, trading products, also create side job for low income to work as gardeners. As such, the opening gap in each floor could be utilized as planting area, not only enhance collective aspect but also create better living quality.
As such, the opening gap in each floor could be utilized as planting area, not only enhance collective aspect but also create better living quality, so does the platforms that connect A1 - A2 and B1 - B2. 31
[ module ] A concrete structure is unmovable. If that structure appears in the middle of a courtyard, blocks pedestrian route , people are willing to tear it down. A concrete structure is unchangeable. Stable inhumane design which does not adapt human demands stands still without being use for once. How about a design has no primary function, and its forms and functions depend on how people use it?
[ frontyard ]
When design [ ecotopia ], we do not only plan for the present, but also base on the past and head to the future. The tradition “on the boat, off the dock” is still slightly exist till these days. A pedestrian’s rest space, or even food court that sellers could hired from the apartment managers, and even a destination for future tourism plan.
[ communal yard ]
he yard might be used as community activites, wedding or even marketplace.
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[ retail floor ]
[ courtyard ]
By combining livelihood opportunities with strengthened community relationships, the plan strives to create multi - faceted environment that benefits both residents and the focal economy. This area serves as a focal point, bringing together residents, local artisans, and visitors in a vibrant and bustling atmosphere. With it adaptable trading space, the area provides a platform for individuals to showcase their products, whether it be handmade craft, fresh produce or unique services.
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[ zone 2 ]
As a mediated zone, [ zone 2 ] is designed to be both rest area and entrances. By named “mediated zone”. not only human flow but also activities frequencies are in the state of balance. By planning Terminalia mantaly, a green canopy was formed, thus the application of seating and gymnasium equipments are combined for not only apartments dwellers but also Ward 14 residents. Heights of plantation were designed as a “vault” allowing the wind flow, as trees plan in April 30th park.
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[ zone 3 ]
The Dynamic Public Space focuses on creating multiple types of public spaces that offer diverse activities and functions. This strategy aims to enhance the adaptability and versatility of public spaces by incorporating modular elements and integrating urban agriculture with green education. By providing flexible and engaging environments, this strategy promotes community communication, outdoor activities, knowledge sharing, and self-awareness about the living environment. In exchange for the appropiation the majority of land in [ zone 1 ] for residential construction, in Zone 3, we tend to increase the amount of greenery, again, simultaneously serving as community park and human convergence. Community garden is introduced, and the duty to look after belongs not only for the residents but also the surrounding artisans. Kindergarten is also an element contributing in develop the connectivity zone 3. By located in between a residential area, children are able to arrive school by walking, at the same time it brings guardians, in this case are adults and elders, to the park. One after another, then the zone will be filled up by human.
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[ inspiration ]
If I make Le Corbusier and Jan Gehl both work together on a project, what will it look like? The modernist LeCorbusier stated “house as machines for living in” in the book “Toward a new architecture”, which is a fitted idea for this project as a result of the requirement for compact living and balancing between living space - community space. Moreover, the main idea of extreme functional subdivision took inspiration from Plan Voisin in maximizing greenery. Moreover, Jan Gehl’s idea of human connectivity through passage and public spaces was contributed huge effect on how the soul of Bình Đông be created.
Nguyễn Lê Minh Tuấn - 21519950062 2022 - 2023
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