TUYEN LE
Selected Works / 2018 – 2024
ACADEMIC
PROFESSIONAL
MISCELLANEOUS WORKS
MIGRANT ARCHIPELAGO
Torcy, Seine êt Marne, France
Allotment Garden and Market Hall
Between 1980 and 2000, as an act of humanitarianism for their former colony, France received a large influx of 200,000 immigrants fleeing their countries due to post-decolonization conflicts. This design becomes a public common ground to the migrant communities in Torcy and its peripheral, a suburban enclave positioned between Paris and Disneyland. Its subject directly comes from people experienced forced migration or refugeehood from former French colonies. Investigating interconnections between diasporic groups, it emphasizes restorative microcosms among people, plants, and the river, advocating for a communal healing typology called the “Migrant Archipelago”
The architecture takes place in an isolated industrial warehouse on Torcy’s Marne riverbank. The architectural intervention along Marne’s riverbanks rejuvenates migrant solidarity, rekindling neglected river culture
Master Thesis JAN 2023 - JAN 2024
Instructor Daniel Rosbottom, Koen Mulder, Mark Pimlott Programs Archicad, AutoCAD, SketchUp, QGIS, Photoshop, Illustrator
Map – former French colonies diasporic path. Due to wars, people were force to migrate post-conflict. In this case, they seek refuge in the country that once colonized their homeland.
Map – The second Vietnamese diasporic wave as a result of the American War in Vietnam (ended in 1975). An example showing the disparity forced on ordinary people, uprooting their lives from their homeland, likely to never return.
INVASIVE NARRATIVE
The catalyst of this project takes shape in the Colonial Garden, located in Paris (page 7). With sunken greenhouses sponsored by the French chocolate giant Menier, this garden was the first migrating garden in France. While it was okay for the imperialist French to practice this, now, when migrants arrive in France with their native garden seeds, it is seen as illegal/invasive.
Image – The biology students and their instructor inside the sunken greenhouse. The garden made it possible to study the potential of exotic plants from their colonies to acclimatize to the French climate. Today, it is left abandoned.
Image – Ms. Ninh, a Vietnamese migrant who resettled to Noisy le Grand in 2001, is sowing the seeds for the summer harvest within Torcy’s community allotment garden. (R) Ninh’s 200kg harvest of wintermelon in Summer 2022.
MIGRANT BODIES
Expanding upon an empathetic view on invasive flora and migrant bodies, they collectively contribute to the diversification of the tangible and intangible landscapes. It embodies the liberty to transpose their cultural heritage into the tangible practice of horticulture.
Plan and section – Project site is in yellow by the Marne river. Torcy was a former company town sprung from the Menier Chocolate era. Today, it is home to the largest Vietnamese migrant community outside of Paris, and a big Cambodian and Senegal migrant population. (1” = 150’ model)
Diagram – Torcy’s evolution. Post-refugee crisis (1973), the town’s timeline showcases its inward expansion. Emphasizing affordable housing, the expansion marked a pivotal era in Torcy’s history, adapting to accommodate and support newcomers (mostly were refugees)
MIGRANT ARCHIPELAGO
Based on the quotidian communal values of allotment culture and gardening, the design facilitates a reconnection for those with refugeehood and migrant background. It makes room to materialize people’s cultural identity through gardening their homeland’s produce in Torcy.
Existing warehouse
Formerly owned by chocolate giant Menier (1972), and then Nestlé (1990), and now , Aspasia (2020).
Add allotment garden
The soil type here is called fluvisoil (river soil). It’s moist and fertile, perfect for gardening.
Add Greenhouses – the sunken greenhouses work as a cultivation lab. Add Market hall – the main social space with the produce market, food court, and the workshop bays.
Image – Around 1908 - 1920, leisure activites happened in Torcy by the Marne, captured on postcards.
SITE – BY THE RIVER MARNE
In light of the warehouse’s history and its proximity to riverfront “giants” like Chocolate Menier and the 2024 Olympics, the focus of this new public interior aims to rejuvenate a sense of belonging, particularly in the town’s overlooked peripheries. The purpose of this design proposal: to reorient Torcy’s orientation toward the Marne River to revive engagement with the overlooked edge of the town and perform as a space
for migrant bodies to find solace in healing through productive gardening. The design components include:
– An allotment of migrating gardens
– A market hall (for the gardeners and other vendors)
– A seed bank
– A cultivation lab
Gardening workshops in the new market hall (5)
Gardener’s greenhouse, hosting tropical migrating seeds (3)
Section – Cutting through the main circulation spaces (on a 13ft [4m] grid)
Section – Cutting through the main circulation spaces (on a 13ft [4m] grid)
USING THE EXISTING GRID
The physical design incorporates the existing strengths to better integrate the site with its surroundings. The arrangement is devised considering the program’s climatic and spatial requirements, adapting to the site’s inherent spatial qualities. The southern half, facing the street, is designated for productive and gardening programs, while the northern half, along the river, is allocated for social and leisure activities.
Drawing upon the universal adaptability of warehouse design, the design uses the existing grid system. The approach involves stripping away cladding and fences to enhance the building’s exposure. To ensure economic viability, the proposal advocates for phased incremental additions—new structures employing modular assembly for reusability or upcycling—and collective maintenance efforts by the users.
With this new skin, the warehouse is no longer separated from the active river bank. Peering in from across the river on the Olympic ground, this transparent quality becomes more seamless to its overgrown riparian zone. Also, the transparency sparks curiosity for passerby. So by shedding away the barriers, one can effortlessly stroll into the market hall from the riverbank or the allotment.
The market inside the main hall, showing a variety of kiosk suitable for small to larger produce stocks. This is an open space for people to convene, share meals, conversations, and trade produce grown from their allotment. It’s a social hub that also generate income.
– Facade (3/16” = 1’, display dimensions in mm)
– Facade (1” = 1’, dimensions in mm)
Section
Detail
ADDITIONS TO THE EXISTING
The curtain wall system is made of mullion framing and clipped onto the structural columns, it shouldn’t bear any structural load besides maintaining its own rigid integrity. The glulam posts are dimensioned to sustain loads coming from the workshop bays and the new roof. They’re pinned to the slab with a metal base plate, acting as a moisture break. Also, the columns frame the area of the bays, while the bays act as horizontal shear surfaces to stabilize the columns, preventing them from buckling.
Details of the Migrant Archipelago. (1/16” = 1’ model)
The act of harvesting, sharing, and preserving tangible heritage happens here. By embracing productive gardens and their social values, this project helps mend the invisible wounds of diaspora. It is a symbiosis between productivity and leisure, my design research creates an archipelago of regenerative spaces for Torcy, and in the end, it makes the town whole again.
REGROWTH
Port of Beirut, Lebanon
Memorial Architecture
*Kalaher Prize 2020 Finalist
On August 4th, 2020, an explosion destroyed the port of Beirut, Lebanon. It was caused by the ignition of tons of improperly stored ammonium nitrate which the government had neglected for years despite repeated warnings of the dangerous material’s presence in the port.
In the midst of the ashes and wreckage, the surviving half of the port’s grain silos is the last structure left standing. The silos’ significance to the country’s subsidence along with its newfound role of protector elevate them to the status of new monument, making them the anchor point for the restoration of the Port of Beirut.
Applying the new monumentality definition to our site, we are not only building a memorial to grieve but rather taking direct action to address the emotional trauma and food insecurity the Lebanese people face.
Bachelor Thesis AUG - DEC 2020
Instructor Bosuk Hur Partners Xingda Guo & Alice Tosi. Programs Illustrator, Photoshop, Rhino, Vray.
NEW MONUMENTALITY
The human, material, and cultural devastation in Beirut has caused a shockwave through Lebanon. By reimagining the definition of monumentality, we uncover the possibility of a multi-faceted memorial which provides for the ones who suffered the trauma of the explosion. While designed for Beirut, Regrowth's purpose is universal, and its doors are open for anyone in need of grieving and healing.
SITE
Lebanon has had long-running conflicts with Israel and its own civil war. Over 120,000 lives were lost as a result. Then, the August 4 explosion occurred, causing widespread destruction once again and making the whole country bleed.
NARRATIVE PROGRAM
The sectarian government put in place at the end of the civil war fell to corruption, leading massive protests.
Lebanese people are no strangers to resilience and rebuilding, they desire true change that will lead to a brighter future.
Our two core programs are a series of sensory healing environments directly associate with the human’s five senses, and a food production hub incorporating markets, an efficient distribution system, and vertical farms. Most of the new programs reside in new silos spawned from the original rows of silos, and most of the landscape is retrofitted for the markets.
Section
CONCEPT – ROOTS PROGRAM
The restoration of the Port’s functions via vertical farming and the implementation of healing sensory spaces are the top elements of our hierarchy. These functions overlap and intertwine to create a cohesive story.
Like Aspen trees, the silos seem to stand separately, but the rest of the narrative is underground where they sprout from a one root system, showing the same unity as the Lebanese people. These roots grow outwards from the old silo ruins, bringing new growth throughout our site and even into the crater formed by the explosion. The existing silos are mended to house the new vertical farms, and the new silos connect to
– Cutting through the main circulation spaces
Diagram – Conceptual program blocking
NARRATIVE WALKTHROUGH
To enhance realism in this proposal, we employ a narrative walkthrough that takes into account the diverse spaces and senses to be activated. The experience unfolds as both the visitor and the worker spend a day at the Regrowth Memorial Ground.
While at the epicenter of the tragedy, the visitor reflects on her grandmother’s memory of the port of Beirut explosion and embark on the sensory healing process, the worker engages in his duties as an operator for the farms and markets. Their paths converge at the expansive void within smell silos, where they walk together to exit into the main market place.
The worker (R) stands and overlooks the memorial landscape and marketplace at dawn
The visitor (L) emerge from the touch and hearing silos, heading towards the sight silos
TOUCH & HEARING SILOS SIGHT SILOS
The touch sensory environments are underwater. Above water, the hearing silos can have a closed section which traps sounds or an open section which projects them.
Connecting the silos in the crater and the silos that survived the blast are the sight silos. A void cuts into their mass to form two paths: one narrow and the other cavernous. Visitors are free to choose the path that most compels them.
SMELL SILOS TASTE SILOS
In the first row of restored old silos is the smell environment: a luscious oasis-like garden. Visitors navigate the space via whimsical platforms that encourage discovery and offer places to rest.
The taste is the most significant part of this narrative. The farms are located in the restored old silos, preserving their former program, and in new silos sprouting around them. The underground root system connects them all while leaving the surface for pedestrian enjoyment. Produce moves via a network of conveyor belts to launchpads from which drones take off to deliver produce to remote areas in Lebanon.
At the main circulation core, in between the Smell silos (F) and Taste silos (B). The visitor and the worker are seen waving at each other.
The worker guided the visitor through the rest of the silos. Finally, at the sun is setting, they emerged from the silos, revealing the scenic lake view. This crater was the epicenter of explosion, now, it is a tranquil memorial place for all to visit.
BLOOMING OFFSETS
New York City, New York
Residential & Mix-use Tower
*BWBR Prize 2019 Finalist
Blooming Offsets is a mix-housing projects and afterschool art institute. The premise of this design is to reactivate the wedge of land that is neglected from the grid because of the construction of Lincoln Tunnel (connecting Manhattan with New Jersey). The curving in and out embraces the dwellers and promotes socialization within, and welcomes the existing neighborhood to engage with the space.
The after-school art institute introduces a creative and expressive atmosphere to the existing neighborhood with its theater, amphitheater, and multi-used studios. The institute responds to the lack of funding and budget cuts of art programs in the public school system.
Bachelor FEB - MAY 2019
Instructor Andrew Gleeson
Partner
Jennifer Tan
Programs AutoCAD, Illustrator, Photoshop, Rhino.
Diagram – Isonometric views of the project
CONCEPT – EMBRACE
The design of the structure incorporates both concave and convex curves intentionally, creating a dynamic and inviting form that encourages a seamless flow of people from all directions. This deliberate choice aims to welcome a diverse range of users to the vibrant mixused site.
CONNECTION TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD
The residential tower, characterized by its distinctive staggered layout, goes beyond being a mere structure within its location. Instead, it acts as a focal point that extends the site’s influence, fostering a sense of connection between the residents and the broader community.
This connection is established not only through the unique vantage points provided by the tower but also through the inclusion of public amenities that encourage interaction and engagement among the residents and the surrounding community. In essence, the design seeks to integrate the structure into the existing fabric of the community, creating a symbiotic relationship between the site and its users.
Diagram – Level breakdown, pink (circulation core) and yellow (floor slabs)
Plan – Ground Floor / Residential lobby (L) and Afterschool lobby (R)
Plan – 5th Floor - Residential amenities (L) & Community space and rooftop (R)
Plan – Studio layout
Diagram – Apartment material assembly
Plan – 4th Floor – Residential (L) and youth safe house (R)
Courtyard during summer time – Amphitheater
Diagram – Program layout
FUTURE SUBURBIA
Ames, Iowa Urban Design
Fosters a stronger relationship between suburban living and the diverse economy to nourishes a selfsufficient community where work-play-live can co-exist and intertwine.
A mix of residential, civic, education, retail, and service uses underpin a holistic community. The integration of employment opportunities with diverse residential offerings will foster a new model of development that is less car-dependent and more sustainable.
Residents living here have options to utilize their front and backyard, from renting part of their yard to public pop-ups to collaborating with neighbors for agricultural projects. The concept mitigates the loneliness problem and hyper privacy in traditional suburban neighborhoods.
Bachelor FEB - MAY 2020
Instructor Dr. Sharon Wohl
Partner Ruoxi Chen, Haiyang Qian, Wenyuan Zhang.
Programs AutoCAD, Illustrator, Photoshop Rhino, SketchUp.
condition and entangling strategy
Lot sizes and density
SITE STRATEGY
This experimental plan represents a more vivid approach to traditional suburban development. It celebrates the complexity of the mixed-use facilities and how different economic factors can support each other to create a closed-loop environment for collaborations and innovations.
In specific, the entanglement of traditional agriculture, light industries, and suburban living results in the reconnection of such traditional lifestyles to diverse economical trades and exchanges.
Energy logic chain
Existing
Statistic for the new master plan
MASTERPLAN
The programs are organized to enrich people’s living and working conditions through the entanglement of the roof and the features. The focus zone displays the transition between the residential area and the features to emphasize a mix of residential, education, and services that underpin a holistic community.
BIKE and BITES
Des Moines, Iowa
Farm-to-table Restaurant
*Kalaher Prize 2019 Finalist
Located at the edge of Raccoon River and near Gray’s Lake Park of Des Moines, this farm-to-table restaurant can become a prime gathering spot for cyclists and pedestrians traveling through. It is part of a plaza which has a local fresh grocery store and walk-in green houses.
The location is also very convenient for the in-coming resident of Gray’s Station (a new housing development to revitalize the abandoned industrial site). Bike and Bites and the grocery store depend on the in-place greenhouses for their daily supplies, promoting a local food production loop and accessibility to such food source. With various users converging into one multidimensional plaza, Bike and Bites is aspired to make fresh and honest products more available and affordable to more people of Des Moines.
Bachelor AUG - DEC 2019
Instructor Joshua Baker & Leah Rudolphi
Partner Mary Le
Programs AutoCAD, Enscape, Illustrator Photoshop, Revit, Rhino.
MASTERPLAN
Bike and Bites is one component to the larger agricultural corridor of Des Moines. There are five hubs and their location is based on the demographic of several neighborhoods in the Des Moines area. The goal of this corridor is to promote healthy living, and guarantee availability of fresh produce to everyone of all ages and income level.
1
LAYOUT
The plaza and Bike and Bites are part of the “Riverside Commercial” hub, the most southern hub of the corridor. This location is also a busy intersection where bikers, pedestrians, and Gray’s Station residents can easily travel to.
Components such as the greenhouses, grocery store, bike shop, and farm-to-table restaurant make this plaza truly embraces the neighborhood’s characteristic. Promoting the locality of this site, two greenhouses produce seasonal produces and distribute fresh supplies to the grocery store and the restaurant.
ROOF PANELS
GLAZING
ZINC ROOFING
ROOF STRUCTURAL MEMBERS
8”x24” GLULAM
3”x8” GLULAM
EXTERIOR WALLS
GLAZINGS
TAPERED GARDENS
SKYLIGHT
VERTICAL FARM
COLUMNS SOLID COPPER PERFORATED SCREEN
10”x10” GLULAM
1’-1’-8’ CONCRETE COLUMN
FRESHAIR
Detail – A - Flushed roof and inner bike path (L) ; B - Overhung roof and building’s boundary (R)
The over-arching timber roof structure unified the multiple components on the sight together. The secondary roofing material to be clear or solid is based on each space function.
While inside, patrons and users experience the comfort of natural ventilation through these tapered gardens, and showered in gorgeous filtered daylight.
The intricate roof structure are exposed from within for enhanced indoor experience and showcase the beautiful construction of timber framing.
BEXSTRAAT
A-A' A - A
VAN NOORTSTRAAT
COZY CORNER
Antwerp, Belgium
Bistro and Workshop Space
Stadspark in Antwerp is home to a large Orthodox Jewish community whose lifestyle is close-kitted to their religious practice. As this neighborhood becomes more diverse, with non-Jewish residents moving in, having a meeting place where people can share their stories while eating makes this project even more convincing for a corner lot.
Cozy Corner establishes itself as the neighborhood kitchen of Stadspark, at the corner of Bexstraat and van Noortstraat. Here, hearty kosher meals are made with ingredients from donations, local vendors, and Cozy Corner’s garden. The upper level of this lot houses flexible workshop spaces suitable for children and folks who want to channel their creative sides.
This is where you come in to have a warm meal, cozy up together during the cold weather, and connect with people around the neighborhood.
Master SEP - DEC 2022
Instructor Leontine de Wit, Rufus van den Ban
Programs Archicad, AutoCAD, Illustrator, Photoshop, Rhino.
FACADE SYSTEM
To make the most out of wood, the facade is clad with yakisugi wood, which is Japanese for burnt wood, known for its durability, unique texture, and cradle-tocradle cycle.
1:100
SECOND
1:100
The rest of the facade is clad with ceramic planks, mimicking the rhythmic pattern of the burnt wood cladding. This material palette guarantees a breathable and healthy wall while protecting the programs that it contains.
4th Floor – Workshop tables (1/16” = 1’)
3rd Floor – Flexible seatings for workshops or eating
Long elevation with adjacent building
Back elevation (1/16” = 1’)
2nd Floor – Kosher bistro kitchen
Design process of the structural system - ventilated timber facade OUTSIDE installation gap airtight breather tape
Horizontal detail section (1” = 1’)
MATERIALITY
The walls of Cozy Corner are crafted from materials that exude warmth and familiarity – straw bale and wood. These elements not only contribute to a cozy and inviting atmosphere but also carry a certain charm that resonates with people.
What makes this particularly interesting is the accessibility of these materials. Straw bale and wood are commonplace, making the construction of this project a potential collective effort within the neighborhood.
It goes beyond being an exclusive venture for industry experts, inviting residents and community members to be part of the building process. This inclusivity not only adds a personal touch to the space but also fosters a sense of shared ownership and pride within the community.
Section (1/8” = 1’)
Vertical detail section (1” = 1’)
Taking inspiration from the local color palette of Stadspark, the Cozy Corner brings a warmer presence to the neighborhood’s atmosphere. This familiarity allows the building to become part of the local scene, and integrate into the quiet residential area as a cozy gathering spot.
Physical model (3” = 1’)
Alley
Turtle Lake
RICE OFFICE
Hồ Chí Minh city, Vietnam Office Design
Rice Creatives (est. 2011) is an award-winning studio focuses on branding and graphic design. Their architecture department is a new addition, with one main architect working on spatial designs for the clients that the studio offers branding strategies.
As an architectural intern here, I have worked on poster designs, furniture designs, and the main project, redesigning the studio’s new space, located near the iconic Turtle Lake of District 3, a main historical and commercial district of the city. I work directly under Aprar (main architect), and with guidance from the Joshua and Chí-An (Rice co-founders and creative directors)
The Rice studio aims to be more than a typical office space. It aims to be a multi-functional space where social events, teamwork, collaborations, vibrant collaborations can happen.
Professional APR - AUG 2021 (SD,DD,CD) Director Aprar Elawad, Joshua Breidenbach, Chí-An De Leo Programs AutoCAD, SketchUp, Vray, Photoshop, Illustrator
EXISTING CONDITION
The design space is on the ground floor of house from the 1960s. Besides the original plan, it also includes a tiled courtyard with a metal roof, as an extension from the main house to maximize indoor space. Moreover, being in the heart of the city, this ground floor do not have a direct view outside to the city or sunlight from above. This poses a challenge for renovation for its spatial irregularities and roofing condition.
INSPIRATION
Rice Creatives are known for their ethos advocating for breaking barriers and finding inspirations in people, places, and the mundanes to create work that speaks to the wider public. They also carry a strong sense of sustainability in their projects. Therefore, their working space has always been a place that mirror this ethos, a place for productivity and welcome meaningful collaborations and voices.
The goal is to offer as much flexible surfaces and space as possible, while keeping the studio functional and viable. This project re-uses most wood cabinets that the studio has, as well as furniture. With 17,000 ft2 of space with no possible window placements, the materials are minimized to mostly wood, steel, glass, and glass blocks (offer privacy while still bringing in lights).
FACE-LIFT Sangdo (by stpmj, photo by Bae Jihun, 2020)
Maison de Verre (by Bernard Bijvoet & Pierre Chareau, 1932)
Base Office (by Unemori teco Associates, photo by Yurika Kono,
Suzhou Hong Art Museum (by Lingyi City Architectural Office, photo by Wu Qingshan, 2020)
DEMOLITION
Demolition focuses on removing most of the barrier walls that impose unnecessary zones in the new plan, as well as removing the decaying roof.
PROPOSED
With this plan, the studio can house 30 staff members and can host around 50 people. The ceiling of the main studio space is raised with a partial skylight to allow natural sunlight to come in. Glassblocks divide up the space without being completely opaque, offering awareness between the studio zones. The space is retiled in terra cotta, a vernacular material, to keep the space cooler.
Detail – Door D (3/8” = 1’)
Detail – Door E (3/8” = 1’)
– Window 3 (3/8” = 1’)
Detail – 1 (3/4” = 1’ and 3” = 1’, dimensions in mm)
KITCHENETTE
During the DD and CD phase, I focused on the kitchenette and the bathrooms. Highlighting the kitchenette space is 105 ft2, small and linear, but it is ideal for being separated from the main studio space, allowing informal conversations to happen. Moreover, it is a crucial place for coffee making. Therefore, a long bar-style table and stools become part of the wall, parallel to the wood cabinets.
Detail – 3 (3/4” = 1’)
by
Photo
Rice
by
Photo
Rice
MÃI COLLECTION
Hồ Chí Minh city, Vietnam Furniture
Design
The Mãi Collection (Mãi = forever) embodies sustainable design, crafted from up-cycled plastic boards from PLASTICPeople. Inspired by the simplicity of monobloc furniture on Vietnamese streets, each modular piece is flat-packed for efficient material use and transport. Hand-crafted by Minh Chuong, a local family-owned furniture maker near Ho Chi Minh City, the collection blends personal touch with support for local craftsmanship and sustainability initiatives.
These stools and table were first tested out using cardboard models (approx. 20 variations) with the goal of stackable, flatpack, and no glue/nails assemblage. Through different weight test to make sure they can sustain at least 100 kg (220 lb). The stools are made of 8lbs of plastic waste, and the tables are made of 18 lbs of plastic waste.
Pre-order available on store.thisisrice.com (photos by Tuyen Le and Tung Vu)
Professional FEB - APR 2021 Director Aprar Elawad, Sebastiaan Weyler Programs AutoCAD, Rhino, SketchUp.
Drawing – Preliminary sketches
Diagram – Full set
Diagram – Table and stool (dimensions in mm)
H.A.R.V.E.S.T
Dallas, Texas Rehabilitation Center
H.A.R.V.E.S.T, short for Homeless Advancement Venue with Energy, Sustainability, and Technology. It is a holistic community for people who are experiencing homelessness and mental issues.
This is a proposal as part of the Corgan’s HUGO design sprint, during the three weeks of the virtual internship, groups of interns will design with the word “Agility” in mind.
My group connected the word with resiliency, flexibility, and quick recovery. We’re leaning more to helping the disenfranchised group of the society, and narrow our user demographics to people with mental issues experiencing homelessness.
Professional JUL - AUG 2020 (SD)
Advisor Samantha Flores
Partner Jonathan Kircus, Chloe Thomasian, Jaya Tolefree. Programs AutoCAD, Illustrator, Photoshop, Revit, Rhino.
IM_RU 2.0
Des Moines, Iowa Design Build
By exploding and scattering what is seen, the pavilion shows through architecture and public space that a person is simultaneously confronted with a wide range of individual and collective collection. The 300-squarefoot pavilion was installed and exhibited at 2018 Iowa State Fair.
(photos by Chris Gannon)
Professional JUN - JUL 2018
Lead Erin Hunt
Partners Tom Goetz, Jinqi Gu Hao Wang, Haoran Zheng
Programs Grasshopper, Rhino, Illustrator.
Diagram – Pavilion in scale with human silhouette
THE TOILET ZINE
Gent, Belgium
Publishing work
Addressing the need for inclusive restroom experiences, The Toilet Zine, derived from a history thesis on public bathroom gender binaries, explores the outdated segregation reinforced by architecture and design. It address not settling for the concept of gender-neutral restrooms. Rather, it provides insights into the history of smell and sound shaming, uncomfortable designs, and architects like Le Corbusier and Adolf Loos’ toilet obsessions. Its conclusion encourages designers to rethink the layout of bathrooms to make it less about gender and shame, but more as a safe and comfortable experience.
Designed by Noam, the zine mimics the narrow bathroom stalls, and is riso-printed. The zine has garnered attention in the Netherlands and Belgium, and it has engaged a broad audience eager to understand the facilities they use everyday.
Published by Bebe Books, Funded by Alles Kan and City of Gent. (photos by Louie Papio)
Professional AUG - SEP 2023
Partner Noam Youngrak Son Programs Indesign, Illustrator, Photoshop.
Presented at Printroom, Rotterdam, the Netherlands (2022)
Presented at RecyclArt, Brussel, Belgium (2024)
BebeBooks co-founders putting on The Toilet Zine mural at ViernulVier (2023)
Presented at ViernulVier, Gent, Belgium (2023)
BE.ing COLLECTIVE
Oakland, California
Black Cultural Zone
*NOMA BGL Prize Finalist
Due to a system that undermines the ability for black communities to prosper, victimization and exploitation have been prevalent for generations. The effect of this moral lie continues to fuel racism and hatred towards the black community today. After enduring a long history of abuse and violence, the black community will not falter. The BE.ing Collective, a place that fosters humanity, justice, and identity for the black community, has a goal to recover East Oakland and become more resilient together.
Located in an industrial zone, the site imposes a special challenge to the architectural approach. The project addresses environmental racism, where black lives are put at risk for lack of medical attention, fresh food, and blighted living conditions.
Competition AUG - OCT 2020
Advisor s Andrew Gleeson & Ebere Agwuncha Partners Deysy Cruz, Bill Le, Mary Le, Henry Melendrez, Cameron Nayman. Programs AutoCAD, Illustrator, Photoshop Revit, Rhino, V-ray.
CLAY EXTRUSION
Ames, Iowa Digital Fabrication
We used this assignment to gain further understanding of Grasshopper script and breaking away from the script. We were able to analyze the basics of a Grasshopper script and G-code that would be compatible with the workflow of the Potterbot. While extruding, gravity and moisture can also affect the result.
(photos by Tuyen Le)
Bachelor AUG - SEP 2019
Instructor Shelby Doyle
Partner Gautam Pradeep
Programs Clay Extrusion Grasshopper, Potterbot, Rhino.
PRISMA
Reiman Gardens, Ames, Iowa
Design Build
PRISMA is a 1,300 sqft outdoor structure designed, fabricated, and constructed by the 77 secondyear students. This is an interactive pavilion that resemblance forces of nature and complimented with artist George Sherwood (featured exhibition at that moment).
The project involves rapid iterations between digital models and physical prototypes to learn new methods while discussing and refining ideas. We then participate in a series of group charrettes to create proposals for client feedback. I was responsible for making construction documents of the connecting hubs, all are unique and need exact specification for fabrication.
(photo: Chris Gannon [L ]; Gautam Pradeep [R])
Bachelor JAN - MAY 2018
Instructors Roman Chikerinets, Reinaldo Correa, Leslie Forehand, Ayo Iyanalu, Nick Senske. Partners 77 second-year students. Programs AutoCAD, Photoshop, Rhino.
Elevation – Flanges and its central cylinder
Detail – Flanges and dimensions
Les Arènes de Picasso
Noisy-le-Grand, France (2023)
PROFILE
My decision to pursue architecture is rooted from my passion for creative process and my curiosity of spaces where people and things can gather, socialize, and co-exist. I’m very interested in spatial binaries/nonbinaries, human connections, and how design mold our habits and cultures. Through my academic and research journey, I have striven to learn more about the core of these relationships and applying them in my practice, whether in writing, diagrams, or forms.
With the tools I’ve learned, I want to fulfill my role as a proactive architectural designer for community outreach. And through future professional practice, I want to kick start my journey to become a licensed architect. I hope to understand more about the hierarchy of the built environment and to ultimately empower and elevate unrecognized voices/spaces.
EDUCATION
AUG ‘21
JAN ‘24
AUG ‘16
NOV ‘20
Master of Science in Architecture
Honors Program Master (HPM)
TU Delft | Delft, the Netherlands
Cumulative Grade — 8.4 / 10.0
Bachelor in Architecture
Minor in Sustainability
Iowa State University | Ames, Iowa
Cumulative GPA — 3.84 / 4.00
AWARDS
FALL ‘22
Alles Kan
The Toilet Zine
Everything is possible in Dutch. 3000 EUR for the Gent youth to execute their own project in arts and culture.
Dean’s List
FALL ‘16
FALL ‘ 20
FALL ‘ 20
FALL ‘18
FALL ‘19
Iowa State University
For students with GPA 3.5 and above.
NOMAS
Scholarship
Iowa State University
Per semester, awarded to two members of the NOMAS for their contributions to the growth of diversity and inclusion in their studies.
ISSO Scholarship
Iowa State University
For international students with consistent success and engagements in multi-cultural activities.
EXPERIENCE
AUG ‘22
PRESENT
Freelance Designer
Self-employed | the Netherlands
Wrote The Toilet Zine, published by Bebebooks, a short text on the history of the gender segregation of public bathrooms. Invited as a speaker in the Netherlands and Belgium to offered knowledge on the design history of bathrooms based on the work of the zine
SKILLS
3D & Render tools
Revit, Rhino, 3DS Max Archicad, SketchUp, Vray, Twinmotion, ClimateStudio, Seifaira.
2D & Graphic tools
OCT ‘21
JAN ‘24
FEB ‘21
AUG ‘21
Editor
Bnieuws | TU Delft, Delft, the Netherlands
Faculty of Architecture bi-monthly journal. Wrote, designed, and organized layout for each issue from digital files to print. Offered communication outreach to contributors and readers.
Architectural Intern
Rice | Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam
Assisted in designing Rice Creatives new office (SD, DD, CD) in SketchUp, Vray, and AutoCAD. Co-designed the Mãi Collection stool and table for commercial consumption.
AutoCAD, QGIS, Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, Lightroom.
Language
Vietnamese, English, French (beginner)
JUL ‘20
SEP ‘20
JAN ‘17
NOV ‘20
Architectural Intern
Corgan | Dallas, Texas (Virtual)
Assisted with CD in Revit for Studio Data Center Red. Took part in a design sprint for HUGO, resulted in a proposal for a rejuvenation housing for people experiencing homelessness and suffer mental health issues.
Studio Supervisor
Workspace | Ames, Iowa
Organized and supervised art studios (ceramics, wood, painting, and jewelry). Performed customer services on a daily basis. Kept an inventory of art supplies for events ranging from 10 to 300 people.
Analog
Form work (plaster & clay), physical model, wood-work, book-bind, photography.
Editorial
Print content management, texts editing, layout format.
Social
Public speaking, social media promotion, communication.
EXTRA CURRICULAR
NOV ‘21
NOV ‘23
Steering Member
Diversity & Inclusion Office Faculty of Architecture / Delft, the Netherlands. Brainstorms solutions to bring sustainable diversity and inclusion to the faculty with students and professors.
AUG ‘18
NOV ‘20
AUG ‘18
NOV ‘18
JUN ‘18
AUG ‘18
Design Assistant
Reiman Gardens | Ames, Iowa
Assisted in ideation and documentation (SD, CD) of the traveling exhibitions Nature of the Games, consisted of traditional games re-imagined through the lens of nature.
Project Assistant
Computational Lab | Ames, Iowa
Assembled the IM_RU 2.0, a 1,800-square-foot parametric pavilion to represent ISU at the 2018 Iowa State Fair.
MAY ‘20
OCT ‘20
Co-founder & Treasurer
Women Who Design
Iowa State University | Ames, Iowa. Managed funding and acted as event coordinator. An inter-disciplinary organization for design students and professionals identified as women.
Finalist
NOMA BGL Design Competition
NOMA Annual Conference | Oakland, California. Reached Top 7 nationally. Represented ISU NOMAS Chapter in a design brief for a Black Cultural Zone located in Oakland, California.
Volunteer
MAR ‘17
Alternative Break
Cheyenne River Project | Eagle Butte, South Dakota. Organize and mentored after-school activities for local youths living on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation.
973-713-3232
ledhntuyen@gmail.com