All work produced by Unit 14
Cover design by Charlie Harris
www.bartlett.ucl.ac.uk/architecture
Copyright 2021
The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher.
Vietnam@unit14_ucl
The project envisions a transformative landscape for Vietnam’s agricultural sector, incorporating advanced drone technology to nurture the land while supporting a vibrant village lifestyle above.
Agronomy Strata serves as a means to respond to existing indigenous Vietnamese communities facing climatic challenges within their environment. The building readapts vernacular methods of construction to build large-scale cantilevered floor plates that extend from the sloped context.
Located amidst the picturesque mountains of Sapa, Vietnam, the design prioritises sustainability and connection along the strata of the mountain terrains that connect back into a vibrant plaza. The project aims to blur the lines between urban infrastructure and nature, harmonising land cultivation with rural life rhythms.
Inspired by the natural contours of the mountainous terrain, the architecture features dynamic floor plates that extend from the slopes, creating a seamless connection between the built environment and the surrounding landscape. A footbridge spans between two mountain peaks, creating connectivity and unity within the community.
At the heart of the design is the integration of agritech, which revolutionises traditional farming practices and empowers local farmers with innovative tools for land management. By harnessing the power of automated systems to care for the land, a symbiotic relationship is created between nature and civilisation, where the bounty of the earth sustains and enriches
PG14 | Crafting Horizons
Bartlett School of Architecture
BARC0175_24
Wen Hua Huang
PG14_Portfolio
DESIGN TUTORS:
The project envisions a transformative landscape for Vietnam’s agricultural sector, incorporating advanced drone technology to nurture the land while supporting a vibrant village lifestyle above.
Agronomy Strata serves as a means to respond to existing indigenous Vietnamese communities facing climatic challenges within their environment. The building readapts vernacular methods of construction to build large-scale cantilevered floor plates that extend from the sloped context.
Located amidst the picturesque mountains of Sapa, Vietnam, the design prioritises sustainability and connection along the strata of the mountain terrains that connect back into a vibrant plaza. The project aims to blur the lines between urban infrastructure and nature, harmonising land cultivation with rural life rhythms.
Inspired by the natural contours of the mountainous terrain, the architecture features dynamic floor plates that extend from the slopes, creating a seamless connection between the built environment and the surrounding landscape. A footbridge spans between two mountain peaks, creating connectivity and unity within the community.
At the heart of the design is the integration of agritech, which revolutionises traditional farming practices and empowers local farmers with innovative tools for land management. By harnessing the power of automated systems to care for the land, a symbiotic relationship is created between nature and civilisation, where the bounty of the earth sustains and enriches the lives of Vietnamese folk living above.
DEMILITARILISED ZONE PARTITION LINE 1954
HISTORICAL TIMELINE 1859-83
France slowly colonises Indochina Viet Minh seizes power. Ho Chi Minh proclaims independence. Democratic Republic of Vietnam
Democratic Republic of Vietnam recognized by China and Soviet Union
Vietnam split into North and South at Geneva conference
Vietnam war breaks out between two rival states for two decades. The US supports South.
North troops invade South Vietnam, gaining control of the country
Vietnam is reunified as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Vietnam joins the World Trade Organization
VIETNAMESE TOPOGRAPHY
VIETNAM OVERVIEW
Electronic production: Telecommunications equipment and Computer parts
Mekong River Delta: Produces more than half the total Rice production in Vietnam. Fruit farming and Commercially woods are raised
Northeners: Lower use of technology and prefers traditional lifestyle. Lowest spending on FMCG
INSUMMER-15–20°CINWINTER 28–29°CINSUMMER-26–27°CINWINTER
Textile Production: Found in Hue, Long An, Ho Chi Minh (15% of GDP)
South East: Saigon Free Trade Contributing nearly 50% of Vietnam’s GDP
Southeners: Develops high technology and prefers dynamic lifestyle. High commerce and night life
“GOVERNMENTAL
Vietnam is positioning itself in the fourth industrial revolution by investing in their tech sector.
“VIETNAM’S STEP INTO THE 4IR”
WHILST HCMC IS DEVELOPING IN THE E-COMMERCE SECTOR; HANOI IS GROWING IN THE TECH SECTOR.
DEVELOPMENT OF A.I.”
VIETNAM IS A YOUNG COUNTRY. EXPANSION OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES ARE REVOLUTIONISING HOW VIETNAMESE INTERACT WITH TECHNOLOGY.
“At the heart of the transformation of Vietnam’s technological landscape are young and dynamic individuals.” .... “a silent revolution is taking shape.”
“U.S-VN PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OF TECH FORCE”
Due to the countries competitive labor costs, it is attracting more foreign direct investment. Cost-effective manufacturing with a skilled labour fource. This is not adding to Vietnam’s promotion of innvations and entrepreneurship.
VIETNAM WANTS FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT. U.S AND VIETNAM PLEDGE TO “CREATE FAVOURABLE CONDITIONS” THROUGH A SEMICONDUCTOR PARTNERSHIP. IS THIS THE ONLY FUTURE FOR VIETNAM?
In the fictional concept of a future with Artificial Intelligence, director Gareth Edwards depicts the relationship between village life and AI technology. Whilst the U.S has banned its use of AI, Asia continues to work with AI forging “New Asia”. AI is
used in all areas of convenience, from tending to village concerns, leveraging agriculture production and providing comfort and protection to villagers. Question: could this be the future for Vietnam’s development?
SELF SUFFICIENT PESTERCIDE
HOMEGROWN AGRITECH
The use of homegrown agritech is necessary for the development of Vietnam. A land flowing with rich resources has been in the development of increasing its resources through Agritech. The use of XAG has revolutionised agriculture across Asia amidst challenges posed by climate change.
The rapidly growing population and expanding industrial sector. vietnam faces an increasing energy demand. Cities in Vietnam are cutting the use of public lighting to save energy as unusually hot temperatures threaten to stretch the country’s power supplies. Share of renewable energy in the total
OFF 30 MINUTES EARLIER THAN USUAL IN AN EFFORT TO CONSERVE POWER. BIOENERGY PRODUCTION 27% FINAL CONSUMPTION
As of May 2020, Vietnam had 10 bio-energy plants with an installed capacity of 377.6MW, but only 202MW was
HIGH STREETS PROMENADES
FOLK MUSIC AND CULTURE
- MARKET PLACE
CULTURAL EXPRESSION - VILLAGE LIFE
Life in the villages incorporated many forms of folk culture, from day-to-day outdoor market stools to large villages that splayed out from a central house.
EMBRACING RURALITY
Unity in the urban and rural living
AGRICULTURE
Supplying green infrastructure
AGRITECHINCREASES AWARENESS FOR PRIVATEFARMERS
Innovation and revolutionising village cultural tech VILLAGE LIVING
HOMEGROWN TECH
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4
BRIEF:
CONTROL & MONITORING
VILLAGE PLAZA
FOLK LIFESTYLE GREEN CORRIDORS
AGRICULTURAL HUB FOOD SECURITY
FOOD COURT MARKET
WASTE & RESIDUE PROCESSING
SHARED FARMING
SEPERATED
PUBLIC FARMING BUYING & SELLING
AGRITECH RESEARCH LAB
COWORKING
OFFICES CONFERENCE
AUCTION ROOMS
TECH INCUBATOR
R&D ZONES
PROGRAMME: VIETNAMESE TECH VALLEY
LEARNING FROM THE FIELDS
The villages found in North Vietnam act in unity with resilience against natural conditions. They exist as clusters at the bottom of mountains and rice paddy fields.
The site has been chosen to challenge the existing condition of a village and whether one could exist in such a sloped terrain. Analysis of the site show elevations reaching to 150m where rice paddies are abundant.
The axis of the lines creates sharp angles that don’t have great connection points. This was found by examining the structural placement both in the plan and model. Using principles in Vietnamese vernacular, the raking columns offset and cantilever.
AGRICULTURAL TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE LEVEL
This fragment focuses on three aspects of the design which include an alignment of structure, the structure of the bridge which uses vierendeel structure and wings of the building that extend beyond the plaza.
Larger storage unit for system of ground floor. This creates an expressive fly from harvest on the wings and the storage units. The radial plan spatial organisation
FRAGMENT 3
of drones that open out on the lower expressive opening for the drones that and are automatically controlled to divides the continuous ring making organisation
ROUNDED OPTION
FOLLOWING STRUCTURE
Initially, my take on the public plaza was that the centre was the voided nuclei. After disconnecting the triangle to create and open the extended plaza, the circulation of the spaces no longer exists as a continuous loop. This gives the overall layout an openness to incorporate an outlook of nature into the design.
There are advantages to using both the Vierendeel trust and the Warren trust. In the first option, the vierendeel trust becomes part of the supporting structure and connects to the core, whereas the warren trust spans the bridge.
The corners of the building naturally give moments for circulation. Then the programme exists between the three corners. The roof opens up in the centre to provide subtle light.
Verandas give a clear edge condition to the floor plates and the structure division between rooms. This leaves an open atrium in the centre. Given this, the atrium still is enclosed and needs connection to the surrounding views.
In northern Vietnam the harvest of timber is high and there is sufficient timber to create large structural frames. Utilising earlier systems of the Vietnamese vernacular frame, the timber is stacked and offset to create a frame that is sufficient for the creation of large buildings.
Raking columns
Rafters
Primary beam
Support beams with incisions
The structural fragment shows different pieces that join together to create the structrual frame. All building components will be fabricated off-site in a local factory in the northern region that can easily be transported to the site on land. This allows for local sourcing of sustainably farmed ironwoods.
The carbon fibre strip runs through the Vierendeel columns creating tension along the bridge which it is then tied along the wings. The strip can harness downward forces exerted in the centre, mitigating loads along the bridge.
The final iteration of the fragments display the hut condition that was previously explored in the artefacts. Here the roof is used as a means to provide connection to the ground but also to form a continous flow into the bridge. Storage system for the crops are connected to the wings of the roof. The roof steps up on the wings to allow height for programme.
This fragment captures the process of each floor regulating the harvest intake as the drones bring in new crops into the silos where the urban level’s also exist.
CƠ M T R ẮNGSA PA • C ƠM TRẮNG S A P A • CƠRTMẮN G AS AP •
The urban plaza utilise three corners to concentrate movement around the perimeters. The stratas build momentum for the agritech that enters the building. This image highlights the stratas that emerge from the building which fade exploring where green space is and where dry land is.
A connection between the mountains is formed highlighting the abundance of grain below. The plazas create a moment that connects the wings to the bridge as the building pivots towards a moment for connection. The building is constantly viewed as an object in the landscape that corresponds to the context above and below.
The harvest is full as the drones take care of the land beneath. This moment encapsulates the building that is divided into thirds on the urban levels. The underside of the building reflects that of the rice paddies below.
The connection of the bridge is necessary for inhabitation and life at the peak of the mountains. It bridges the lengthy stepped gap of the rice paddies below so that villages can connect above.
PEELED ENTRANCE AND CONSTANT OUTLOOOK TO BRIDGE
As the roof staggers and steps to open the roof for space at the wings, the entrances are formed creating a bustling market life. The huts are occupied by food halls and crop markets.
General Arrangement - Ground Plan 1:1500 @A2
0 10m20m 5m
Vietnamese folk house construction is predominantly found in North Vietnam and serves as a significant locus for religious and leisure activities, where the emphasis lies in achieving a state of equilibrium in the structure. At first glance, the structural framework of the houses seems to adhere to the conventional truss language commonly associated with gable roofs. However, the true distinction lies in the intricate methods employed in beam stacking.
-3m 3m6m9m
ĐÌNH LÀNG 1822
ĐÌNH BẢNG, BẮC NINH 1700-1736
ARTEFACT STUDY: VIETNAMESE FOLK HOUSE CONSTRUCTION
Dating back to the fourteenth century, the quintessential Vietnamese structural system replaced the Chinese truss and has since undergone a change in style and form. The roof holds a 2:3 roof and 1:3 body ratio, which has a strong impression of a heavy roof to provide shelter in extreme conditions.
1. Thượng Lương - Heart beam
2. Xà tử thượng - Upper Beam
3. Cột cái - Primary Column
4. Con lợn - The pig (Roof Beam)
5. Rường - Boxed Rafters
6. Dép Hoành - Horizontal Sandals
7. Rui - Rails / Purlins
8. Báng Giong - Rafters
9. Hoành - Diaphragm
10. Xà lòng - Forward Beam
11. Kẻ - Stripes (Curved Support Beam)
12. Xà hạ - Lower Beam
13. Cột quân - Military Column
14. Porch Beam
15. Cột hiên- Porch Column
16. Balustrade
17. Tầng - Floor Plynth
Stripes Beams
Upper / Lower Beams
Dead Beams
Heart Beams
HEART BEAM MODULE
FORWARD COLUMN MODULE
OUTER GUARD
The distribution of structural loads in Vietnamese folk houses is notable for the placement of dead beams and heart beams at both ends of the structure. These beams are thoughtfully stacked to establish an enclosure and are joined at the columns. This interconnection at the columns has the potential for further enhancement through a technique akin to grafting.
MILITARY COLUMN MODULE
Stripes Beams
Upper / Lower Beams
Primary Coloumn
Rafters
The column specifications are crucial within the inner sanctum. Mortise and tenon connections are used, but with a twist: instead of simple tenon joints at the column’s tip, clusters of timber beams are stacked. these curved beams and rafters created openness for spiritual meditation.
This deliberate orientation ensures that when vertical loads, such as those exerted by the roof, are applied, the bundling of timber pieces functions similarly to a glue-laminated timber piece, effectively resisting compression parallel to the grain.
Báng Giong -
The systematic analysis of timber frame configurations and joinery techniques offers valuable insights into the adaptive nature of traditional Vietnamese architecture. By examining the intricate interplay between timber elements and their arrangement within the framework, a deeper understanding of structural dynamics and design flexibility is attained.
Roof loads are transferred through the slope.
Finally, loads are transferred through the columns and into the foundations.
Clusters embrace horizontal loads.
The Dinh Banh inspires a novel assembly method where splicing plays a key role in order and the premise of structural stability. I aim to use the principles of splicing to create novel structural assemblies.
DRAGON
The corner joint is strengthened by the dragon brace assemble because it resists the outward thrust that the hip puts into it. Majority of the displacement of loads are carried in the dragon brace and beam.
HIP BEAM
Supporting the roof load, and transferring the loads downward
DRAGON BRACE
The brace transfers the load to the plates offering a dramatic joinery
DRAGON BEAM
Acts as a tie beam, delivering the outward thrust of the hip to the dragon brace.
The flying eaves on the other hand apply similar principles to the dragon brace but to create an expressive corner,
Subject to building materials, pan asian architecture primarily consists of wood. There must be a huge roof to prevent rain from eroding building walls and columns. The development of the roof resulted in a dim interior, so the wood craftsmen created the flying eaves as a way to maximise the amount of sunlight entering the interior. The cross-section also allows snow to slide off the sloped roof of the building; following the curve cycloid.
The bracing found in the eaves detail here supports the outward thrust but does not directly support the hip beam that showcases the expressive flying eaves.
The fragment has the potential to create multiple layers of shading. In the context of Asia, these eaves provide overall shading but additionally layers.
Bracing is utilised similarly to the traditional eaves. In this instance, the joinery braces the branch but also allows for the extension of the fly beam.
FRAGMENT STUDY - FLYING EAVES
In the development of this fragment, the eaves focus on the on creating sharp shading on the different levels. I intended on exporing how this branch can join and align multiple different branches to create different arrangement of eaves.
The connection to the core helps to strengthen the span of the fly beam. This allows for larger-span eaves.
All work produced by Unit 14 Unit book design by Charlie Harriswww.bartlett.ucl.ac.uk/architecture
Copyright 2021 The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmited in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retreival system without permission in writing from the publisher.
At the center of Unit 14’s academic exploration lies Buckminster Fuller’s ideal of the ‘The Comprehensive Designer’, a master-builder that follows Renaissance principles and a holistic approach. Fuller referred to this ideal of the designer as somebody who is capable of comprehending the ‘integrateable significance’ of specialised findings and is able to realise and coordinate the commonwealth potentials of these discoveries while not disappearing into a career of expertise. Like Fuller, we are opportunists in search of new ideas and their benefits via architectural synthesis. As such Unit 14 is a test bed for exploration and innovation, examining the role of the architect in an environment of continuous change. We are in search of the new, leveraging technologies, workflows and modes of production seen in disciplines outside our own. We test ideas systematically by means of digital as well as physical drawings, models and prototypes. Our work evolves around technological speculation with a research-driven core, generating momentum through astute synthesis. Our propositions are ultimately made through the design of buildings and through the in-depth consideration of structural formation and tectonic. This, coupled with a strong research ethos, will generate new and unprecedented, one day viable and spectacular proposals. They will be beautiful because of their intelligence - extraordinary findings and the artful integration of those into architecture.
The focus of this year’s work evolves around the notion of ‘Crafted Horizons’. The term aims to highlight the architect’s fundamental agency and core competency of the profession to anticipate the future as the result of the highest degree of synthesis of the observed underlying principles. Constructional logic, spatial innovation, typological organisation, environmental and structural performance are all negotiated in a highly iterative process driven by intense architectural investigation. Through the deep understanding of constructional principles, we will generate highly developed architectural systems of unencountered intensity where spatial organisation arises as a result of sets of mutual interactions. Observation as well as re-examination of past and contemporary civilisatory developments will enable us to project near future scenarios and position ourselves as avant-garde in the process of designing a comprehensive vision for the forthcoming. The projects will take shape as research based, imaginative architectural visions driven by speculation.
Thanks to: ALA, Boele Architects, Daab Design, DaeWha Kang Design DKFS, Heatherwick, Knippershelbig, NK3, RSHP, Seth Stein Architects, ZHA, Expedition Engineering.
