Vietnam : Akasa Minh

Akasa Minh, Hanoi, Vietnam : Glenn Murcutt Master Class 2004

Sound of Empty Heart, Restaurant, West Lake, Hanoi, Vietnam

Constructed February - April 2017

[restaurant, indigenous skills, bamboo, urban, cultural park, tropical, climatic responsive]

Over a thousand years of history Hanoi, with a unique urban layout, ischaracterised by natural water systems which became a ‘navel’ of Vietnam, with many layers of cultural and political systems. The rivers, lakes, ponds and other water channels create hidden values in this high density national capital.

A restaurant in a temporary structure, is located beside a great water feature of Hanoi - the West Lake - which is surrounded by a chain of cultural heritage buildings of many dynasties. The building was designed to be a meeting point for citizens with a special atmosphere while meeting restricted urban regulations of construction. The site includes particular trees, a water dock, and an existing small building that needs to be preserved and improved.

The main concept is an architectural body with inward sensitive sunlight and natural air movement to address the West Lake geographical characteristics. An organic form was considered to adapt to the site. Bamboo was naturally chosen for realising a concept and situation. 5500 bamboo pieces, 6 meters length, were carried to the site from the forestdistance 100 kilometers to the west of Hanoi, 6 meters is maximum length allowed for a truck entering into the city.

The building body is constructed with an reference to a traditional daily bamboo object – the fishing trap. The structural solution is unique using knot art to withstand wind pressure and for durability and is a new experience of bamboo details. This is a first time at a big scale in a bamboo building in Vietnam. Inside is the restaurant below the splendid bamboo structure, and its skylight with filtered hinged canvas. A skylight gives a special play to the bamboo composition with kinetic system and simple structure. Around 4pm to 6pm a moving light plays on the underside surface of the roof, resulting from reflected light of the water dock at the west side of project. The building serves as a restaurant and encourages a platform, or meeting place, for cultural activities, and enriches a chain of history in contemporary life of Hanoi.

Architect team – Akasa Minh with Tuyen, Hien with workers - Phat, Tho, Cung, Mai, Hop, Le, Thuc

Photo Credits – Akasa Minh

Web address - http://akasaminh.com/en/

OZ.E.TECTURE

architects thinking locally acting globally

www.ozetecture.org

Lindsay Johnston31 October 2018

Juan Carlos Eugene Soler : Glenn Murcutt Master Class 2001

54th Central Glass International Design Competition, Tokyo, Japan

‘Architecture That Generates New Sakariba’ - 2019

The Japanese ‘Central Glass International Design Competitions’ have been run each year since 1966. The 2019 competition attracted 188 international entries. Seven were shortlisted and Eugene’s entry was placed second.

[ theoretical proposition, metaphor, solar energy, technology, sustainability, community ]

‘MOON LANDING’

It is in our deepest primal instinct as social beings that people gather in a communal place that gives us a sense of culture and belonging. We gather around the warmth and wonder of campfire under the stars and share memories and stories. Or by day, under the cool shade of a tree- a natural place to meet a lover or exchange knowledge. Such place that delivers these conditions perhaps is the genesis of ‘Sakariba’.

The proposal is a massive balloon structure that can create and harness energy from the Sun whilst defining space underneath its volume, where people of all ages can gather to meet, play or ‘hangout’. The ‘Moon Landing’ hopes to create a central place for gathering where business and commerce are encouraged and generate ‘Sakariba’.

On a hot summer or rainy day, people can gather under its shade. On a cloudy day, the balloon structure can rise above the clouds where it can efficiently harness energy from the Sun. At night, it becomes a light source and a signal to attract people and when it descends it creates a space where people can gather around its warm glow. The ‘Moon Landing’ has all these features at the same time providing sustainable energy to its local community.

This idea is not science fiction but actually a very feasible means of efficiently combining what is currently being developed in balloon technology, sustainability, science and art. What is new is the realignment of technology to create a more poetic and meaningful purpose to reinvigoration local culture, religion, myths and stories, which is appropriate when it needs to be integrated in local communities. Especially to the 25% of the world’s population which has no or lack access to electricity. Such space offers a wonderful chance for the community to be activated, bring people together and encourage businesses and various activities.

By combining a strong metaphor with technology and sustainability- the proposal hopes to address not only the community’s basic needs but also hopes to give a deep importance and meaning in local culture and tradition to bring people together and organically for business growth and generate a ‘New Sakariba’

Moreover, in a world where we have Internet connection but seem to be ‘disconnected’- the ‘Moon Landing’ can be a benefit to existing ‘Sakariba’ not only to reduce the abundant energy we are drowning in, but also to remind us to look up and realize our place in the Universe and encourage real connection with each other.

Architect : Eugene Soler

Awards : 54th Central Glass International Design Competition _ Second Place

Web site : http://www.ateliersoler.com

OZ.E.TECTURE

architects thinking locally acting globally

www.ozetecture.org