Huong An Vien Visiting Center, Vietnam
Credit Principal Architects/ Vo Trong Nghia, Nguyen Tat Dat (VTN)
Bamboo is crafted to create a peaceful and tranquil space
We have long admired the art of bamboo crafted by Principal Architects Vo Trong Nghia and Nguyen Tat Dat (VTN), so it’s always an honor to showcase their remarkable bamboo projects. Here, the Huong An Vien Visiting Center, located within a natural landscape as part of a cemetery area about 10 km southwest of Hue, is a structure built entirely out of bamboo.
Huong An Vien Visiting Center, Vietnam
Credit Principal Architects/ Vo Trong Nghia, Nguyen Tat Dat (VTN)
Huong An Vien Visiting Center, Vietnam
Credit Principal Architects/ Vo Trong Nghia, Nguyen Tat Dat (VTN)
Traditionally, cemeteries are associated with a heavy atmosphere of death, loss, and grief, which creates a sense of melancholy. Therefore, the client and the architect mutually agreed to find an architectural solution to design a more peaceful and tranquil space.
Huong An Vien Visiting Center, Vietnam
Credit Principal Architects/ Vo Trong Nghia, Nguyen Tat Dat (VTN)
Huong An Vien Visiting Center, Vietnam
Credit Principal Architects/ Vo Trong Nghia, Nguyen Tat Dat (VTN)
Surrounded by a network of four lakes and nearby mountains, the Huong An Vien park features trees, flowers, and various other plants, creating a lighter and brighter atmosphere. Architecturally, the highly curved bamboo roof draws inspiration from the gentle and tender qualities of nearby Hue and the Huong River—a familiar symbol for Vietnamese people.
Huong An Vien Visiting Center, Vietnam
Credit Principal Architects/ Vo Trong Nghia, Nguyen Tat Dat (VTN)
Huong An Vien Visiting Center, Vietnam
Credit Principal Architects/ Vo Trong Nghia, Nguyen Tat Dat (VTN)
Further down, the eave is positioned low, intentionally designed to shield the inner structure from direct sunlight and rain, while also maintaining an open, accessible space at a human scale. Huong An Vien Visiting Center seems to blend with the natural surroundings, serving as a landmark in the park, yet it also shows respect and gratitude to those who have passed away.
Huong An Vien Visiting Center, Vietnam
Credit Principal Architects/ Vo Trong Nghia, Nguyen Tat Dat (VTN)
Huong An Vien Visiting Center, Vietnam
Credit Principal Architects/ Vo Trong Nghia, Nguyen Tat Dat (VTN)
From the main to the auxiliary buildings, they all benefit from the well-maintained and clean environment. They chose natural and affordable local materials such as bamboo, thatch, and bricks. Perforated bricks, for example, allow airflow and light to enter the inside. During the day, the building doesn’t need to rely on air conditioning or artificial lighting.
Huong An Vien Visiting Center, Vietnam
Credit Principal Architects/ Vo Trong Nghia, Nguyen Tat Dat (VTN)
Each building requires only a single module that is applied to the simple structure, assembled quickly with a low budget for both construction and operation.
