Project Details
- Project Name
- Diamond Island Community Center
- Location
- Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Architect
- Vo Trong Nghia Architects
- Client/Owner
- Binh Thien An JSC
- Project Types
- Community
- Project Scope
- New Construction
- Size
- 15,608 sq. feet
- Year Completed
- 2015
- Shared by
- Selin Ashaboglu
- Consultants
- General Contractor: Wind and Water House JSC
- Project Status
- Built
Project Description
FROM THE ARCHITECTS:
Being adjacent to the newly emerging
center of Ho Chi Minh City, Diamond Island is a group of condominiums on an
islet on Saigon River. To make the best use of the empty space of a gradual
development program, this multifunctional community center is designed not only
for local residents, but also for foreign tourists brought by boats from the
city center. Eight large and small bamboo pavilions are scattered throughout a
park with rich vegetation along the river. The pavilions are used for various
events such as parties, banquets, promotions conferences, and are also planned
to be restaurants in the future.
Two large domes are created by pure
bamboo structures and measure 24m diameter and 12.5m height. Inspired by a
traditional bamboo basket sheltering fowls, the structure is made by skilled
workers who weave each piece of bamboo on site. Six smaller pure bamboo
pavilions are shaped like umbrellas with 11m diameter and 7m height. The
umbrella structures consist of twelve prefabricated structural units assembled,
aiming at efficiency of construction.
The large pavilions are double layered
dome structures. The outer roof layer of thatch overhangs from the inner
basket-like structure to create deep eaves, protecting the whole bamboo
structure from harsh sunshine and heavy rainfall. Regardless of the shrouding
shape of the roof, the interior space needs no artificial lighting for daytime
activities as a skylight and open periphery provide defused daylight. The
skylight also functions to discharge hot air from the top of the dome as river
breeze cooled by three surrounding ponds flows through the building.
Despite the application of several
traditional construction methods, the project’s aim is not to reproduce the
vernacular, but to create sustainable architecture suited to the present. In
order to do this, systematization of production and construction of bamboo
architecture is essential and, as a result, the project is a fusion of
traditional folk art and contemporary architecture.