Dong Thap Muoi Tram Chim Mangrove Wetland Museum

Tram Chim Mangrove Forest of Dong Thap Muoi Wetland had extremely valuable plant and animal resources. However, currently, at Tram Chim, many exotic bird species listed in IUCN have not been protected from illegal hunting, the animal’s living resources have not been used properly in the face of environmental pollution and climate change. Many wild plant and animal species are important genetic reserves for future generations but have not been given adequate attention. Therefore, the wetland ecosystem in Tram Chim needs to be preserved, researched, and to raise awareness towards a wider community to join hands together for an eco-friendly world.

The location for the project was chosen in Tam Nong District, Dong Thap Province, as a bridge between the residential area of Tram Chim town and Tram Chim Mangrove Forest. The land is located between two opposing landscapes: on one side are residential areas and cultivated fields with square footprints, on the other side is a pristine mangrove forest with free and random footprints. The contrast between the two landscapes creates challenges in organizing transition and connection spaces. The visible and invisible boundary between two opposing contexts has suggested the idea of a bridging architectural work. Inspired by the characteristic footprints of the current state to develop into basic functional blocks. The building’s shape is completed by a glass boundary between inside and outside and a roof system with skylights that bring sparkling natural sunlight into the building.

The museum has 5 main areas: Exhibition Area, Public Area, Research and Administrative Area, Museum Warehouse, Outdoor Area.

Exhibition Area:

• Inspired by nature, the project evokes the feeling of space with contrasting features that are typical in Tram Chim Mangrove Forest such as the intertwining of solid – void, inside – outside, light – dark of low aquatic plant communities and tall melaleuca tree clusters.
• From the great exhibition hall to the thematic exhibition space, visitors will enter a display area looking like a “garden” filled with green trees and solid blocks at different levels interwoven into the void space.
• The live plant exhibition areas and hallway spaces are always filled with light and are designed to help visitors admire the green spaces in different positions and heights. In contrast, the model exhibition areas are arranged inside solid blocks. This space is darkened through material solutions and lighting solutions, such as only using spotlights to focus on the displayed items.
• According to the tour route, visitors will experience from light space to dark space and then light space again, constantly changing. Just like walking in Tram Chim, sometimes, there will be very dense clusters of melaleuca trees creating dark spaces but there are also massive areas of marsh with low aquicolous plants and shining sunlight above.
• Dark solid blocks and light void spaces at different levels intertwine with each other, reminding of Tram Chim mangrove forest’s space. Furthermore, the intertwining in the building does not only stop at the intertwining of shapes, spatial layout and functions, but also the intertwining of air, sunlight, birdsong, natural botanical scents, etc.
• Besides, the curvature of the roof evokes the gentle landing of a bird on the water. The color of the building reminds of the wetland’s acidic soil during low-water season. The contour lines of the roof recall the streaks of precipitated alum water.

Structural Solutions: To ensure that the building affects as much gently as possible with the natural landscape, the entire museum “is lifted” from the wetland’s vegetation by using the stilt house solution. The basement clings to the first floor and is also separated from the vegetation.

Energy regeneration: Besides space solutions, the project also incorporates solutions to take advantage of natural energy sources such as reusing rainwater for museum’s operations.