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University : Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education
Tutor(s) : NGUYEN VAN TAT
Project Description
An Hiep was once a renowned traditional fired-brick village, which, together with 47 other local craft villages, forged a region rich with unique cultural identities. The An Hiep brick village, however, was located almost entirely swallowed by the surrounding city of Sa Dec. The rapid expansion of urban development soon disrupted their way of life. Faced with a lack of new generations, insufficient investment, and an inability to keep up with modern production, villagers struggled to sustain their family traditions.
Between 2020 and 2022, over 90% of An Hiep’s traditional brick kilns were abruptly demolished due to economic hardship from the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the village’s disappearance. These were quickly replaced by large-scale industrial factories, raising serious environmental concerns.
This project offers a new vision for the abandoned craft village land. Strategically located on the border between the city and the local community, it leverages existing infrastructure to create a center for promoting traditional products. The disappearance of a craft village can, in fact, inspire the revival of an entire traditional culture.
The design harnesses the elevated ground of old brick kiln sites, integrating it with local stilt-house techniques to address the challenges of low-lying land and the Mekong’s tidal fluctuations, thereby minimizing its environmental impact. The project’s design is informed by a profound connection to the local spirit, a bond forged through in-depth study of its cultural heritage.
Established in 2012, Tamayouz Excellence Award is an unaffiliated, independent initiative that aims to advance the profession of architecture academically and professionally. Tamayouz is dedicated to supporting aspirational and transformative projects that tackle local and global challenges and that are informed by a holistic understanding of context.