Mui Ne Museum of Coastal Folk Culture

– The project draws inspiration from traditional fishing villages nestled beneath coconut groves along the shoreline. From this foundation, permeable architecture is adopted as the guiding principle, blurring boundaries between inside and outside, solid and void, much like daily life in coastal villages. A defining gesture is the permeable roof system, filtering daylight across the composition and evoking the atmosphere of light through coconut canopies. This spirit extends to the master plan, which learns from the organization of sea villages where dwellings, communal areas, and sacred spaces interweave in a porous fabric. The design preserves Mui Ne’s coastal topography, especially its white dunes, keeping the ground open while interweaving exhibitions with outdoor spaces shaped by the spirit of coastal folk life.

– In the project, Vạn Bình An—located on the existing site—is preserved as a core element of the design. More than a relic, it becomes a living entity, continuing its role as a sacred place for fishermen during annual rituals while also engaging visitors as a living heritage of coastal culture. By remaining active in both community practice and museum storytelling, the Vạn stands as the heart of the project, embodying memory, identity, and the enduring spirit of Mui Ne’s fishing traditions. Vạn Bình An is positioned as the key point of the sacred axis. Rather than absorbing it into the museum, the roof is carefully cut open to restore the natural void it once possessed, allowing the Vạn Bình An to remain independent and sacred. This approach allows the museum to both honor local beliefs and connect the heritage with a contemporary spatial experience.