Be Friendly Space

The open community space for cultural and art activities, exchanges, exhibitions and food continues a series the Vietnamese design team began with an earlier bamboo and earth pavilion, aimed at friendly spaces in suffocating towns. It stands at the centre of one of the country’s most crowded towns.

It was built from local materials in simple operations with local builders. Rammed earth walls 40 cm thick are set side by side in a zigzag, sparing green pockets for shared use, linked by randomly placed windows 110 by 220 cm.

Above, a double layer of bamboo roof regulates light and air and blurs the boundary between inside and outside, architecture and landscape. The project seeks to raise awareness of the need for community spaces as concrete spreads.