Saigon Genius Loci 2024

HO CHI MINH CITY FUTURES: Landscape Strategies for Reconciling Water

Saigon Genius Loci: Reviving Neglected Space

MLA Design Studio II

Spring, 2024

HO CHI MINH CITY FUTURES

Exercise 1 Introduction.

In this short exercise, students will work individually to propose an intervention in an assigned site of the abandoned Go Vap Cultural Park. Through desktop research and knowledge exchange with their peers from UAH, students will delve into the localculture and the dynamics of the Saigonese public realm.In this model-based exercise.students will explore the use of Artificial Intelligence (Al) to produce speculative scenarios. As the city grows, there is a need to focus on the generation of public spaces able to promote social cohesion and cultural identity while addressing ecological restoration. environmental sustainability, and climate change resilience. Interventions in this exercise should explore these unique social dynamics and translate them into innovative and creative landscape design solutions for extreme speculative futures.

Project Method.

This project asks students to dive into the unique social dynamics and culture of HCMC to push the boundaries of design and reflect on the role of the discipline when(re) thinking public space and preserving intangible heritage. As mentioned, this context has been witnessing a rapid development and foreign investment triggering ahectic sprawl of the urban areas across the territory; due to the lack of management and close monitoring of the authorities, several issues are emerging regarding the planning of the city and the region. For this exercise, students will study three of these issues related to different scales and social dimensions of HCMC:

1. Neglected spaces

2. Cultural safeguarding

3. Social dynamics and public space

HKU DLA Instructors:

Ivan Valin, Associate Professor of Practice

Francisco D. Cevallos Barragan Lecturer

Yapeng Liu, Olly Teaching Assistant

University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City

The University of Hong Kong

Exercise brief ing session Methodology and Student Presentation

Case Studies

Physical Model gallery

HKU Final review

Miro board sharing session HKU UAH students

CONTENT 25 Proposals

25 Physical models

The exercise relies on the physical model to develop the proposal from concept to scheme. Interventions should not encompass the entire 1-hectare area; instead, the intervention will be limited to 15%-50% of the total footprint. Models will be fed to Mid Journey and driven by prompts derived from key research terms. The final step is to translate and ground these speculations into plan and section. This spread comprises the 25 physical models and their corresponding pages within this document.

Lim Wing Kwan

Mak Kai Fung Nick

Ouyang Mingyue

Chu Long Yin Julie

Shen Junxian Jun

Leong On Ian Enya

Zhang Wanting

Kwok Sin Yan Yanice

Lu Ling

Wong Wai Tung Augustine

Yang Yirui Raven

Li Sze Yin Anna

Tang Ziyu Jadyn

Huang Xinyi Lois

Wu Geyu Gehry

Cheng Tsz Ho Dave

Ng Andy

Zhou Hua

Wang Jingyao Kaya

PROMPT:

Perspective scene of the bridge and lake in Vietnam. In front is the lake and the forest path in the sunset, curved steel structures like silk, the bridge rises and falls, the height difference changesm people --v6.0

Li Pak Wah Agnes

PROMPT: A bamboo bridge for human and birds

bamboo bridge considers the habitat of the birds inside Go Vap Cultural Park, such as sparrows and warblers. Reference to the bamboo bridge design in Mekong Delta, the design extends the length of bamboo and attach simple construction method for providing water resources and nests for the birds.

The bamboo bridge we are designing takes inspiration from the traditional "Monkey Bridge" found in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam. It serves the dual purpose of allowing people to access a lotus pond and providing di erent levels for maintenance and observation.

VIETNAM IMPRESSION

Chen Zhihua Kay

SPECULATIVE BOARDS - FLOODING:

SPECULATIVE BOARDS - DROUGHT:

UNDEFINED SPACE: WATER THAT CONNECTS

Au Chi Fung Adrian

PROMPT: Perspective scene of the bridge and lake in Vietnam. In front is the lake and the forest path in the sunset, curved steel structures like silk, the bridge rises and falls, the height difference changesm people --v6.0

PROMPT:

Texture, waterfront, observation platform, structure. connect, landscape, architecture, connect them, I need a landscape corridor, effect picture, texture, viewing.

PEDAL-POWERED COOPERATION

Wang Xiangyi Shirley

PROMPT:

At night, many bycicle snack stands, around the basketball courts and people linned up to buy snacks. Lots of kids riding their little bikes next to the big tricycles with the lights on. Everyone received their garbage to the recycling tricycle in an ordery manner. Many people were drinking coconut water.

RYTHM OF BAMBOO, Cay Tre

Wang Han Hanna

PROMPT:

Lots of abstract work of art made of gold bamboo, dynamic pose layered mesh, floating structures, intricate weaving. Complex weaving structure, playful performance art, dynamic form, intricate weaving

SILENT SINKING

Shen Junxian Jun

PROMPT:

A giant rock lovers over a green field, in the style of conceptual installations, suspended/hanging, surreal animation, norwegian nature, eerily realistic, cloudpunk, ethereal trees.

In the style of saturated pigment pools, national geographic photo, traditional vietnamese, organic formations, swamp, wetland, the fog covered jungle.

A 3d image of a fogfilled marsh, foggy landscape with trees, and pond, spiky mounds, hyperrealism, organic formations.

Wong Wai Tung Augustine

PROMPT:

[IMAGE LINK] change the red object into large pavilion in a dynamic and curvy shape, tensile structure, string pulling, force, tension, tight, dragging, like a twisted fabric shape with a silk fabric texture, add Ho Chi Minh City next to an agriculture land as background, no vegetation, enlarge human size.

SAIGON, ON BOARD!: A SHIFTING PLATFORM ALONG THE SAIGON RIVER

SITE 10

Wu Geyu Gehry

PROMPT:

[IMAGE LINK] a group of walkway made of sets of tree branches, in the middle of tall grasses, flooding:: 2 with high level of water, in the style of physically based rendering, pure wetland background, floating structures, influenced by ancient chinese art, photo taken with provia, rectangular fields, spatial, --iw 2 --v 5.2

Saigon, on Board!

A Shifting Platform along the Saigon River Section A-A’ 1:200

Play Field

Fishing Water Market

Chu Long Yin Julie

Lu Ling

PROMPT:

[IMAGE LINK] change the red object into large pavilion in a dynamic and curvy shape, tensile structure, string pulling, force, tension, tight, dragging, like a twisted fabric shape with a silk fabric texture, add Ho Chi Minh City next to an agriculture land as background, no vegetation, enlarge human size.

GREEN WAVES

Govap Cultural Park is located in the Go Vap area of Vietnam. As a forgotten place, wild grasses grow abundantly here. In recent years, the Go Vap area has frequently suffered from flooding. This design combines traditional Vietnamese bamboo weaving techniques to create undulating terrain. The low-lying areas act as a water collection zone in times of flooding, serving as a retention pond. At the same time, it is also a place for local residents to relax and enjoy themselves.

Hills covered with vegetation

Bamboo structure underneath

INTERVENTED TOPOGRAPHY

EXISTING TOPOGRAPHY

HANGING THE TET

Huang Xinyi Lois

PROMPT:

Several layers playground, white platforms, red lines twin round white objects, red lines more curvy, red lines growing like vines, green tropical plants, riverbank.

BOUNDARIES REIMAGINED

Ouyang Mingyue

PROMPT:

In a lawn, in a small park, create scenario indicate three layers, underground is delta (twisting and winding) shape of bioswale and creep bed, with steps connecting each side of the bioswales, above that are some wooden pavilions with deep eaves of different size and elevation are designed with traditional vietnam pitch roof, landscape architecture rendering, brautiful natural sunlight --ar16:9

Kwok Sin Yan Yanice

PROMPT:

Aerial view, a huge net floating, fly net on the river, floating natural device, nature-inspired imagery, bamboo floating road behind the net, translucent net across the water, in the style of a futuristic architecture, shilin huan, andreas levers, traditional landscapes shibori, mountainous vistas, eco-kinetic --ar 128:85

SITE 16

Tang Ziyu Jadyn

Mak Kai Fung Nick

PROMPT:

Water catchment pavilion, traditional vietnam pitched roof, filtration.

Landscape broken down into parts of the house, elegant, spatial, environments, traditional vietnamese, grid like structures, intricate cityscapes, lively tableaux, reality, land art, on swamp

Section (1:200)

Section (1:200)

PROMPT:

A circular shaped structure sitting on the concrete in the middle of the ground, ceiling trumpet shape, literary excavations, circular underground concert hall, with circular seating steps, in the style of earthworks, musicians performing, audiences, rendered in blender, high angle, suit for 50 persons space, earthwork, vibrant, music night, party, Wetland background sustainable architecture, rendering in maya, high angle--v6.0

Sub-terra Music Kèn

BAMBOO BOARDWALK

Lim Wing Kwan Tanya

PROMPT:

Vietnam agriculture land, swamps, add much more shrubs, add much more grass, add more trees, more plants on the water, at night time, raining scene, super heavy rain, storm, add more water drop, no mountain at the background, add more trees, tropical forest, cloudy, people walk on the road people stand under the structure, add birds on the structure

Leong On Ian Enya

STRIP EXTENSIONS

Yang Yirui Raven

PROMPT: Bright sunshine in forest, Grassland, people Walking, Rigid, Tectonic, Smooth, Superstructure Stronger and More Curved, Bending Line, Angular Discounted Shape.

Cheng Tsz Ho Dave

PROMPT:

large paving brick planting pots, weetland, mud, large lake on left side, brick wall around lake, birds, banana trees on sides.

Mud brick paving, walking path, pedestrian side walk.

Ng Andy

PROMPT:

The design draws inspiration from the Vietnamese lithophone, a traditional instrument, bringing a unique cultural signature to the landscape.

•Infusing local heritage through musical elements in the design.

•Providing a multi-sensory experience that connects residents with Vietnamese traditions.

•Encouraging interactive cultural exchange between locals and visitors.

The musical stones serve as a catalyst for community engagement and interaction.

•Designing spaces for impromptu performances and social gatherings.

•Creating a sound corridor that fosters a sense of community through shared musical experiences.

•O ering a creative platform for cultural expression and remembrance.

Inregular sharped Rrocks forming inclined for slope wall, with variying distances for privacy, inregular sharped stones lied down used as pavers, Inclined long rocks and lied down inregular sharped stones alternatively poositioned both closely and with space in between, All those Artistic stone and rock like sculptures distributed throughout the scene, inclined long roacks along the sides of lied down stones, the lied down stones along the sides of a trail in the middle, Two external parallel inclined long rocks in between the stone alternatively and the next two internal parallel stones defining the trail’s edge in the middle, A curvy trail meandering through the completed meadow lawn between the internal parallel stones, Alternating array of inclined long rocks provide shelter underneath itself, Lush lawn surrounding the trail, Aggregates placed beneath and behind of the external inclined stone slabs.

•Mimicking

The concept of rhythm and dynamics is translated into the physical form of the landscape through the arrangement of stone slabs.

Zhou Hua

PROMPT:

sunken plaza, a landscape design rendering, insanely detailed wide-angle landscape architecture photography, cascading water, a landscape architecture design render of water features, concrete structure, wooden pavement, realistic --chaos 50

The project rendering of landscape water puriÞ ed by water features, realistic, layered forms, delicately detailed, Wide-angle view, 3D perspective, considered a masterpiece --no blocky--chaos 40

Au Chi Fung Adrian

Chen Zhihua

Kwok Sin Yan

Li Pak Wah

Lim Wing Kwan

Lu Ling

Ouyang Mingyue

Tang Ziyu

Wang Jingyao

Wong Wai Tung Augustine

Wu Geyu

Yang Yirui

Zhou Hua

Cheng Tsz Ho

Chu Long Yin

Huang Xinyi

Leong On Ian

Li Sze Yin

Mak Kai Fung

Ng Andy

Shen Junxian

Sun Xiaofei

Wang Han

Wang Xiangyi

Zhang Wanting