BRING BIRDS BACK TO THE CITY

BRING BIRDS BACK TO THE CITY

Fig1: Enjoy Bird-Watching. (image from: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/14/realestate/bird-watching-feeders.html)

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ARCH_6006 ARCHITECTURAL THESIS PROJECT School:

School of Design and the Built Environment

Department of Architecture Submission:

Final Thesis project report

Student:

Nhat Quang HUYNH

Student ID: 19889175

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Thesis Title:

Bring birds back to urban area

Dissertation Type:

70% Design, 30% Written

Supervisor:

Chamila Subasinghe Arachchilage Don

Unit Coordinator:

Tanja Glusac

Date of Submisstion:

8 June 2022

CONTENTS Research question 7 Abstract 8 Objectives 9 Background 10 The problem 16 Site 28 Methodology 35 Design Aspirations 58 Design Brief 60 Project Drawing 61 Significance

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Panel Presentation 90 References 95 Appendicies 96

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DECLARATION I declare that this thesis does not include materials accepted for the awarding of diplomas or diplomas from other universities. To the best of my knowledge and beliefs, To the best of our knowledge and beliefs, this paper does not contain material previously published by others, unless otherwise stated.

The following sections were adapted from my previous written work titled “Compensating habitat for birds: Restore biodiversity for bird species as sustainable development in urban areas” (Nhat Quang HUYNH 2022) and was edited for this report: • • • • • •

Research Question Abstract Objective Background The Problem Design Functional Requirements

Signature: Nhat Quang HUYNH Date: 8/6/2022 @Copyright - Nhat Quang HUYNH - 2022 nhatquang.huynh@postgrad.curtin.edu.au All rights reserved - No reproduction can occur without permission.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS A big thank you to all who have helped me through this dissertation and my last year as a master.

Thanks to Chamila Subasinghe Arachchilage Don for his guidance throughout this process.

Your encouragement is the motivation pushing me to reach deeper knowledge in my project.

Thank you to my family who always encouraged me during my 2 years of master.

Finally, thanks to a close group of friends Kartika, Kanni, Nina, for enjoying best experience with me through days of Master of Architecture at Curtin.

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“The earth has music for those who listen” - George Santayana -

How can we combine biodiversity and heritage restoration as a spatial strategy to improve the quality of urban living in Ho Chi Minh City?

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ABSTRACT

Thankfully we still see many birds in our cities. Hopefully, they will continue to sing their songs for us in the next decades.

Natural sounds formed by birds are one of few arts that have been lost in modern cities. According to Buxton et al. (1,2021), public health can be bolstered by natural sounds whose benefits include decreased pain and lower stress for people. However, because of the ideology of humans positioning themselves above nature, the clearing of native vegetation for agriculture, industry, and housing has caused the massive extinction of a lot of bird species due to habitat loss over the past two decades. Currently, in South Viet Nam, only approximately 1-1.5% of wetlands are remaining in a natural or semi-natural state, especially the Mekong Delta which was once one of the world’s great wetlands (Huu Nguyen et al. 2016, 2304). Ho Chi Minh City, like most cities, was developed around the Saigon River as river basins provided the best natural environment for cultivation. There are many steps in the wrong direction of urban development and poor designs from the 20th century which caused serious damage to biodiversity and native animal habitat in Ho Chi Minh City. Reacting to this situation, this thesis proposes a responsibility from the construction industry in the man-made environment and buildings to ensure a balanced co-existence for both animals and humans benefit equally. The research will also focus on building envelope design so that is possible to upgrade and adopt immemorial buildings in Ho Chi Minh City to restore habitat loss for birds. The outcome of this research will be a number of proposals purpose-designed to upgrade and adapt existing heritage in the urban realm for the provision of safe bird habitat and to reconcile the relationship between contemporary architecture and the natural landscape in Ho Chi Minh City.

Fig 2: Forgotten Songs - Art installation of bird cages at Angel Place, Sydney. (image from:https://www.lottaaxing. se/2015/06/03/forgotten-songs/)

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MAIN OBJECTIVES: • To provide the habitat for local and migratory birds and enrich the biodiversity of the city.

• To support plans for the transformation of heritage sites in the city.

SUB-OBJECTIVES: •

Make a list of bird-safe design requirements for all open spaces and greenery in buildings.

•

Discover design strategies for connecting buildings’ greenery with the urban landscapes to make a green network for bird communities in city design.

•

Investigate settling propensities of distinctive species and investigate diverse sorts of birds’ homes such as cavities, pendants, or stages in arrange to be able to adjust the existing highlights of buildings without critical extra costs.

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BACKGROUND i- Humans’ ideology From 1500 onwards, the ideology of domination over nature that includes conquering, exploiting, dominating, and extorting the natural environment or habitat was implemented in almost regions. For example, as can be seen from the picture (fig 3), positioning themselves above nature in a hierarchical manner of Western ideology was shown in the picture of the God who has a human figure with a compass measuring up the Earth. According to Pattberg (2007, 2): “…Homo sapiens is the only species that has erected a “second nature” that we term “culture”, by an evolving, and eventually decisive alienation of society from the natural environment as part of evolution...”

One of the driving forces behind the action of mastery over nature is the basic needs for food, clothing, and housing from a backward civilization. As a result of the separation between nature and humans, urban residents and the environment are facing negative impacts from agricultural production, industrial processes, and urbanization such as air or noise pollution and climate change. Regarding worldview in architecture, the well-being of humans instead of any other species was the main choice in almost designs in the last two centuries. Internal modernism of most 20th-century architecture such as postmodernism, minimalism, deconstructivism, etc. only provided stylistic and ideological criticism, while architects seem to do nothing for bringing back a closer connection between humans and nature. Organic architectural movement and eco-architecture which were hardly mentioned in the mainstream of global architecture at this moment were the only exceptions to this tendency; however, buildings created under this ethos were a minority because of remaining on the small scale of residential buildings.

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The humans’ ideology of domination over nature through decades

Fig 3: God as Architect, Builder, Geometer or Craftsman. (image from: http://www.luminarium.org/encyclopedia/toledobible.htm)

Fig 4: Humans dominate the nature. (image from: https:// farmmanagementsoftwer.wordpress.com/2014/06/09/ the-history-of-agricultural-development/)

Fig 5: The era of glass and concrete. (image from: https:// www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/10/28/ why-the-industrial-revolution-didnt-happen-in-china/)

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BACKGROUND ii- Losing touch with nature: The relationship between humans and nature has changed over time. People who lived over a hundred years ago have various ways to connect with nature such as listening to birds chirping, watching a sunset from their place, or walking tree-lined streets.

However, the poorly conceived design of urban areas has isolated humans from the wild since the 20th century. Stress, depression, and obesity are negative impacts that urban residents are facing due to a lack of environmental connection. Soga and Gaston (2016, 97) state that proper social, emotional, cognitive, and motor development in urban residents, especially children can be improved through regular contact with nature. Unfortunately, the impacts of this separation have not only directly impacted our health, but also caused serious damage to the natural environment such as climate change. The trend of the uncontrolled expansion of urban areas and the massive use of concrete, steel, and glass in the construction industry are threatening global species, especially in the tropics which is a major habitat of numerous communities.

The impacts of urbanization including habitat loss, fragmentation, and climate change have caused warmer temperatures and large-scale habitat degradation in northern Vietnam where a species-rich and biodiverse tropical community resides (Bonebrake et al. 2016). Although the true cost of climate change has been warned by many scientists, the impact of removing nature from contemporary architecture seems distant and separate from our life until people are directly confronted with a hint of the truth.

Thus, this research not only focuses on how architecture and urban design can bring nature back to cities but also elevates the respect of humans for other forms of life.

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A lack of connection with nature: covid 19 has increased the distance between humans and nature

Fig 6: People and nature in the past. (image from: http:// www.superpt.es/emocionario-12-la-aceptacion/)

Fig 7: The modern life. (image from:https://www.artlimited. net/33619/art/painting-commuticon-mixed-media-people-everyday-life-urbanites/en/577848/)

Fig 8: The internet cannot connect us with nature. (image from: https://izispicy.com/2013/08/07/social_problems_depicted_in_cool_cartoon_art_62_pics-1.html)

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BACKGROUND iii- The role of biodiversity and bird communities in urban areas: Biodiversity is defined as the variety of different life forms present on our planet. According to Sarasamma (2016, 1), “biodiversity is a basis for sustainable development directly contributing to human well-being in many ways and is also a critical foundation of the Earth’s life support system”. Therefore, ensuring biodiversity has been considered one of the main sustainable development strategies in many countries because of it’s benefits (fig ). However, many areas important for natural wildlife near rivers and estuaries have been cut off by roads and buildings. According to (Kaushal et al. 2017, 365), a crisis of severely depleting biodiversity can lead to socioeconomic root and proximate causes that inlcude habitat loss and fragmentation or global climate changes (fig 9). Besides, Ikin et al. (2010, 13) claimed that “urbanization has been shown to lead to a decrease in overall species richness, with the loss of some species that were common prior to development, but an increase in the richness and abundance of introduced species”. Unfortunately, one of the taxonomic groups that have been significantly affected by urbanization is birds.

Their survival opportunities are challenged by urban design and human activities. Most cities are usually non-woven environments to provide bird’s habitat. As Snep et al. have identified: “…Birds require sufficient and well-connected habitats to establish viable populations.

In cities, habitat is fragmented, and large suitable patches are lacking. This negatively impacts bird diversity and abundance…” (Snep et al. 2016, 1538)

Fig 9: The benefits provied by biodiversity. (Kaushal et al. 2017, 364)

Fig 10: The impacts of biodiversity loss. (Kaushal et al. 2017, 365)

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There are several reasons why the presence of native birds is important in large cities.

According to Taylor, Taylor, and Davis (2013, 483), birds signal changes in ecosystems in urban areas because they are very sensitive to anomalies in the natural world. Moreover, bird songs are considered as most common natural sound for restorative stress and attention fatigue. Ratcliffe, Gatersleben, and Sowden (2013, 222) found that motivation to work can be enhanced by listening to natural soundscapes such as river and bird sounds instead of office sounds. The birdsong also can help people to activate their lost senses.

The birdsong also can help people to activate their lost senses. For example, people can realize the change of seasons through initial vocalizations of many seasonal species such as the white-crowned sparrow (fig 11). Thus, songbirds can teach us how to re-stimulate naturally the senses of hearing and vision. Today, many protected areas and parks have been designed to support the large diversity of birds in urbanization increasing; However, the purpose of this thesis focuses on the adaptation of contemporary architecture with wildlife in general, especially birds. There are many factors that architecture can contribute to the ecological objectives of urban birds. Cerra and Carrain (2016, 1824) said that private land was identified as a potential source to improve ecological performance and expand the habitat of urban birds because the goods were estimated to be nearly one-quarter of the total area of market land in most cities. This relationship can be proposed that sustainable design can improve biodiversity in the urbanization world.

Therefore, this project highlights how urban buildings and bird communities will benefit from ecological orientation designs.

Fig 11: Biodiversity in Urban Environments. (Brainard and Doupe 2002, 353)

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PROBLEMS The current situation of bird communities in Asia:

THREATENED BIRD SPECIES IN THE ASIAN REGION Nearly 1000 species have been identified for a high risk of deterioration in Asia (fig 12 ). Although the total of bird species in Asia is 323. However, groups of Critical and Endangered bird species which the chance of surviving has been estimated 50% in the next 10 years are 41 and 65 species (fig 13). This is the most worry for Asian avifauna.

Fig 12: Extinctions and critically edangered species in number. (image from: https://www.iucnredlist.org/)

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Fig 13: Data of endangerment in birds in the Asian region.

(Mackinnon 2001, 33)

THE MAIN THREATS TO ASIAN BIRDS

CAUSES OF HABITAT LOSS AND DEGRADATION

Habitat loss or degradation is responsible for affecting nearly all bird species in the Asian region. This biggest threat caused nearly 80% of endangered birds

As can be seen from the bar graph, the ommonest causes of habitat loss relate to extraction and infrastructure development.

Fig 14: The major cause of endangerment in birds in the Asian region.

(Mackinnon 2001, 36) Fig 15: Commonest causes of habitat loss. (Mackinnon 2001, 37)

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BACKGROUND v- The current situation of bird communities in Vietnam:

HABITAT LOSS

THE LACK OF PROCTED AREAS

Woodland and wetland ranges are being quickly diminished, and various plant and creature species are presently beneath risk. Vietnamese biological systems, such as the tropical timberland, are both assorted and delicate and will effortlessly break down with sporadic climate variances.

However, the protected areas in the south of Vietnam seem to have disappeared because of urban development.

South Vietnam

1943

1960 Fig 16: Forest loss over the period 1943-1982 in Vietnam. (images from: http://tiempo.sei-international.org/portal/archive/vietnam/impact4.htm)

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1982 Fig 17: Protected areas for wildlife animals in South & Southeast Asia (Li et al. 2016,4)

THE DENSITY OF BIRD SPECIES IN VIETNAM

THREATENED BIRD SPECIES IN VIETNAM

Birds migrate from the north to the south of Vietnam following the breeding season. Therefore, the south of Vietnam is one of the important areas for biodiversity.

Although Vietnam is located in the East Asian-Australian flyways which is the biggest migratory bird flyway of Asia (fig ) , threatened species in Vietnam (red) also has been recorded in high-risk group with nearly 40 species (fig 20).

Fig 18: Vietnamese bird communities map (image from: https://www.iucnredlist.org/)

Fig 19: Asian migratory bird flyways. (image from: http:// datazone.birdlife.org/)

Fig 20: The endangerment in birds in the Asian region.

(Mackinnon 2001, 35)

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BACKGROUND

vi-Disappearing urban birds: Vietnam, which has the highest number of 48 endangered and breeding endemic bird species in mainland Southeast Asia, is a global conservation priority. Many of these endangered species are not continuously hunted for wildlife trade. Eaton (2020) states that “Studies carried out since the early 1990s highlight that lax law enforcement and outdated legislation enable protected species to be openly traded along streets”. In addition, maintaining cultural and religious factors also reduces the number of native birds significantly. As can be seen from the survey (fig 22), the number of birds illegally kept in stores is over 4000 individuals. Therefore, urban birds, especially the two big cities of Saigon and Hanoi, are under a lot of pressure from being hunted illegally for collecting and religious purposes.

Fig 21: Illegally keeping rare birds. (images from: https://www.traffic.org/news/songbirds-unsung-heroes-getting-recognition-at-cites/)

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Life release is a conventional Buddhist hone of sparing the lives of creatures that were destined for slaughter. However, this inadvertently became a form of business and illegal bird hunting.

Fig 22: The survey of urban birds (images from: https://www.traffic.org/)

Fig 23: Peddled mobile birds seller’s motorcycle. (images from: https://www.traffic.org/)

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BACKGROUND

vii-Urban issues of Sai Gon Saigon is considered a concrete city with only 4% of the green area. The only green space in the northwest of the city is the airport, where it is almost impossible to share the use rights with the community. Therefore, with the lack of trees, the habitat for birds in saigon has been fragmented. Since 1990, the urbanization rate in Saigon is seen as showing no signs of slowing down with the rate of concretization increasing almost 100% from the central core (fig ). Besides, noise pollution is also one of the alarming situations of the city. As can be seen from the sound measurement charts from the city districts, the noise from vehicles as well as city activities reaches the threshold of 7880 dB most days of the week and peak hours (fig ). This noise pollution not only affects animals but also causes some diseases such as sound stress for people living near the city center.

Therefore, it is necessary to create more space and provide shelter for the birds because the singing of birds can help reduce the pressures of urban noise.

Fig 24: Green and blue infrastructure in Saigon, Vietnam.

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1990

2001

2015

Fig 25: Urban development in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. (images from: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Urban-development-in-Ho-Chi-Minh-City-and-Shanghai-Note-the-construction-land-in-Ho-Chi_fig5_346441549)

Fig 26: Noise mean values by day, hour, and district.

(Gelb and Apparicio 2019, 337)

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BACKGROUND viii-Disappearing colonial architecture: Former colonial towns have experienced an economic boom and real estate prices have begun to rise. Historical buildings have been demolished to give way to newer and higher developments. Some buildings, such as the post office and the cathedral, are listed as monuments, with the exception of proving the rules. The majority are unprotected, as Vietnamese authorities have never fully cataloged all ancient buildings. Many investors are buying valuable downtown land, a historic heritage that has been destroyed to give way to new things. This has come at a price. Problems related to rapid urbanization are beginning to pile up. Although many of the remaining colonial apartments in the city are versatile, attractive, and dilapidated, with an entrepreneurial spirit that attracts stylish retailers and corner traders. Heritage and history that cannot be easily packaged and provided to the next generation will be lost. Therefore, generations are destined to fail without quickly changing their future direction.

OLD

NOW Fig 27: SaiGon before and then (image from: https://futuresoutheastasia.com/lost-heritage-of-old-saigon/)

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Tax Trade Centre from 1880-2016

2010

1880

2016

The Municipal theater from 1990-2016

1990

2016

Fig 28: Lost heritage of old Saigon. (image from: https://futuresoutheastasia.com/lost-heritage-of-old-saigon/)

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THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT The right place - The time to change To solve these problems, the place chosen to test this paper is Saigon’s heritage, the beating heart of South Vietnam. The main reason for this choice is that the sustainable development of Saigon depends on green growth and traditional values. Secondly, the growing focus on heritage tourism is supported by not only modern buildings but also the heritage areas of old Saigon which can bring interesting experiences for visitors.

However, heritage values need a significant upgrade in terms of ideology and lifestyle of a future in which sharing space and reconnecting with the animals in the city

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DESIGNING FOR BIG IMPACT

GREEN GROWTH STRATEGY 2021-2030 VISION TO 2050 OF VIETNAM

Environmental quality • Cultural diversity and tolerance • Policies and traditional heritage • Shaping modern value of sustainable development to the ties of tradition

Environmental quality • Lowering environmental impact and maintaining carrying capacity • Environmental quality monitoring • Natural resource consumption

THE INTEGRATION OF THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT VALUE TO VIETNAM’S CULTURE

Lifestyle of sustainability • Sense of wellbeing and work-life balance • Sport, leisure and recreation • Enhance communication with nature

Plan and execute ventures on environment and biodiversity preservation

Programs to advance carbon sequestration in natural carbon

Enhance habitat for wildlife as well as endangered species

High protect 115 native species in the red list

A circular economy and climate-smart agribusiness.

LOW CARBON DESIGN AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

URBAN STRESS REDUCTION

Developing strategies for climate change

IMPLEMENTING THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Environmental management • Development strategies consider the human and natural environments concurrently.

• A sound socio-economic environment

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SITE Ba Son Shipyard, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Site

The site will be located in Ba Son Shipyard where is oldest, most important, and largest maritime heritage in central business district (CBD) of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). During 20 years development of the site, the whole area of the Ba Son Shipyard was only 6.5ha land (3 lots) available for community development, especially the largest dry dock.

Today, the Ba Son Naval Arsenal preserves many authentic French workshop buildings, which includes numerous super examples of commercial structure relationship from the 1880s. However, during the last few years, deliver restore and production has been step by step relocated to Vung Tau City.

Fig 29: An aerial reconnaissance photograph taken in advance of the 1944-1945 (image from:http://www.historicvietnam.com/ba-son-shipyard/)

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Fig 29: Date with wrecking ball, BaSon shipyard. (image from:https://www.historicvietnam.com/ba-son-shipyard/)

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CURRENT SITUATION Date with the Wrecking Ball Bason’s modernization is a pain point for some locals, as colonial buildings and shipyards play an important role in the city’s maritime history. Bason is now recognized by the Ministry of Culture and Information as a national historic building, but it does not protect the history of the shipyard from destruction. It is a spectacular ratio of vision and imagination failure that this dramatic land, which is very likely to become a national or regional landmark, instead develops into more housing for the wealthy people of the city. The destruction of the historic Basson Shipyard on Saigon’s riverfront is a cultural heritage disaster, not only missing tourist opportunities but also a disaster for Saigon’s inhabitants and the city itself.

Over one-third of the shipyard has been demolished (red line) and the rest of that place is expected to be demolished in the next 5 years. The historical and cultural value of Ba Son Shipyard such as its large dry dock or associated relics will not be protected.

Fig 30: Vinhomes Bason (Vinhomes Golden River) apartment project (image from: https://vietapartment.com/project/detail/vinhomes-bason-golden-river-apartment-680)

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A WRONG STEP IN THE DEVELOPMENT

Fig 31: Vinhomes Bason (Vinhomes Golden River) apartment master plan (image from: https://vietapartment.com/project/detail/vinhomes-bason-golden-river-apartment-680)

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HISTORY OF THE SITE The Chu Su royal naval factory was founded in 1790, and the Ba Son Shipyards were extended after the arrival of the French in 1859. After the 1954 Geneva Treaty, the French fleet withdrew from Saigon, and on September 12, 1956, the Sygon Army was transferred to the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Vietnam.

Parts of the Arsenal de Saigon suffered harm in the course of the Allied bombing marketing campaign of 1944-1945, however upkeep has been executed in 1948-1949.

Fig 32: A view of the Arsenal in the late 19th century (image from:http://www.historicvietnam.com/ba-son-shipyard/)

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The shipyard’s founder become Nguyen Phuc Anh who, after reoccupying Gia Dinh in 1790, set up the Chu Su royal naval workshop in Ben Nghe (Saigon) to bring together a fleet of present-day warships.

After Nguyen Phuc Anh ascended to the throne as King Gia Long (1802-1820), Chu Su become increased right into a massive shipbuilding facility and cannon foundry, which at its peak hired numerous thousand employees of numerous professions.

The Arsenal purchased a floating dry dock made of iron measuring 91.44m L x 28.65m W on August 16, 1866, to meet increased demand from the French navy. Randolph Elder and Co of Glasgow provided it, having just delivered a similar one to the Dutch arsenal in Surabaya.

In 1918, the Arsenal received yet another important modification, allowing it to construct ships weighing up to 3,500 tonnes. The Albert Sarraut, the first of these “giants of the sea,” was launched with considerable ceremony in April 1921.

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SITE ANALYSIS

VOID

SOLID

EXISTING HERITAGES

PERDESTRIAN TRAIN LINE

FIGURE GROUND

RIVER

PARK

GREEN & BLUE INFRASTRUCTURE

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HERITAGES

NOISE LEVEL

NOISE MAP

BUS/WATER BUS STOP MAIN ROADS

CIRCULATION

NIGHT TIME

DAY TIME

NODES OF INTEREST

METHODOLOGY 1.

2.

3.

Study of bird species Heritage survey Study of Precedent

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METHODOLOGY 1.

Study of bird species Key elements • Habitat analysis • Type of nests • Bird analysis (Population and Seasons)

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HABITAT RESPONSES TO BIRD SPECIES ABUNDANCE

The spatial distribution of habitat types affects species richness for birds. As the graph shows (fig 33), the abundance of bird species is shown in types of habitat. Forests, scrublands, and bare lands are preferred environments for birds. By contrast, bird communities do not prefer to live in farmlands and wetlands that are located near human areas.

Forests are home to a high number of bird species in Vietnam, including virtually all of the endemic species. Habitats in Vietnam can be categorized into four major categories in terms of bird community composition: evergreen forest, semi-evergreen forest, farmlands, and wetlands. Evergreen forest is the most common, accounting for roughly 64 percent of Vietnam’s total natural habitat cover. Moreover, natural grassland used to be common in urban areas in Vietnam, especially along rivers, at the edges of seasonal wetlands, and in areas where edaphic conditions hindered forest development. However, most of this habitat has been turned into agricultural land, leaving only a few survivors.

Fig 33: Habitat response to bird species abundance (Torres, Jaeger and Alonso 2016, 5)

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HABITATS OF VIETNAMESE NATIONAL BIRD

Fig 34: Land use in Vietnam (Data collected from: https://ebird.org/)

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0-350m

400-1200m

Up to 2150m

Up to 2300m

WETLANDS

FARMLANDS Secondary grassland and agricultural land

SCRUBLANDS Semi-evergreen forest

FORESTS Evergreen forest

TYPE OF NESTS FARMLANDS

WETLANDS

FORESTS

Semi-evergreen and Evergreen forest

Floating

Burrow

Brood parasite

Cup

Adherent Cup

Platform

Mound

Dome

Statant Cup

Ledge

Ground

Cavity

Pendant

Cavity

Platform

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AN ANALYSIS OF SPECIALTIES NATIVE BIRDS IN THE SOUTHERN VIETNAM 2014-2017 350m

Above the sea level CAT TIEN NATIONAL PARK (Around 150 Kms in the North-East from SaiGon) In this list, we can meet Pitta with colorful atractive eyes and beautiful sounds, while the target of birders is the appeal of Germain’s Peacok Pheasant.

Germain’s Peacok Pheasant Stay in South Vietnam all year round, like to live near people

Blue-rumped Pitta Beautiful sounds. Red listed species which is need of support through bird houes

Bar-bellied Pitta Like to breed in bird houses and like to living close to people

Orange-breasted Laughingthrush Red listed species, favored by extra breeding spots

Black-hooded Laughingthrush Like to live and breed in cooler and milder climate

Alstrom’s warbler Stay in West-South VietNam, picks the breeding spots in March

Indochinese Green Magpie Red listed species, favored by extra breeding spots

from 400m to 1200m DI LINH PLATEAU (Around 240 Kms in the North-East from SaiGon) In this list, most of birds are living in the place where the clamate is cooler and milder. Thus, the birds became more colorful such as Langbian Sunbird and Indochinese Green Magpie

Orange-necked Partridge Stay in South VietNam during summer time for breeding

Black-headed Parrotbill One of Vietnamese smallest birds with 25 cm wing span

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Blue Pitta Red listed species, need extra breeding spots during winter

up to 2150m LANGBIAN PLATEAU AND NGOC LINH MOUNTAIN (Around 320-530 Kms in the North-West from SaiGon) These places are central highlands of Vietnam, where the highest peak in southern Vietnam is the Ngoc Linh moutain. Due to the special type of climate (cold), these rare birds often fly to the South-West of SaiGon during the winter.

Grey-crowned Crocias Prefers to breed in bird houses, can be placed quite low

Annam Sunbird Red listed species, favored by extra breeding spots

Vietnamese Greenfinch Red listed species, favored by extra breeding spots

Dalat Shrike Babbler The only Vietnames bird that can crawl downwards and upwards

Rusty-naped Fulvetta Very social communicative species, picks the breeding spots in July

Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush Red listed species, favored by extra breeding spots

Black-crowned Barwing Breeding couple times for 2 years and likely to return to the same spot

Indochinese Fulvetta Decreased in population because lack of breeding spots

Langbian Sunbird Beautiful sounds. Like to breed in bird houses and like to living close to people

Vietnamese Cutia Likely to breed in a bird house, sometimes also found in mountain cracks up to 2300m

Red Crossbill Red listed species, favored by extra breeding spots

Fig 10: Specialties Birds in Southern Vietnam. (images from: https://vietnambirds.net/endemic-and-specialties-birds-in-southern-vietnam/)

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POPULATION AND SEASON

Annam Sunbird Rusty-naped Fulvetta Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush Blue-rumped Pitta Dalat Shrike Babbler Blue Pitta Red Crossbill Black-crowned Barwing Bar-bellied Pitta Orange-breasted Laughingthrush Indochinese Green Magpie Grey-crowned Crocias Black-headed Parrotbill Alstrom’s warbler Indochinese Fulvetta Vietnamese Greenfinch Vietnamese Cutia Langbian Sunbird Black-hooded Laughingthrush Germain’s Peacok Pheasant Orange-necked Partridge

Fig 35: Diagram illustrate of Specialties Birds in the South Vietnam (Data collected from: https://ebird.org/)

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DESIGN CRITERIA FOR LANDSCAPE DECIDUOUS SHRUBS

CONIFER SHRUBS

EVERGREEN SHRUBS

BASSWOOD TREE

EVERGREEN TREES

DECIDUOUS TREES

STONES

ROCKS

AQUATIC PLANTS

TREE BRANCHES

PLUMERIA

HIBISCUS

DAISY

YELLOW MIMOSA

SCRUBLANDS & FORESTS (50%)

MAIN HABITATS

WETLANDS & FARMLANDS (35%)

SCENT (15%)

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DESIGN CRITERIA FOR COMPUMENTRY HABITATS

BIRD HOUSE L HOLE SIZE: 50mm OVAL

BIRD HOUSE M HOLE SIZE: 35mm OVAL

BIRD HOUSE (ELONGATED) HOLE TYPE 1: 200x50mm

BIRD HOUSE (ELONGATED) HOLE TYPE 2: 200x70mm

BIRD HOUSE S HOLE SIZE: 32mm OVAL

SEASONAL NESTS

COMPONENTRY HABITATS HUMAN-MADE

OTHER FUNCTION

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BIRD FEEDER

BAT HOUSE

BEE HOUSE

BIRD HOUSE XS HOLE SIZE: 28mm OVAL

METHODOLOGY 2.

Heritage survey

Key elements a. Heritage data b. Heritage adaptation

Fig 36: SaiGon old map 1900 - Colonial period. (image from:https://virtual-saigon.net/Maps/ Source?ID=1076) Fig 37: SaiGon old map 1968 - Vietnam war.(https://saigoneer.com/saigon-heritage/1366massive-old-map-of-saigon-1968) Fig 38: SaiGon map 2020.

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Site

HERITAGE MAP IN 1900 (COLONIAL PERIOD - FRENCH) 46

Site

HERITAGE MAP IN 1968 (VIETNAM WAR PERIOD) 47

Site

HERITAGE MAP IN 2020 (HERITAGES WERE REPLACED BY NEW BUILDINGS - BLUE) 48

HERITAGES MAPPING AT THE SITE LOT 3: DRY DOCK

LOT 2: THE WAREHOUSE

LOT 1: BOMBED AREA

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HERITAGE CONSERVATION TOOLS DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS REASONS FOR LOSING HERITAGE • • • •

Not on the list of government buildings Cannot keep the main function of the building The importance of colonial heritages has not been assessed yet Haven’t found right strategies to bring in revenue from heritage sites

Development rights usually check with the most quantity of ground place permissible on a zoning lot. When the real constructed ground place is much less than the most per­mitted ground place, the distinction is mentioned as “unused improvement rights.”

TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHT (TDR)

ZONING LOT MERGER

ADAPTIVE REUSE

A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP In a public-private partnership (PPP), the design team is part of a bidder (private) consortium that combines design, construction, financing, and operational services into a single contract with the government (public).

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

HERITAGE TOURISM 50

COMMUNITY RIGHTS

FLEXIBLE POLICY

PROFIT DISTRIBUTION

DATA ANALYSIS

1 VISUAL CONNECTION LOT 1: WAR MEMORIAL AREA

LOT 2: INDUSTRIAL COLONIAL HERITAGES

CONNECTION

3 NUTURAL CONNECTION 4 HOW THE NATURAL ELEMENT OF THE SITE AFFECT TO URBAN LANDSCAPE

LOT 3: WAR MEMORIAL AREA & INDUSTRIAL COLONIAL HERITAGES (NEW EVENLOPE)

FUTURE BUILDINGS (SHARING AIR RIGHT)

NEW CITY IN THE FUTURE

2 COMMUNITY CONNECTION

CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE (EXISTING BUILDINGS)

CENTRAL PARK GREEN BRIDGE

FUTURE TRAIN STATION

1 4 3

2

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OPPORTUNITIES PHASES

LOTS

3R RULE

LOT 1 RETENTION

HERITAGE CONSERVATION TOOLS

- AIR RIGHT - PEELING - COMMUNITIES RIGHTS

DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS

- AIR RIGHT - INSERTIONS - COMMUNITIES RIGHTS

RESTORATION

ADAPTIVE REUSE

LOT 2

- PARASITES - PARASITES-STACK

RE-DEVELOPMENT

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

- HERITAGE TOURISM - FLEXIBLE POLICY - PROFIT DISTRIBUTION - COMMUNITY RIGHTS

LOT 3

LIVING HERITAGES CONTEXT OF THE SITE

INDUSTRIAL COLONIAL HERITAGES 52

WAR MEMORIAL AREA

CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE

NATURE

METHODOLOGY 3.

Study of Precedent

Key elements

a. Industrial Tanks on Brooklyn Waterfront (Ken Smith Workshop)

b. Ratho Community Centre (Gergana Negovanska)

c. “Mirage-Like” Landmark for Middle East

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a.

Industrial Tanks on Brooklyn Waterfront

Design Site Status

: : :

Ken Smith Workshop Brooklyn’s, New York, USA Winning Project 2019

The tank is important due to its history on the Williamsburg waterfront in Brooklyn.

Tanks include birch and wildflower picnic gloves, a pool of hanging vines, a 250-seat theater, rocky landscapes and adventure playgrounds, and to re-grow the devastated oyster populations of New York Harbor. Can accommodate oyster farms. When dealing with forgotten and unused structures, there is no manual that specifies appropriate measures. Still, sustainable methods support an adaptive approach in which these structures can be reused and preserved, take their shape and cannot be removed from the skyline. In fact, rehabilitation can have a myriad of faces and you can imagine the infinite possibilities of the program..

Fig 39: Industrial Tanks on Brooklyn Waterfront. (image from: https://www.archdaily.com/922294/architects-propose-to-repurpose-decommissioned-industrial-tanks-on-brooklyns-waterfront)

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b.

Ratho Community Centre

Design Site Status

: : :

Gergana Negovanska West Lothian, Scotland Winning Project 2021

Located along one of the major biodiversity corridors in southern Scotland, the project creates an elevated lightweight structure that minimizes obstruction and protects existing trees, and habitat walls (human and non-human). Enhances the site’s rich ecosystem by including a designed interface between communities of. Finding value in the components of a “temporary” library shed, THE LASTSTRAW challenges a linear model of resource usage and facilitates the rehabilitation, reuse and expansion of this highly beloved community building. The project is tailored to the life cycle of the building and promotes continuous circulation in the technical and biological cycle.

Fig 40: Ratho Community Centre. (image from: http://www.presidentsmedals.com/Entry-54261)

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c.

“Mirage-Like” Landmark for Middle East

Design Site Status

: : :

Sou Fujimoto Architects United Arab Emirates Winning Project 2013

Sou Fujimoto Architects has released details of a conceptual master plan for a wellknown but anonymous commercial facility in a Middle Eastern city. Located between the educational and financial hubs, the modular complex is currently in use, reinterpreting “the vibrant atmosphere and quality of traditional markets” and “the inherent beauty of native Islamic architecture”. Create a city that creates “timeless” landmarks on some of the markets that aren’t there.

The Souk Mirage, or “Particle of Light” master plan, consists of a modular structural system of arches that vary in size depending on the program. Originally “inspired by the harmonious silhouette of a traditional Bedouin tent,” the arch is a complex retail, office and cultural complex with a “unique and timeless architectural representation” centered around a public atrium. It aims to provide a simple organizational system that provides a central framework.

Fig 41: “Mirage-Like” Landmark for Middle East. (image from:https://www.archdaily.com/451090/sou-fujimoto-proposes-souk-mirage-master-plan-for-middle-east)

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SUMMARY OF FINDINGS PRECEDENT 1

DESIGN CRITERIA

Industrial Tanks on Brooklyn Waterfront

- Low cost in reusing forgotten structures - Traditional definition and configuration of public space

MAINTAINING CULTURAL AND CIVIC VALUE OF FORGOTTEN STRUCTURES

Reimagines industrial relics

Celebrate demonstrated typology

PRECEDENT 2

Ratho Community Centre

- Circular economy of reusing a soon-to-be-demolished shed.

- Promotes the rehabilitation of biodiversity

INTERSECTING HUMAN AND ANIMAL COMMUNITIES

Habitat wall

Respones to site’s rich ecology

PRECEDENT 3

“Mirage-Like” Landmark for Middle East

- Play with light and shadow by the transparency of the arches - Passive cooling systems

BLENDS THE NATURE WITH ARCHITECTURE

Microclmate

Invisible boundary 57

PROJECT PROBLEMS SUMMARY • • • •

Habitat loss Disappearing urban birds Urban issues: urbanization and noise pollution The loss of colonial architecture

PURPOSES OF THE DESIGN • Reconnect with maritime heritage sites while replenishing habitat for vulnerable species.

• A historic space and buildings that change with the seasons help to increase residents’ understanding of the heritage sites as well as their knowledge of how to protect birds • Design must be in keeping with functional requirements re-adapting indigenous heritage while also encouraging future creative exploration.

• The design needs to create a journey for the visitor’s experience, engaging them with the foundational spiritual values, emphasizing sustainable development.

• The quality of the design should be carefully considered and maintained at an appropriate scale so as not to affect the existing structures of the site and to maintain the quality of the habitat surrounding the site.

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ECO ARCHITECTURE

FRAMEWORK

CONCEPTUAL PROPERTIES

1.

2.

3.

4.

• • • •

Citizens (Perception) Object (Bird communities) Site (Heritage area) Natural Habitat (The concept that links all)

Negative and positive space Blur the boundaries Maintain heritage value Blends the nature with architecture

METHODOLOGY

CHARACTERISTICS

ARCHITECTURAL TOPICS

• Study of bird species • Heritage survey • Study of Precedents

• Balanced co-existence for both animals and human • Empathetic to urban birds

• Sustainable design • Adaptive reuse

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DESIGN BRIEF

Funtional Requirements Main habitat (Landscape - 4,6 ha)

- Forest and scrublands habitats :

- Wetlands and farmlands habitats : - Scent :

2,3 ha 1.61 ha 0.7 ha

Compumentry habitat (Buildings - 1.9 ha)

- Lot 1: Playgrounds :

- Lot 2: Book exchange :

- Lot 3: Nests module and Gallery:

6000m2 4320m2 8640m2

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PROJECT DRAWING Key elements

-Core theorical concept

-Lot 1 - Bombed area

-Lot 2- Industrial warehouse

-Lot 3- Dry dock

: The next chapter of story : The domination of nature : Intersecting human and bird communities : Living like the bird

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CORE THEORETICAL CONCEPTS The next chapter of the story The city has gone through two main periods: war and industry, the legacy left behind will be the city’s own milestones and stories. In the modern era, the natural environment and heritage sites gradually give space to new buildings. Therefore, the main idea of the project is to find ways to make the heritage sites adaptable to present and future times, while also retaining their unique character.

The main structural components of the heritage sites will be prioritized to be retained, while the natural element will be the bridge between the heritage sites and the contemporary architecture. The aim is to create more green space for the city, as well as diversify the bird habitat as a sustainable development.

In addition, new structures must also be flexible and easy to assemble or disassemble for enabling the next generation of the city to write their stories of the area building on the existing heritage in the future.

Fig 42: Using negative space (Red) formed from new structure to represent warehouse block has been dismantled

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Visual connection

Waterways connection

Because the site was once a seaport serving military and industry, the element of connecting the view from the air or from the river is extremely important to recall the old landmark of Saigon. From a dilapidated harbour, which has been proposed to be demolished, the creation of green space not only helps to increase the efficiency of the landscape but also contributes to the sustainable development of the city that maintain the unique of old SaiGon but still able to adapt to the development.

The city is facing an overload of road traffic. The opening of the waterway station not only contributes to the reduction of congestion in the area, but also reduces urban noise pollution. The design of the pier creates an arc that protects a part of the wet internal habitat for bird communities while connecting with the outside waterways.

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THE DOMINATION OF NATURE Lot 1 - Playgrounds As a military port during the war, the area was bombed many times. After each devastation from humans, the germ of life from nature still crept in and rose up to find life.

The play area will be shaped by nature and birds. The reuse of steel structures such as stairs or walkways from the old industrial area creates a miniature maze with random spaces to help stimulate children’s curiosity in this area.

Fig 43: BaSon ShipYard - Alexandre Garel (image from:https://www.historicvietnam.com/ba-son-shipyard/)

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67

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INTERSECTING HUMAN AND BIRD COMMUNITIES Lot 2 - Book Exchange The building in lot 2 used to be an old warehouse that was barely enclosed on the facade.

The proposed adaptation of this shed is a bird-friendly building’s skin. The habitat wall is the intersection of humans inside and birds outside. To ensure the privacy of forest birds, which are kept away from predators, the nests are connected to a bookshelf inside the book exchange. As a result, people may inadvertently observe birds through a small glass during their book exchange.

Fig 44: Bason Warehouses (image from:http://www.historicvietnam.com/ba-son-shipyard/)

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LIVING LIKE THE BIRD Lot 3 - Maritime gallery and seasonal bird nests The estate in Lot 3 is the last largest remaining dry dock in the city. Taking advantage of the terrain of the dock, an exhibition area below leads viewers to recall memories of the shipyard by the inside gallery and the outdoor passages arranged across the dry dock. To protect this large concrete block, a roof system with air chambers disperses light directly into the dock, while the two blocks above take advantage of the temperature difference from the concrete dock to make passive cooler for itself. In addition, the blocks above include bird nest modules and bird watching towers to help connect residents in the city with the nature.

Fig5: Dry Dock under construction in 1887 (image from:http://www.historicvietnam.com/saigons-new-dry-dock-1888/)

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CONCEPT

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THREE NESTS MODULE

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TERMITE MOUNDS SYSTEM - BIOMIMETIC ARCHITECTURE

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DARK NEST

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LIGHT NEST

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SIGNIFICANCE

Depending on the level of biodiversity at the site, the designs include biodiversity conservation, reintroduction of previous bird species, remaining water sources, education, and green design for local building. I expected that the efficiency of design proposals would bring people in this field a good life experience that connects with nature.

This study reveals the benefits of a bird-friendly design to ensure the biodiversity needed for the well-being of Ho Chi Minh City’s inhabitants. In my opinion, good design is not only useful for people, but also valuable for animals and nature. Therefore, this study will advance the important relationship between architecture and birds in an urbanized world.

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Thank you for listening us !

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LOT 1- THE DOMINATION OF NATURE

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LOT 2- INTERSECTING HUMAN AND BIRD COMMUNITIES

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LOT 3 - LIVING LIKE THE BIRD

DRY DOCK

The estate in Lot 3 is the last largest remaining dry dock in the city. Taking advantage of the terrain of the dock, an exhibition area below leads viewers to recall memories of the shipyard by the inside gallery and the outdoor passages arranged across the dry dock. To protect this large concrete block, a roof system with air chambers disperses light directly into the dock, while the two blocks above take advantage of the temperature difference from the concrete dock to make passive cooler for itself. In addition, the blocks above include bird nest modules and bird watching towers to help connect residents in the city with the nature.

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SEASONAL NESTS MODULE

BIRD SOUND TREATMENT Bird songs are considered as most common natural sound for restorative stress and attention fatigue. Motivation to work can be enhanced by listening to natural soundscapes such as river and bird sounds instead of office sounds. The birdsong also can help people to activate their lost senses. The birdsong also can help people to activate their lost senses. For example, people can realize the change of seasons through initial vocalizations of many seasonal species such as the white-crowned sparrow BIOMIMECTIC ARCHITECTURE

INDOOR NEST

OUTDOOR NEST

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REFERENCES Bonebrake, Timothy C., Evan J. Pickett, Toby P. N. Tsang, Chung Yun Tak, Manh Quang Vu, and Lien Van Vu. 2016. "Warming Threat Compounds Habitat Degradation Impacts on a Tropical Butterfly Community in Vietnam." Global Ecology and Conservation 8: 203-211. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2016.09.003.

Brainard, Michael S., and Allison J. Doupe. 2002. "What Songbirds Teach Us About Learning." Nature 417 (6886): 351-358. https://doi.org/10.1038/417351a.

Buxton, Rachel T., Amber L. Pearson, Claudia Allou, Kurt Fristrup, and George Wittemyer. 2021. "A Synthesis of Health Benefits of Natural Sounds and Their Distribution in National Parks." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 118 (14): e2013097118. https://doi.org/doi:10.1073/pnas.2013097118.

Cerra, Joshua F., and Rhiannon Crain. 2016. "Urban Birds and Planting Design: Strategies for Incorporating Ecological Goals into Residential Landscapes."

Urban Ecosystems 19 (4): 1823-1846. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-016-0570-0.

Gelb, Jeremy, and Philippe Apparicio. 2019. "Noise Exposure of Cyclists in Ho Chi Minh City: A Spatio-Temporal Analysis Using Non-Linear Models." Applied Acoustics 148: 332-343. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apacoust.2018.12.031.

Huu Nguyen, Hoang, Paul Dargusch, Patrick Moss, and Da Binh Tran. 2016. "A Review of the Drivers of 200 Years of Wetland Degradation in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam." Regional Environmental Change 16 (8): 2303-2315. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-016-0941-3.

Ikin, Karen, Adrian Manning, Emma Knight, Joern Fischer, and David Lindenmayer. 2010. "Using Bird–Habitat Relationships to Inform Urban Planning."

Landscape and Urban Planning - LANDSCAPE URBAN PLAN 98: 13-25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2010.07.006.

Kaushal, R., Pankaj Panwar, S. Sarvade, J. M. S. Tomar, and Om Prakash Chaturvedi. 2017. "Agroforestry for Biodiversity Conservation." In, edited 363-378.

Li, Binbin V., Alice C. Hughes, Clinton N. Jenkins, Natalia Ocampo-Peñuela, and Stuart L. Pimm. 2016. "Remotely Sensed Data Informs Red List Evaluations and Conservation Priorities in Southeast Asia." PLOS ONE 11 (8): e0160566. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0160566.

Mackinnon, John. 2001. "Threatened Birds of Asia: The Birdlife International Red Data Book. Collar, N.J., (Editor-in-Chief), Andreev, A.V., Chan, S., Crosby, M.J., Subramanya, S. And Tobias, J.A. Maps by Rudyanto and M. J. Crosby. Birdlife International, Cambridge. 3,038 Pages, in Two Volumes, £55.00."

Bird Conservation International 11 (4): 325-328. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0959270901210375.

Pattberg, Philipp. 2007. "Conquest, Domination and Control: Europe’s Mastery of Nature in Historic Perspective." Journal of Political Ecology 14. https://doi.org/10.2458/v14i1.21681.

Ratcliffe, Eleanor, Birgitta Gatersleben, and Paul T. Sowden. 2013. "Bird Sounds and Their Contributions to Perceived Attention Restoration and Stress Recovery." Journal of Environmental Psychology 36: 221-228. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2013.08.004.

Sarasamma, Surya. 2016. "Biodiversity and Bird Friendly Design in Urban Areas for Sustainable Living." Indian Journal of Science and Technology 9. https://doi.org/10.17485/ijst/2016/v9i5/87224.

Snep, Robbert P. H., Jip Louwe Kooijmans, Robert G. M. Kwak, Ruud P. B. Foppen, Holly Parsons, Monica Awasthy, Henk L. K. Sierdsema et al. 2016. "Urban Bird Conservation: Presenting Stakeholder-Specific Arguments for the Development of Bird-Friendly Cities." Urban Ecosystems 19 (4): 1535-1550. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-015-0442-z.

Soga, Masashi, and Kevin J. Gaston. 2016. "Extinction of Experience: The Loss of Human–Nature Interactions." Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 14 (2): 94-101. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.1225.

Taylor, Lucy, Charlotte Taylor, and Adrian Davis. 2013. "The Impact of Urbanisation on Avian Species: The Inextricable Link between People and Birds."

Urban Ecosystems 16 (3): 481-498. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-012-0283-y.

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APPENDICIES

How can we upgrade and adapt existing transparent building envelopes to ensure their sustainability and energy efficiency whilst securing biodiversity and reducing the mortality of native birds in the Ho Chi Minh City?

MAIN OBJECTIVE: • To provide the habitat for local and migratory birds and enrich the biodiversity of the city.

• To support plans for the transformation of heritage sites in the city.

SUB-OBJECTIVE: •

Make a list of bird-safe design requirements for all open spaces and greenery in buildings.

•

Discover design strategies for connecting buildings’ greenery with the urban landscapes to make a green network for bird communities in city design.

•

Investigate settling propensities of distinctive species and investigate diverse sorts of birds’ homes such as cavities, pendants, or stages in arrange to be able to adjust the existing highlights of buildings without critical extra costs.

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ABSTRACT

Thankfully we still see many birds in our cities. Hopefully, they will continue to sing their songs for us in the next decades.

Natural sounds formed by birds is one few arts that has been lost in the modern cities.

According to Buxton et al. (1,2021), public health can be bolstered by natural sounds whose benefits include decreased pain and lower stress for people. However, because of the ideology of humans positioning themselves above nature, the clearing of native vegetation for agriculture, industry, and housing has caused massive extinction of a lot bird species due to habitat loss over the past two decades. Currently in the south Viet Nam, only approximately 1-1.5% of wetlands are still remaining in a natural or semi-natural state, especially Mekong Delta where was once one of the world’s great wetlands (Huu Nguyen et al. 2016, 2304). Ho Chi Minh City, like most cities, was developed around the Saigon River as river basins provided the best natural environment for cultivation.

There are many steps in the wrong direction of urban development and poor designs from the 20th century which caused serious damages to biodiversity and native animal habitat in Ho Chi Minh City. Reacting to this situation, this thesis proposes a responsibility from construction industry in the man-made environment and buildings to ensure a balanced co-existence for both animals and human benefit equally.

The research will also focus on building envelope design that is possible to upgrade and adopt immemorial buildings in Ho Chi Minh City to restore habitat loss for birds. The outcome of this research will be a number of proposals purpose-designed to upgrade and adapt existing heritage in the urban realm for the provision of safe bird habitat and to reconcile the relationship between contemporary architecture and the natural landscape in Ho Chi Minh City.

Fig 8: Forgotten Songs - Art installation of bird cages at Angel Place, Sydney. (image from:https://www.lottaaxing. se/2015/06/03/forgotten-songs/)

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i- Humans’ ideology The humans’ ideology of domination over nature through decades

Fig1: God as Architect, Builder, Geometer or Craftsman. (image from: http://www.luminarium.org/encyclopedia/toledobible.htm)

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Fig2: Humans dominate the nature. (image from: https:// farmmanagementsoftwer.wordpress.com/2014/06/09/ the-history-of-agricultural-development/)

Fig3: The era of glass and concrete. (image from: https:// www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/10/28/ why-the-industrial-revolution-didnt-happen-in-china/)

ii- Losing touch with nature: A lack of connection with nature: covid 19 has increased the distance between humans and nature

Fig 4: People and nature in the past. (image from: http:// www.superpt.es/emocionario-12-la-aceptacion/)

Fig 5: The modern life. (image from:https://www.artlimited. net/33619/art/painting-commuticon-mixed-media-people-everyday-life-urbanites/en/577848/)

Fig 6: The internet cannot connect us with nature. (image from: https://izispicy.com/2013/08/07/social_problems_depicted_in_cool_cartoon_art_62_pics-1.html)

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iii- The role of biodiversity and bird communities in urban areas:

Fig 7: The benefits provied by biodiversity. (Kaushal et al. 2017, 364)

Fig 7: Biodiversity in Urban Environments. (Brainard and Doupe 2002, 353)

Fig 7: The impacts of biodiversity loss. (Kaushal et al. 2017, 365)

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PROBLEMS The current situation of bird communities in Asia:

THREATENED BIRD SPECIES IN THE ASIAN REGION Nearly 1000 species have been identified for a high risk of deterioration in Asia (fig ). Although the total of bird species in Asia is 323. However, groups of Critical and Endangered bird species which the chance of surviving has been estimated 50% in the next 10 years are 41 and 65 species (fig ). This is the most worry for Asian avifauna.

Fig 12: Extinctions and critically edangered species in number. (image from: https://www.iucnredlist.org/)

Fig 13: the major cause of endangerment in birds in the Asian region.

(Mackinnon 2001, 33)

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PROBLEMS The current situation of bird communities in Vietnam:

HABITAT LOSS

THE LACK OF PROCTED AREAS

Woodland and wetland ranges are being quickly diminished, and various plant and creature species are presently beneath risk. Vietnamese biological systems, such as the tropical timberland, are both assorted and delicate and will effortlessly break down with sporadic climate variances.

However, the protected areas in the south of Vietnam seem to have disappeared because of urban development.

South Vietnam

1943

1960 Fig 13: Forest loss over the period 1943-1982 in Vietnam. (images from: http://tiempo.sei-international.org/portal/archive/vietnam/impact4.htm)

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1982 Fig 10: Protected areas for wildlife animals in South & Southeast Asia (Li et al. 2016,4)

THE DENSITY OF BIRD SPECIES IN VIETNAM

THREATENED BIRD SPECIES IN VIETNAM

Birds migrate from the north to the south of Vietnam following the breeding season. Therefore, the south of Vietnam is one of the important areas for biodiversity.

Although Vietnam is located in the East Asian-Australian flyways which is the biggest migratory bird flyway of Asia (fig ) , threatened species in Vietnam (red) also has been recorded in high-risk group with nearly 40 species (fig ).

Fig 12: Vietnamese bird communities map (image from: https://www.iucnredlist.org/)

Fig 11: Asian migratory bird flyways. (image from: http:// datazone.birdlife.org/)

Fig 13: The major cause of endangerment in birds in the Asian region.

(Mackinnon 2001, 35)

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PROBLEMS Disappearing urban birds:

Life release is a conventional Buddhist hone of sparing the lives of creatures that were destined for slaughter. However, this inadvertently became a form of business and illegal bird hunting.

Fig 13: The survey of urban birds

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Fig 13: Peddled mobile birds seller’s motorcycle. (images from: https://www.traffic.org/)

PROBLEMS Urban issues of Sai Gon Saigon is considered a concrete city with only 4% of the green area. area The only green space in the northwest of the city is the airport, where it is almost impossible to share the use rights with the community. Therefore, with the lack of trees, the habitat for birds in saigon has been fragmented. Since 1990, the urbanization rate in Saigon is seen as showing no signs of slowing down with the rate of concretization increasing almost 100% from the central core (fig ). Besides, noise pollution is also one of the alarming situations of the city. As can be seen from the sound measurement charts from the city districts, the noise from vehicles as well as city activities reaches the threshold of 78-80 dB most days of the week and peak hours (fig ). This noise pollution not only affects animals but also causes some diseases such as sound stress for people living near the city center.

Therefore, it is necessary to create more space and provide shelter for the birds because the singing of birds can help reduce the pressures of urban noise.

Fig 11: Green and blue infrastructure in Saigon, Vietnam.

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1990

2001

2015

Fig 13: Urban development in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. (images from: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Urban-development-in-Ho-Chi-Minh-City-and-Shanghai-Note-the-construction-land-in-Ho-Chi_fig5_346441549)

Fig 13: Noise mean values by day, hour, and district.

(Gelb and Apparicio 2019, 337)

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PROBLEMS Disappearing colonial architecture:

Tax Trade Centre from 1880-2016

2010

1880

2016

The Municipal theater from 1990-2016

1990

2016

Fig 13: Lost heritage of old Saigon. (image from: https://futuresoutheastasia.com/lost-heritage-of-old-saigon/)

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SITE Ba Son Shipyard, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

The site will be located in Ba Son Shipyard where is oldest, most important, and largest maritime heritage in central business district (CBD) of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). The site has a long history With 6.5ha land (3 lots) available for community development

Fig4: Me Linh Square (image from: https:// vietnambiz.vn/dong-tien-doanh-nghiep-batdong-san-manh-yeu-ra-sao-sau-nua-daunam-2021080400081225.htm)

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A WRONG STEP IN THE DEVELOPMENT

Fig4: Me Linh Square (image from: https://vietnambiz.vn/dong-tien-doanh-nghiep-bat-dong-san-manh-yeu-ra-saosau-nua-dau-nam-2021080400081225.htm)

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Above the sea level

350m

Germain’s Peacok Pheasant Stay in South Vietnam all year round, like to live near people

from 400m to 1200m

Blue-rumped Pitta Beautiful sounds. Red listed species which is need of support through bird houes

Bar-bellied Pitta Like to breed in bird houses and like to living close to people

Orange-necked Partridge Stay in South VietNam during summer time for breeding

Orange-breasted Laughingthrush Red listed species, favored by extra breeding spots

Black-hooded Laughingthrush Like to live and breed in cooler and milder climate

Black-headed Parrotbill One of Vietnamese smallest birds with 25 cm wing span

Annam Sunbird Red listed species, favored by extra breeding spots

Vietnamese Cutia Likely to breed in a bird house, sometimes also found in mountain cracks

Black-crowned Barwing Breeding couple times for 5 years and likely to return to the same spot

Indochinese Fulvetta Decreased in population because lack of breeding spots

up to 2150m

Blue Pitta Red listed species, need extra breeding spots during winter

Vietnamese Greenfinch Red listed species, favored by extra breeding spots

Alstrom’s warbler Stay in West-South VietNam, picks the breeding spots in March

Dalat Shrike Babbler The only Vietnames bird that can crawl downwards and upwards

Indochinese Green Magpie Red listed species, favored by extra breeding spots

Rusty-naped Fulvetta Very social communicative species, picks the breeding spots in July

Langbian Sunbird Beautiful sounds. Like to breed in bird houses and like to living close to people

Grey-crowned Crocias Prefers to breed in bird houses, can be placed quite low

Red Crossbill Red listed species, favored by extra breeding spots

Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush Red listed species, favored by extra breeding spots

up to 2300m

Fig 10: Specialties Birds in Southern Vietnam. (images from: https://vietnambirds.net/endemic-and-specialties-birds-in-southern-vietnam/)

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AN ANALYSIS OF SPECIALTIES BIRDS IN THE SOUTHERN VIETNAM 2014-2017

Annam Sunbird Rusty-naped Fulvetta Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush Blue-rumped Pitta Dalat Shrike Babbler Blue Pitta Red Crossbill Black-crowned Barwing Bar-bellied Pitta Orange-breasted Laughingthrush Indochinese Green Magpie Grey-crowned Crocias Black-headed Parrotbill Alstrom’s warbler Indochinese Fulvetta Vietnamese Greenfinch Vietnamese Cutia Langbian Sunbird Black-hooded Laughingthrush Germain’s Peacok Pheasant Orange-necked Partridge

Diagram illustrate of Specialties Birds in the South Vietnam (Data collected from: https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/avibasePDF/checklist.pdf?region=vn&list=howardmoore&synlang=&lang=EN&format=1)

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METHODOLOGY 2.

Heritage survey Key elements a. Heritage data b. Digital communication

Fig5: Saigon Me Linh Tower on an area of about 6,000 square meters (image from: https:// vietnambiz.vn/doanh-nghiep-xin-nop-hon-2700-ty-de-tiep-tuc-lam-du-an-2-4-6-hai-batrung-20220121162837336.htm)

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CONCEPT DESIGN

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a. Lot 1 - The dominant of Nature

Functions Movement

Greenery

Heritage

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b. Lot 2- The bird-friendly building skin

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c. Lot 3- Invisible boundary

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CORE THEORETICAL IDEA

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BIRD NESTS MODULE

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INDIRECT NATURAL LIGHT

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GREEN BRIDGE

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BLUR THE BOUNDARY

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SHADING TESTING

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IDEA BIRD CAGE FOR HUMANS

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