(Click images to enlarge) This project was both a Year 3 Design Studio and competition entry for the 3rd International Design Competition: Reimagining Cities Towards Carbon Neutrality held by the Institute of Smart City and Management. The brief entailed reimagining the area of North Phuoc Thang, North of Vung Tau City, Vietnam. The challenge involved proposing a program that showcased an innovative approach to improve the quality of urban life, achieving carbon neutrality. The idea must accommodate the entire range of demographics, and boards displaying site information, visions, goals, and strategies of proposal. The manifesto of carbon neutrality and the identity of the city should be clearly detailed in how it improves the current government masterplan proposal. A maximum of 5 boards, and a minimum of 3 boards at A1 can be used. The area of North Phuoc Thang must remain interconnected to the wider Ba Ria Province.
Final Competition Panels
Our final competition panels that were submitted displayed the narratives of our three threads, and our
strategy within each thread with the three softer lines throughout. Order of panels outlined story
with scale. Characters introduced problems and the effects of solutions. When describing phasing over
time, by using one character over time highlights the difference in interactions he has in parallel with
the corresponding changes.
strategy within each thread with the three softer lines throughout. Order of panels outlined story
with scale. Characters introduced problems and the effects of solutions. When describing phasing over
time, by using one character over time highlights the difference in interactions he has in parallel with
the corresponding changes.
Similarly we retained the highway to ensure connection to the surrounding cities, and to reduce unneccesary carbon emmissions. The boundary between land and water is explored and resolved to adapt and mitigate climate change. We also retained the main grain of the city, however allowing new infrastructure to bleed and weave between existing, allowing a soft integration, rather than erasing trace of current residents and considerations of their daily lives.
Iterative Development of Masterplan
To root these within the specific context, we looked to integrate the existing landscapes, structuring integrated zones along the edge to allow views both into the mangroves and city. We initially did not consider the current residents and their daily lives and look to integrate them within the urban fabric.
Designed Soft Green Boundary
By redesigning and enforcing a reimagined landscape, each species provides a different function that offsets changing environments, mitigating rising water levels, and erosion, and aids in moving towards carbon neutrality, thereby increasing biodiversity and providing an environment for a range of animals.
Building Typologies
Developing and adapting typologies for various building types according to usages and placement on land or water. We wanted some to become adaptable for different functions, integrating numerous uses for embedding amenities within the fabric of the city. Importance in focusing on how different typologies blend with the landscape, and with each other.
International Conference Ceremony in Vung Tau, Vietnam