The Vo Trong Nghia-designed Roc Von restaurant opened in rural Vietnam earlier this year
Vietnamese architect Vo Trong Nghia has told CLADmag that real estate developers must push for green design practices if human beings are to survive and prosper.
Nghia – who is best known for his intricate bamboo leisure buildings – said humans have become too disconnected from nature, “causing conflict, wars and the destruction of the planet.
“Capitalism requires development, but development needs a lot of energy,” he said. “If we continue to develop at this rate, in this way, we’ll keep destroying nature and then we’re facing the end. In Asia, the problem is very serious because the population is so big. Mega cities face pollution, traffic jams, the destruction of greenery. It’s a mentality problem – developers cannot be calmed down, they always require development.
“Our challenge as architects across the world is dealing with high density, high consumption, high energy while moving closer to nature. In the very near future we have to become more green – using things like green walls and roofs and environmental materials. Otherwise, we will all die very soon because of climate change, conflict and misuse of technology.”
Nghia’s studio promote this nature friendly philosophy in their work, particularly in their leisure designs such as Naman Retreat and Roc Von restaurant in Vietnam, and their contribution to the 2016 Venice Architecture Biennale – a meditation zone surrounded by plants.
“With all our projects we look at the surrounding nature and see how we can harmonise with that,” said Nghia. “Restaurants, cafés and hotels don’t have to be concrete, especially in tropical climates. Nice design is about function and beauty, of course, but also how to make humans much more connected to nature. We hope our projects can persuade people living nearby to think this way.
“We also use our work to try and persuade clients about the benefits of our approach. The problem is maintenance – developers think it’s too expensive to maintain green buildings. In fact, it’s not as expensive as they think. We have to change people’s mindsets.”
Nghia himself arrived at his nature-conscious mindset after taking up meditation. He and his staff meditate twice a day, and he has attended five Vipanassa courses, where you spend 10 days in silence and devote your time to meditation.
He told CLADmag: “I think anyone, not only creative people, should refresh themselves this way. It changes your way of observing the world and your perspective. People think of human beings and nature as two separate things, but humans are just a small part of nature.
“It can help us to care more for the natural world. Without this philosophy, we’re finished.”
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally
opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its
next phase. [more...]
The Vo Trong Nghia-designed Roc Von restaurant opened in rural Vietnam earlier this year
Vietnamese architect Vo Trong Nghia has told CLADmag that real estate developers must push for green design practices if human beings are to survive and prosper.
Nghia – who is best known for his intricate bamboo leisure buildings – said humans have become too disconnected from nature, “causing conflict, wars and the destruction of the planet.
“Capitalism requires development, but development needs a lot of energy,” he said. “If we continue to develop at this rate, in this way, we’ll keep destroying nature and then we’re facing the end. In Asia, the problem is very serious because the population is so big. Mega cities face pollution, traffic jams, the destruction of greenery. It’s a mentality problem – developers cannot be calmed down, they always require development.
“Our challenge as architects across the world is dealing with high density, high consumption, high energy while moving closer to nature. In the very near future we have to become more green – using things like green walls and roofs and environmental materials. Otherwise, we will all die very soon because of climate change, conflict and misuse of technology.”
Nghia’s studio promote this nature friendly philosophy in their work, particularly in their leisure designs such as Naman Retreat and Roc Von restaurant in Vietnam, and their contribution to the 2016 Venice Architecture Biennale – a meditation zone surrounded by plants.
“With all our projects we look at the surrounding nature and see how we can harmonise with that,” said Nghia. “Restaurants, cafés and hotels don’t have to be concrete, especially in tropical climates. Nice design is about function and beauty, of course, but also how to make humans much more connected to nature. We hope our projects can persuade people living nearby to think this way.
“We also use our work to try and persuade clients about the benefits of our approach. The problem is maintenance – developers think it’s too expensive to maintain green buildings. In fact, it’s not as expensive as they think. We have to change people’s mindsets.”
Nghia himself arrived at his nature-conscious mindset after taking up meditation. He and his staff meditate twice a day, and he has attended five Vipanassa courses, where you spend 10 days in silence and devote your time to meditation.
He told CLADmag: “I think anyone, not only creative people, should refresh themselves this way. It changes your way of observing the world and your perspective. People think of human beings and nature as two separate things, but humans are just a small part of nature.
“It can help us to care more for the natural world. Without this philosophy, we’re finished.”
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
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Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
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Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
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Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its
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A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’
planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–
Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism inv
Shedd Aquarium has opened the Immersion Theater developed in partnership with SimEx-
Iwerks, as part of a wider strategy to enhance the guest experience and create additional
revenue opportunities.
The UK government has announced a temporary reduction in VAT on visitor attractions and
children’s meals as part of a summer cost-of-living support package designed to stimulate the
visitor economy and encourage family days out.
As designer Yinka Ilori prepares for his first solo gallery show in London, he speaks exclusively
to CLADmag about his mission to spread joy, the power of play, and his bold approach to using
colour (including the colours you won’t see in his work).
The government of Thailand is exploring plans for a THB300bn (£6.3bn, US$8.3bn)
entertainment complex in the country’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), with officials
proposing a large-scale theme park and sports destination as part of a broader tourism and
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