HO CHI MINH CITYCOMMUNITY REFUGE

The climate in HCMC is vastly different to that of the UK the average temperature year round is 25 Degrees Celsius with two

distinct seasons: the dry and the rainy season. From May to October during the rainy season HCMC Floods twice a day

with a major floor happening on average 3 times a month. District 4 is an island so the possibility of flooding is very high.

The strong community unit of the Vietnamese people join to-gether in these times in order to get on with their daily lives.

The concept of my design is to replicate this strong community unit into one site in the Le Quoc Hung Area, by knitting these different elements of the surrounding area together, along the

natural boundary in this urban landscape. The theoretical agenda of my design is manipulate the functionality of the

spaces for different times of the day and year. Therefore the design becomes as efficient and co-ordinated as the people

that will be using it. With these thoughts in mind my design functions on a hierarchy of the frequency of the spaces used.

The functionality of these spaces include: a market place, sports hall, flooding refuge, charity organisation office space as well as

a children friendly area.

This project located in Ho Chí Minh City (HCMC) – Vietnam. As Vietnam’s largest city HCMC, it is divided into twenty-four

districts, of which the project is located in in District 4, the smallest of Ho Chí Minh City’s districts. District 4 is located on

a small island directly south of District 1, just across the Ben Nghé River. District 4 is one of the poorer areas of HCMC, the

area has an essential culture and economy that represents the lower income group, which takes up to 80% of the city’s

economy.

HCMC is beginning to redevelop the area closest to the Ben Nghé River by building many high rise apartment buildings, a

stark contrast to the ‘slums’ traditional housing. My site is situated along the threshold of many different elements:

warehouses, a primary school, a kindergarten school, the new high rise buildings to the north and the tradition row houses

of Vietnam to the south. Additionally there are many different street vendors both food and tailors in the immediate vicinity

of my site.

䜀刀伀唀一䐀 䘀䰀伀伀刀 倀䰀䄀一㨀

⸀

㈀⸀

㌀⸀

㐀⸀

㔀⸀

㘀⸀㜀⸀

⸀ 䌀栀椀氀搀爀攀渀밂猀 倀氀愀礀 䄀爀攀愀㈀⸀ 䌀漀瘀攀爀攀搀 䴀愀爀欀攀琀 倀氀愀挀攀㌀⸀ 䴀愀爀欀攀琀 匀琀愀氀氀밂猀 匀琀漀爀愀最攀㐀⸀ 䔀洀攀爀最愀渀挀礀 匀甀瀀瀀氀椀攀猀 匀琀漀爀愀最攀㔀⸀ 倀氀愀渀琀 刀漀漀洀㘀⸀ 䴀愀爀欀攀琀 匀琀漀爀愀最攀 㨀㈀　　

The design comprises of a steel structural frame that sits upon capped concrete piles, due to the composite of the ground be-

low. Along the length of the building the structural grid sits at 4 meters apart to replicate the tradition structure of the

Vietnamese row houses.

The steel frame continues into the roof structure which curves to embody the volume of space beneath, for example the sports

hall is a double height space and therefore this is the highest point of the roof it then curves down into the smaller spaces.

Due to there being no columns in the sports hall space the roof beams are deeper in order to accommodate the load and run

this load down into the boundary columns.

Incorporated into the steel structure is a concrete circulation core used for both bracing the building from lateral loads as well as being used to create a fire refuge. The cross bracing continues with steel cross bracing in both directions. Where the steel cross

bracing meets the columns there are attached using a moment joint to create a solid joint to prevent these lateral loads, and

where the bracing meets in the middle is a pin joint in order to allow some tolerance of movement during construction.

The concept of the design is to knit the community in the Le Quoc Hung area together by creating a place that linked the two

schools in the area together. The raised landscape which eventually rises up to 3 meters is at different levels allowing

different areas of space the largest level housing a playground for the children to play safely. The other levels have areas of shading allowing parents the chance to wait in comfort, as well as create

a safe place for people to participate in Buddhist practises (exercises at dawn and dusk). By using retaining walls

at the 4 meter intervals to support this landscape, it continue the structure beyond the building itself create a cohesive unit.

䜀刀伀唀一䐀 䘀䰀伀伀刀 倀䰀䄀一㨀

⸀

㈀⸀

㌀⸀

㐀⸀

㔀⸀

㘀⸀㜀⸀

⸀ 䌀栀椀氀搀爀攀渀밂猀 倀氀愀礀 䄀爀攀愀㈀⸀ 䌀漀瘀攀爀攀搀 䴀愀爀欀攀琀 倀氀愀挀攀㌀⸀ 䴀愀爀欀攀琀 匀琀愀氀氀밂猀 匀琀漀爀愀最攀㐀⸀ 䔀洀攀爀最愀渀挀礀 匀甀瀀瀀氀椀攀猀 匀琀漀爀愀最攀㔀⸀ 倀氀愀渀琀 刀漀漀洀㘀⸀ 䴀愀爀欀攀琀 匀琀漀爀愀最攀 㨀㈀　　

At ground floor level there is the market place that will amalgamate the local street vendors and tailors that are already

present in the immediate area into a communal space. The mar-ket is in two section a market which is covered by the

building above and the open area market that imitates an inti-mate courtyard area for the local people. This market will func-tion all year round and most of the day making it the dominant

space in this design.

On the first floor the office spaces to the south of the building will be used by charity organisations ran by local people to monitor flood risks and organise supplies in preparation of

these floods. By having the local people running their own spac-es it create a community network that relies on itself for support

in times of need.

The sports hall space directly links the local schools at the front of the building. It would be used in order for these local school,

which have very little outdoor space, the opportunity to have daily classes teaching sports and other game activities. This

same space would also be used intermittently in high floods during May – October as a place where the local people can

gather supplies, seek refuge and council, making this the least dominate function of the design.

As well as the above space there is also a raise platform landscape to the front of my building that will be used to gain

access to the sport hall at first floor level as well as provide a children’s park and shaded areas. The surrounding block paved

area around the building will periodically allow vehicle access to the warehouse only when the children are in school. When out

of school this area becomes a safe haven for children to play and have fun without the worry of being ran over.

The market place runs in two sections, the covered and the uncovered spaces. This space is designed to be flexible and to be in keeping with the existing Vietnamese eating culture, by having the stalls directing within distance of the eating creating the direct link and also having the small chairs and tables that seem a natural aspect of the urban environment. The organised chaos of the markets that already exist in HCMC is something that I also wish to replicate, the eastern world functions differently and so I do not wish to push in western ways in an area that is specifically designed for the indigenous people.

The stall themselves are set up to be flexible allowing the stall owner their own control of their area while still creating a communal unit. In order to prevent too much sun exposure and create a comfortable environment each stall is fitted with a sun shade that folds into the stall itself meaning that whether they are in the covered or uncovered area there is always shade. The stalls are moveable and will be stored away over night to prevent theft and damage, this means that the space itself is flexible and a stall owner doesn’t have to have the same space continuously.

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匀栀愀搀椀渀最 䐀攀瘀椀挀攀猀䴀愀爀欀攀琀 匀琀愀氀氀猀㨀

匀甀爀爀漀甀渀搀椀渀最 䈀甀椀氀搀椀渀最猀㨀

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搀甀攀 琀漀 猀漀氀愀爀 最愀椀渀猀⸀

匀栀愀搀椀渀最 䐀攀瘀椀挀攀猀嘀攀最攀琀愀琀椀漀渀㨀

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吀䠀䄀 ㈀㐀　䬀䄀吀䔀 䜀䰀夀一一

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匀栀愀搀椀渀最 䐀攀瘀椀挀攀猀䌀氀愀搀搀椀渀最㨀

吀栀攀 䌀漀爀琀攀渀 匀琀攀攀氀 挀氀愀搀搀椀渀最 琀漀 爀攀瀀氀椀挀愀琀攀 琀栀攀 戀爀愀渀挀栀攀猀 漀昀

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挀漀漀氀⸀

䔀一嘀䤀刀伀䴀䔀一吀䄀䰀 刀䔀䄀匀伀一䤀一䜀

吀栀攀 洀愀爀欀攀琀 猀琀愀氀氀猀 栀愀瘀攀 琀栀攀椀爀 漀眀渀 猀栀愀搀椀渀最 搀攀瘀椀挀攀Ⰰ 戀礀 栀愀瘀椀渀最 愀 昀愀戀爀椀挀 挀漀瘀攀爀 琀栀愀琀 攀愀猀椀氀礀 昀漀氀搀愀戀氀攀 眀栀攀渀 琀栀攀 猀琀愀氀氀 愀爀攀 挀氀漀猀攀搀 椀琀 愀氀氀漀眀猀 琀栀攀 猀琀愀氀氀 漀眀渀攀爀 琀漀 愀氀眀愀礀猀 戀攀 椀渀 琀栀攀 猀栀愀搀攀 爀攀最愀爀搀氀攀猀猀 漀昀 琀栀攀椀爀 猀甀爀琀栀攀椀爀 猀甀爀爀漀甀渀搀椀渀最猀⸀

䈀礀 甀猀椀渀最 瘀攀最攀琀愀琀椀漀渀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 洀礀 氀愀渀搀猀挀愀瀀攀 椀琀 戀漀琀栀

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琀栀椀猀 瘀攀爀礀 搀攀渀猀攀 甀爀戀愀渀 愀爀攀愀⸀

唀渀氀椀欀攀 琀栀攀 唀䬀 琀栀攀 甀琀椀氀椀琀椀攀猀 昀漀爀 戀甀椀氀搀椀渀最猀 椀渀 䠀漀 䌀栀椀 䴀椀渀栀 䌀椀琀礀 搀漀渀밂琀 愀氀氀 挀漀洀攀 昀爀漀洀 琀栀攀 最爀漀甀渀搀⸀ 䔀氀攀挀琀爀椀挀椀琀礀 氀椀渀攀 爀甀渀猀 漀瘀攀爀栀攀愀搀 椀渀 琀栀攀 挀椀琀礀Ⰰ 琀栀攀爀攀昀漀爀攀 挀漀洀椀渀最 椀渀琀漀 琀栀攀 戀甀椀氀搀椀渀最 愀琀 爀漀漀昀 氀攀瘀攀氀⸀ 吀栀椀猀 椀猀 搀甀攀 琀漀 琀栀攀 昀愀挀琀 琀栀愀琀 琀栀攀 挀漀猀琀 琀漀 爀攀栀漀甀猀攀 琀栀攀洀 椀渀 琀栀攀 最爀漀甀渀搀 眀漀甀氀搀 戀攀 琀漀漀 攀砀瀀攀渀猀椀瘀攀⸀ 䴀礀 戀甀椀氀搀椀渀最 愀氀猀漀 栀漀甀猀攀猀 瀀栀漀琀漀瘀漀氀琀愀椀挀 洀漀搀甀氀攀猀 漀渀 琀栀攀 爀漀漀昀 愀渀最氀攀搀 琀漀 琀栀攀 猀漀甀琀栀Ⰰ 琀栀椀猀 椀猀 琀栀攀 洀漀猀琀 瘀椀愀戀氀攀 猀甀猀琀愀椀渀愀戀氀攀 眀愀礀 漀昀 挀爀攀愀琀椀渀最 攀渀攀爀最礀 椀渀 琀栀椀猀 甀爀戀愀渀 攀渀瘀椀爀漀渀洀攀渀琀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 瀀漀眀攀爀 最攀渀攀爀愀琀攀搀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 猀琀漀爀攀搀 椀渀 戀愀琀琀攀爀椀攀猀 椀渀 琀栀攀 瀀氀愀渀琀 爀漀漀洀 椀渀猀琀攀愀搀 漀昀 挀漀渀渀攀挀琀椀渀最 琀漀 琀栀攀 洀愀椀渀猀Ⰰ 戀攀挀愀甀猀攀 琀栀攀 瀀漀眀攀爀 氀椀渀攀猀 椀渀 琀栀攀 愀爀攀愀 戀攀椀渀最 甀渀瀀甀渀瀀爀攀搀椀挀琀愀戀氀攀 愀渀搀 甀渀猀琀愀戀氀攀⸀

䄀猀 礀漀甀 挀愀渀 猀攀攀 昀漀爀洀 琀栀攀 ㌀䐀 猀攀挀琀椀漀渀 愀渀搀 瀀氀愀渀猀 琀栀攀爀攀 愀爀攀 ㈀ 瘀攀爀琀椀挀愀氀 挀椀爀挀甀氀愀琀椀漀渀 椀渀 漀爀搀攀爀 琀漀 戀礀瀀愀猀猀 琀栀攀 猀琀愀椀爀眀愀礀⸀ 吀栀攀 洀愀椀渀 漀渀攀 猀甀瀀瀀氀礀椀渀最 琀栀攀 洀攀挀栀愀渀椀挀愀氀 瘀攀渀琀椀氀愀琀椀漀渀 愀猀 眀攀氀氀 愀猀 漀琀栀攀爀 甀琀椀氀椀琀椀攀猀 琀漀 琀栀攀 渀漀爀琀栀攀爀渀 猀椀搀攀⸀ 圀栀攀爀攀愀猀 琀栀攀 猀洀愀氀氀攀爀 瘀攀爀琀椀挀愀氀 爀椀猀攀 漀渀氀礀

猀甀瀀瀀氀椀攀猀 琀栀攀 漀昀昀椀挀攀 愀爀攀愀猀 眀栀椀挀栀 爀攀焀甀椀爀攀 瘀攀爀礀 氀椀琀琀氀攀 猀攀爀瘀椀挀攀猀⸀ 吀栀攀 栀漀爀椀稀漀渀琀愀氀 挀椀爀挀甀氀愀琀椀漀渀 漀昀 猀攀爀瘀椀挀攀猀 爀甀渀 愀氀漀渀最 愀渀搀 戀攀氀漀眀 琀栀攀 挀愀渀琀椀氀攀瘀攀爀攀搀 挀漀爀爀椀搀漀爀 氀攀愀瘀椀渀最 琀栀攀洀 攀砀瀀漀猀攀搀⸀

䴀漀猀琀 䴀漀猀琀 漀昀 琀栀攀 戀甀椀氀搀椀渀最 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 挀爀漀猀猀 瘀攀渀琀椀氀愀琀攀搀Ⰰ 瀀愀爀琀 昀爀漀洀 琀栀攀 猀瀀漀爀琀猀 栀愀氀氀 猀瀀愀挀攀⸀ 圀椀琀栀 琀栀椀猀 猀瀀愀挀攀 栀愀瘀椀渀最 琀栀攀 瀀漀琀攀渀琀椀愀氀 琀漀 栀愀瘀攀 瘀椀最漀爀漀甀猀 愀挀琀椀瘀愀琀攀猀 琀栀椀猀 洀攀愀渀猀 琀栀愀琀 琀栀攀 愀椀爀 挀栀愀渀最攀搀 瀀攀爀 洀椀渀甀琀攀 眀椀氀氀 渀攀攀搀 琀漀 戀攀 椀渀挀爀攀愀猀攀猀 椀渀 爀攀氀愀琀椀漀渀 琀漀 琀栀攀 爀攀猀琀 漀昀 琀栀攀 戀甀椀氀搀椀渀最⸀ 䈀礀 瀀甀猀栀椀渀最 昀爀攀猀栀 愀椀爀 挀漀渀搀椀琀椀漀渀攀搀 挀漀漀氀 愀椀爀 椀渀琀漀 琀栀攀 猀瀀愀挀攀 愀渀搀 搀爀愀眀椀渀最 漀甀琀 琀栀攀 猀琀愀氀攀 栀漀琀 愀椀爀 琀栀椀猀 眀椀氀氀 欀攀攀瀀 琀栀攀 猀瀀愀挀攀 挀漀洀昀漀爀琀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 猀瀀漀爀琀椀渀最 愀挀琀椀瘀愀琀攀猀 椀渀 猀甀挀栀 愀 栀漀琀 愀渀搀 栀甀洀椀搀 挀氀椀洀愀琀攀⸀ 吀䠀䄀 ㈀㐀　

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