Event Description

The Industrial Revolution of the late 20th and early 21st centuries created the basis for the development of reinforced concrete and facilitated the rapid growth of urban construction. We imagine the earth as a sphere with a protective layer of fur and skin; construction works sprout up like countless needles piercing that skin; green areas and rivers are stripped away, and the body of the earth is no longer intact but becomes very vulnerable. The development process always goes hand in hand with the construction process; this is inevitable. However, we always consider which impact is the least and which construction process has the least impact on nature above and below the ground. Architecture needs a new transformation in design, building, and living. Looking back to indigenous architecture, they has been inherited through each period and improved through each generation. Transformation of indigenous architecture over time is suitable for the locality's living needs and tropical climate and has minimal impact on nature. For us, architecture should be the inheritance of past architecture's good points and strengths, as well as the promotion and innovation to suit current needs better. Through many years of working, experiencing the spaces we designed, talking and exchanging with the homeowner as well as feeling the effectiveness as well as the errors in the design, we also feel that the house needs to be adjusted to better suit the lifestyle as well as the changes of the users when they have children, have elderly parents. Community projects need to understand and listen to the concerns about the impact of the project and the community's desire for change. The concept of adaptive architecture also comes from those observations and thoughts. Through the projects, we also hope that people will see adaptive architecture not as a direction or a style but as something an architect should do.

Speakers

Phan Lam Nhat Nam, MSc, Lecturer University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City, Architect Founder k59 atelier 

Tran Cam Linh, Architect Co-founder k59 atelier 

Moderators

Le Nguyen Gia An, lecturer and researcher, University of Architecture of Ho Chi Minh City

Khiem Nguyen, MPP, BArch, Int’l. Assoc. AIA, Vietnam Country Representative 

CES: Estimated 1 LU/HSW for AIA Members

Speaker Bios

Nhat Nam, born in 1987 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is a dedicated architect and lecturer whose work has significantly contributed to architectural design and research on living environments. He earned his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City in 2010 and later pursued a Master’s in Human Settlement at KU Leuven University in Belgium, graduating in 2015. Since 2011, he has been a lecturer at the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City. His professional journey includes working as an architect at a21 Studio from 2012 to 2014 and participating in various non-profit architectural organizations from 2015 to 2018. In 2018, he co-founded K59 Atelier, an architectural firm with a strong focus on adaptive and sustainable design.

K59 Atelier believes that rapid urbanization and expanding construction have significantly disrupted the natural environment, comparing the earth to a living organism continuously pierced by concrete and steel. Recognizing that development is inevitable, Nam and his team are committed to minimizing the ecological impact of construction by creating projects that are deeply connected to their specific locations. Their work demonstrates careful research on construction sites, with a strong emphasis on respecting trees, land, and water resources while reducing negative impacts on ecosystems and promoting a more sustainable living environment.

Nhat Nam has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including the First Prize at the Future Arch Green Leadership Awards in 2019 and the Golden Prize at the National Architecture Awards in 2021. In the same year, he was honored with the Outstanding Young Architect Award and later received the Excellence Award from the Association of Literature and Arts in 2022. His design for the Ha Tinh City Cultural Symbol Cluster also won the highest prize in the architectural design competition. In 2024, his work was showcased at the TOTO Architecture Exhibition under the theme “Adaptation and Settlement.” Through his projects and initiatives, Nhat Nam encourages people to reconsider their built environment and to recognize how architecture significantly impacts our living conditions. He strongly believes that adaptive architecture is not merely a trend but an essential approach to shaping the future of construction.

Cam Linh, born in 1991 in Nghe An, Vietnam, approaches architecture with a passion for small phenomena and unconventional practices. To her, architecture transcends the physical building and encompasses the living environment and human interactions within it. She graduated from Hanoi Architectural University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Architecture. Between 2015 and 2017, she worked at Vo Trong Nghia Architectural Company, where she gained valuable experience in green architectural concepts, sustainable construction techniques, and the use of environmentally friendly materials. In 2017, she joined Inrestudio Architectural Office, where she continued to develop her professional skills before co-founding K59 Atelier in 2018.

At K59 Atelier, Linh’s design philosophy stems from her keen observation of how people interact with their surroundings. She believes that architecture is not only about aesthetics but also about fostering a continuous dialogue between individuals and their environment. Architecture, in her view, must be flexible and responsive, constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of society. Her approach draws on traditional wisdom while incorporating contemporary innovation, with a particular focus on sustainable materials and climate-resilient structures that minimize ecological disruption.

Linh’s dedication to sustainable and community-centered architecture has earned her significant recognition. She was awarded the First Prize at the Future Arch Green Leadership Awards in 2019 and the Gold Prize at the National Architecture Awards in 2021. That same year, she received the Outstanding Young Architect Award, followed by the Excellence Award from the Literature and Arts Association in 2022. Her cultural icon design in Ha Tinh also achieved the highest recognition in the competition. In 2024, Linh played a key role as coordinator for the TOTO Architecture Exhibition, which was presented under the theme “Adaptation and Settlement.” Through her work, she aspires to inspire a broader perspective on architecture—one that respects natural ecosystems, embraces local heritage, and fosters resilience and adaptability within the built environment.

Moderator Bios

Gia An is an accomplished architectural lecturer and researcher at the University of Architecture of Ho Chi Minh City. Holding a Master’s degree in Architecture, her research focuses on the temporal dimensions of architecture and urban spaces, particularly in historic urban centers. She explores the non-physical influences of architecture on human perception and applies a space-time approach to analyze the growth and hidden layers of historical cityscapes. With extensive teaching experience, she leads various design studios and courses, guiding students in both architectural theory and practice. Beyond academia, she actively engages in research projects on urban heritage and city revitalization. Her work has been published in architectural journals and presented at conferences. Additionally, she has contributed to professional architectural projects, bringing a research-driven perspective to design and urban studies. 

Khiem Nguyen, International Associate of The American Institute of Architects (AIA), is an architect and educator with nearly 20 years of experience in architectural design. As the Founder & CEO of LaPerle, he oversees overall operations and remains actively involved in every stage of the design process, from concept development to construction documentation, leading hundreds of successful projects. Since his appointment as AIA International’s Country Representative for Vietnam in 2021, Khiem has organized and curated AIA International Conferences and Symposiums across Vietnam and Southeast Asia. He has also represented Vietnam at prestigious international architecture and business events, including Made EXPO Milan, Italy, and the Partnering in Business with Germany program. 

Currently, as a visiting lecturer, Khiem teaches and conducts workshop research at University of Architecture of Ho Chi Minh City (UAH) and Hoa Sen University in Vietnam. He has also been invited as a speaker at public events, including TEDxTalk Dakao and Italian Design Day master classes, where he shares his expertise and passion for architecture and heritage with the next generation of architects. 

This talk is brought to you with the generous support of our event partner, Toto Vietnam.