Concrete Lace / G8A Architecture & Urban Planning

Concrete Lace / G8A Architecture & Urban Planning - Facade, WindowsConcrete Lace / G8A Architecture & Urban Planning - WaterfrontConcrete Lace / G8A Architecture & Urban Planning - Image 4 of 16Concrete Lace / G8A Architecture & Urban Planning - Image 5 of 16Concrete Lace / G8A Architecture & Urban Planning - More Images+ 11

Concrete Lace / G8A Architecture & Urban Planning - Facade, Courtyard
© Patrick Bingham-Hall

Text description provided by the architects. Growing mysteriously from the ground, concrete columns move rhythmically, branching and wrapping four levels of the courtyard building. Concrete Lace is illuminated by the soft golden light of the setting sun, becoming a part of the skyline. Evening light shines through, interweaving between the concrete skeleton and the skyline.

This curious building is part of Village 3 in the High-Tech Park master plan. Inspired by local, traditional North Vietnamese village features, the exposed courtyard radiates four path-ways; connecting to the lush external landscape and acting as four entrances that reminisce the main gates of a traditional village.

Concrete Lace / G8A Architecture & Urban Planning - Image 5 of 16
© Patrick Bingham-Hall

The grid structure of 12×25 meters allows a highly flexible and efficient use of space. Mixing green areas and open spaces they enhance the user’s experience through the building; inviting them to exchange, relax and enjoy the landscape. Sustainable design is ubiquitous; through maximizing natural light, natural ventilation, gardens inside offices, sky gardens, rain water recycling and the use of local eco-friendly materials.

Concrete Lace / G8A Architecture & Urban Planning - Windows, Facade
© Le Hai Anh

The external layer acts as a key sustainable element of the building. It integrates climbing trees, acting as green protection against the sun, its density and thickness has been care-fully adapted from different orientations and facade exposure. Together these elements create a dynamic green building that is integrated in nature and connected with its environment.

Typical floor plan

Traditionally when a building was in a state of “ruin”, often the aftermath of abandonment and neglect, it became an inconvenience of sorts and disregarded. The very notion that a building has gone past its “expiry date” is truly archaic and in conflict with the fundamentals of “sustainability”.

Concrete Lace / G8A Architecture & Urban Planning - Image 11 of 16
© Le Hai Anh

Here, the “sustainable ruin” looks beyond aesthetics and dives into a holistic approach, becoming inherent in the lifespan of a building that can have adaptable future uses. This very intriguing idea was further developed as the Future Ruin concept under the umbrella of G8A's think tank 8+ and exhibited in 2015 at Hanoi Design.

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Project location

Address:Hanoi, Hoàn Kiếm, Hanoi, Vietnam

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "Concrete Lace / G8A Architecture & Urban Planning" 31 Dec 2018. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/908471/concrete-lace-g8a-architecture-and-urban-planning> ISSN 0719-8884

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