On the morning of September 22nd, 2022, the “Urban and landscape design” seminar was held by A79 Joint Stock Company (JSC) – Alphanam Group at 33A Ba Trieu, Hanoi. The program attracted the participation of a large number of A79’s architects and engineers; In particular, there was the presence of two highly-professional and experienced architects to share knowledge. Today, on the Alphanam side, there was the presence of Chairman Nguyen Tuan Hai, Mr. Bui Hoang Tuan – member of the Board of Directors of A79 JSC, Mrs. Au Thien Huong – Director of Supply Department, Mr. Giang Nguyen Hong Van – Deputy Director of A79 Joint Stock Company, Mr. Vu Anh Tuan – Deputy Director of A79 Joint Stock Company; along with related representatives of the A79’s managers and employees. Notably, the two speakers of the program are Dr. Arch Ngo Trung Hai – Chairman of the Board of Directors of A79 JSC and MA (USA) arch. Thai Lan Anh – Chairwoman and CEO of PLA STUDIO and Vice President of Landscape Architects Association (Vietnam Architects Association). Ms. Lan Anh graduated with a Master of Arts in Urban Design from the University of Cincinnati – USA; is an architect in the fields of Landscape Design, Urban Design, Sustainable Planning and Design. With more than 15 years of experience, MA (USA) arch. Thai Lan Anh has worked as a designer/leader in lots of large-scale projects such as: Vinhomes Ocean Park, Vinhomes Smart City, Ocean Valley Hotel (Binh Thuan, Vietnam)… Arch. Ngo Trung Hai and arch. Thai Lan Anh came to the seminar with the desire to help people better understand “urban design” and “landscape architecture” – two fields that play an important role in creating the success of architecture works, the quality of urban space and improving the spiritual life of the community. At the opening remark, arch. Ngo Trung Hai confided that he was always touched to share his 20-year experience with the A79 architects: “You must have a burning flame, passion, and intoxication for work”. He presented the concept of urban design, the 5 main factors that create the image, the decrees and regulations on urban architecture management and affirmed: “Urban design is the bridge between urban planning and architecture, is the art of creating living space for people”. The overall perspective of Thu Thiem New Urban Area is demonstrated to be a vivid example. Arch. Ngo Trung Hai shared his accumulated knowledge of two decades, gathered from his trips, from his learning and working process to pass on to the next generation. In the second part of the program, arch. Thai Lan Anh shared some approaches to landscape design projects, “design focuses on user experience”. She emphasized: “Design is not only about external aesthetics, but also about proper operation, starting from the user’s needs and then putting the pen to design, not forcing users to follow the architect’s own subjective design”. To make more intuitive, arch. Thai Lan Anh showed some specific illustrations of the PLA’s projects, thereby generalizing the issues that are considered the most important when approaching a project. At the end of the seminar, the two speakers worked on a Q & A session from  the A79 attendees. At the program, Chairman Nguyen Tuan Hai talked about the necessity and value of the program, and expressed his wish that Alphanam and the PLA could cooperate in many other projects, firstly in Bac Lieu and Sapa. He affirmed: “Landscapes can create international highlights, which are always important for big projects. Hopefully, together we will create different and valuable products, have our name etched on life with future great wonders.” Mr. Hoang Duc My, Head of Verification Department, A79 Joint Stock Company,  expressed: “This seminar has broadened my horizons about architectural design and urban design, and many related issues”. It can be said that the seminar brought many valuable experiences to the attendees.

Vietnam’s economy and society are on a strong development momentum. We are overwhelmed by the architectural works, changing the face of both urban cities and remote areas every day. How do architectural works retain their cultural identity in the place where they are located? How can each building be a thread connecting the past and the present? That is a big challenge, a big mission of A79 architects. Contemporary Vietnamese architecture painting When it comes to contemporary Vietnamese architecture, we can see a “forest” of buildings rising up through the time, from the central city to the localities, even remote areas, annually attracting millions of tourists. One day, Hanoians seem to realize that the capital is no longer romantic and charming as it was in the past, or that Sa Pa no longer retains its pure innocence… All has been replaced by high-rise concrete buildings covered in sunlight; bare, stiff highways crashed into the landscape. Poet Che Lan Vien once wrote: “When we live, the land is a place to live, when we leave, it turns into a soul”. Each land has its own soul and is created from many factors: history, native  people, natural conditions to architecture, culture… When it comes to the identity of an urban place, not just sand, gravel, concrete and blocks, identity is the spirit, the soul of that place. Despite regretting the past, urbanization is still an irreversible process, we are still racing on a one-way train and cannot return to the old position. How do architectural works retain their cultural identity in the place where they are located? How can each building be a thread connecting the past and the present? That is a big challenge, a big mission of A79 architects. What to learn from the contemporary architectural perspective of the famous Japanese architect – Prof. Shin Takamatsu? “Let’s learn from the past” – A brief but thoughtful sharing of Arch Shin Takamatsu’s career journey, when he attended a seminar on Contemporary Vietnamese Architecture with A79. Prof. Shin Takamatsu is well-known as an architect of nonexistent structures. He is famous for his horrifying hand drawings, futuristic constructions, metaphorical details and industrial machinery. His works are like fortresses, highly symbolic, closed to the surrounding space because he thinks: “Architecture is a symbol. Symbolism has its beauty and creates moments of appreciation that can make people burst into tears.” Undeniably, whether it is symbolic architecture or architecture of life, it honestly reflects the times. Therefore, all architectural works need to learn from the past, inherit the good and beautiful things to create suitable architectural works in the present. For Arch Takamatsu, inheriting traditional values is not only using classic materials or shapes, but through metaphors of details, light and dark space, sometimes like a collection of an extra-architectural detail grafted onto the surface. Discussing the mission of A79 with contemporary Vietnamese architecture A79 was born in the era that Vietnam’s socio-economic development is on the rise, the urbanization is getting faster and faster. Therefore, architecture must first be ‘responsive’, that is its original instinct. At the same time, it is always necessary to be creative to adapt to all general changes of society, industry and era, including science and technology. In spite of A79’s operating independently, the spirit and thinking “One step ahead” always lives inside A79 and the architects team to create breakthrough works, thereby creating new lifestyles for the community such as green architecture, smart architecture. In addition, a number of A79’s major projects including cultural and urban works have been, are and will be “architecturalized” so that they become works of pure art instead of only technical works, an aspiration towards creating iconic works of the era. In the seminar, the Board of Directors as well as all architects and engineers of A79 also shared a big dream. A79 does not only bring top-notch architectural works to serve the Vietnamese people, but also wishes to “bring the bell to beat the country, reach out to the world.”