In the context of promoting green and sustainable urban development, from 10 – 21 July 2023 ICEM and the Hanoi University of Civil Engineering – Faculty of Architecture and Planning (HUCE-FAP) organized a student design competition and workshop to reimagine the C.4 site on the HUCE campus, supported by the Asian Development Bank and the Global Environment Facility.

The competition provided a platform to develop new ideas and solutions to multifaceted urban challenges, and design creative spaces for education. A group of 30 students from architecture and engineering departments was trained on nature-based solutions, water-sensitive urban design, sustainable materials use, and gender- and social inclusive design. The group also undertook a site visit to the College of Urban Construction net-zero green building.

Facilitators and participants at the College of Urban Construction

Students were encouraged to apply climate-sensitive solutions to the C.4 site – a former set of classrooms surrounding a small public yard behind the university canteen which faces flooding and high temperatures. In their final designs, students were asked to consider material use, flood risk reduction measures, energy efficiency, health and safety, community resilience, architectural design features, and feasibility.

Through an iterative design process students prepared a vision for the site, followed by interim presentations. The groups worked together with experts from HUCE and ICEM and received guidance on integrating nature-based solutions in their proposed designs.

Winners of the overall best design – Group 3

On Friday 21 July each group presented their designs followed by comments and questions from the jury panel consisting of HUCE, Asian Development Bank, Monash University and ICEM. After […]