Page: 10
Foreword from the Editorial Board
Dear Readers,
Architecture Magazine Issue 05/2026 is proud to present a curated selection of scholarly research and critical discourse from leading architects that explores paradigm-shifting trends and forges a profound synergy between academic theory and contemporary architectural practice.
A seminal series on “Climate-Adaptive Architecture and Disaster Mitigation” embarks on a quest to resolve the complex equations of environmental resilience. Spanning multidimensional perspectives from the sponge city master planning of Cam Ranh to quantitative software evaluations of passive design systems in Hoi An’s traditional tube houses, the profession is collectively forging a robust, “proactive defense line” for our communities. Furthermore, the Architects’ Forum hosts dynamic dialogues concerning the drafted amendments to the 2019 Law on Architecture, a pivotal step toward accommodating the evolving realities of contemporary practice.
In the Architects – Works section, we invite our readers to engage in a compelling conversation with Arch. Hiroyuki Unemori. Delving into his philosophy of “Living with Differences,” we explore the nuanced art of leaning into climatic fluctuations. Concurrently, we examine the design for the Khanh Hoa Provincial Inter-Agency Center, where a multi-functional spatial spine allows the architecture to adapt seamlessly to digital administrative reforms.
Notably, the Scientific Research section in this issue offers invaluable contributions through environmental quantification methodologies. From simulating localized microclimates in landscape architecture to harnessing Large Language Models (AI) that dismantle programming barriers, these insights empower architects with the unprecedented freedom to design their own automated workflows.
The optimistic perspectives on the creative economy and the proposed strategies for cultivating a creative ecosystem within this issue serve as promising harbingers for a dynamic, resilient, and sustainable new era of urban development.
We proudly present Architecture Magazine Issue 05/2026!
Architecture Magazine
Page: 11
Adaptive architecture (typhoon, flood, and landslide mitigation) in Vietnam: a contextual overview and comprehensive strategic proposals
Dr. Arch. Phan Dang Son
In reality, mitigating the impacts of severe typhoons, catastrophic flooding, landslides, and land subsidence remains an arduous, enduring battle for humanity, particularly in highly vulnerable nations. Regardless of geography, combating these escalating climatic extremes demands substantial investment, profound interdisciplinary integration, and the unified participation of the entire community to ensure long-term sustainable development. Inheriting traditional disaster prevention methods and adhering to the philosophy of harmonizing with nature must serve as our foundational and unwavering pillars. Invaluable precedents such as the Netherlands’ “Room for the River,” China’s “Sponge Cities,” Singapore’s “Reservoirs and Water Parks,” and the “Living with Floods” ethos of Vietnam’s Southern delta offer vital reference points for engineering novel adaptive strategies across Vietnam’s diverse topographies. By synthesizing empirical wisdom, advancing scientific and technological prowess, leveraging artificial intelligence, and coordinating these efforts with maximum efficiency, we can deeply integrate our interventions with the unique socio-economic, cultural, and human fabric of each locale. Ultimately, no matter how severe the climate crisis, achieving sustainable development is a solvable equation, ensuring a resilient and thriving future for Vietnam.
Page: 18
Architects’ Forum: “Amending the Law on Architecture – From Practical Realities to Policy Perfection”
Thuy An
The 2019 Law on Architecture has steadily cemented its role as an indispensable legal instrument in the management and evolution of Vietnamese architecture. To authentically align with the shifting paradigms of new policies and contemporary practical realities, the Ministry of Construction is currently synthesizing feedback and proposing amendments and supplements to select articles of the 2019 Law on Architecture, driving toward sustainable, climate-adaptive architectural development.
Serving as the premier academic and professional platform for the architectural community, Architecture Magazine proudly opens the Architects’ Forum under the theme: “Amending the Law on Architecture – From Practical Realities to Policy Perfection,” curating multidimensional perspectives from architects, policymakers, corporate leaders, academic experts, and key stakeholders. These empirically grounded insights are envisioned to refine policy frameworks, elevate the efficacy of legal enforcement, and catalyze the sustainable advancement of Vietnam’s architectural landscape in the imminent future.
We respectfully present this discourse to our readers!
Page: 24
Living with Differences – A Conversation with Arch. Hiroyuki Unemori
Truong Tran Trung Hieu
Arch. Hiroyuki Unemori is an acclaimed Japanese architect whose practice is driven by a profound ambition to resolve challenging spatial equations through delicate structural logic. He maximizes spatial utility via highly adaptable spatial arrangements, coupled with an unwavering dedication to rekindling the intrinsic connection between humanity and nature.
Unemori is a recipient of the prestigious BCS Prize and the JIA Young Architect Award. His relentless dedication has earned him esteemed teaching tenures at leading academies, actively shaping a legacy of humanistic architectural values for the future.
Architecture Magazine is honored to present this exclusive dialogue between Arch. Hiroyuki Unemori and the Architecture Excursions (Tản mạn Kiến trúc) group, unveiling his profound insights on the philosophy of ‘Living with Differences’ and his uniquely visionary approach to architecture.
Khanh Hoa Provincial Inter-Agency Center
Securing First Prize in the 2025 Architecture and Planning Design Competition for the Khanh Hoa Provincial Inter-Agency Center, the visionary entry by lequang-architects LAB transcends the mere spatial orchestration of a massive administrative complex. It serves as a profound reflection of the dynamic administrative reforms and governmental restructuring currently sweeping across Vietnam. In this context, the project emerges as a radical spatial experiment intrinsically linked to institutional reform, embodying the new operational paradigms of the state apparatus in the digital era.
Page: 34
Creative Economy, Creative Ecosystems, and Emerging Opportunities for Hanoi
Uyen Ly, Nguyen Tram
Amidst rapid globalization and exponential technological advancement, the creative economy transcends mere conceptual novelty to become a primary catalyst for modern urban development. This article dissects the core facets of the creative economy and international standard models of creative ecosystems. It outlines a pragmatic roadmap for Hanoi commencing from the landmark year of 2026, a transformative epoch where the Hanoi Festival of Creative Design shifts its paradigm toward cultivating a holistic “urban creative ecosystem.”
Page: 38
OFF-SPACE
The “Buffer Zone” Solution for Hanoi’s Cultural Infrastructure and Institutional Dilemmas – Part 1
Nguyen Anh Tuan
Abstract: Hanoi’s accession to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in 2019 stands as a pivotal milestone, yet it simultaneously exposes a stark paradox: the artistic scene is “booming,” whereas its physical infrastructure remains deeply deficient and fragmented. Grounded in personal observations and empirical experiences, this paper proposes a strategic approach via the “Off-space” model (independent/alternative art spaces), operating upon a public-private partnership mechanism. This framework capitalizes on surplus land and public assets while unleashing the agile management capabilities of the private sector, all whilst ensuring seamless alignment with the capital’s socio-cultural and political developmental trajectories.
The article is divided into two parts: Part One outlines the overarching landscape of creative cultural infrastructure in Hanoi and examines three European Off-space precedents, where spatial interventions were catalyzed by the urgent necessities of the local creative community and bolstered by institutional and corporate mechanisms. Part Two delves into two Asian paradigms, where Off-spaces were institutionally pioneered to align with broader developmental strategies. It further provides critical analyses of the strategic roadmap for Hanoi, delineating the current institutional challenges and structural barriers.
Page: 77
The Urban Morphological Shift of the Tran Hung Dao Axis: Bridging Tran Hung Dao Bridge – Present and Future
Arch. Cao Xuan Hoang
In these evolving times, as Hanoi undergoes intensive construction in anticipation of the Tran Hung Dao Bridge closure, the author offers profound reflections on the spatial dynamics of the avenue bearing the same name. This East-West sunlit axis, stretching over 2 kilometers, is anchored by the bustling cross-street of Tran Khanh Du and cascades down to the Hanoi Railway Station (affectionately remembered by old-timers as Hang Co Station).
Page: 94
Traversing East Asian Gardens: Reflections on 20 Years of Landscape Research
Dr. Arch. Phan Thanh Hai
In late December 2005, amidst the biting winter chill of Beijing, I arrived in China under a special research program funded by the Asian Scholarship Foundation. At that time, I could hardly fathom that over six months of living, journeying, studying, and surveying across this vast nation would become a monumental milestone, not only in my academic trajectory but also in my spiritual life. Two decades have since passed, yet whenever I reminisce, the classical Chinese gardens-from imperial domains to private sanctuaries-re-emerge in my memory like vivid ink-wash paintings, where nature, architecture, philosophy, and the human ethos seamlessly intertwine into a realm of exquisite holistic perfection.
