SAIGON SPATIAL # 1 - SCALE

This short film delves into the dynamic world of award winning small-scale architectural ateliers in and around Ho Chi Minh City, uncovering how these creative studios craft designs that are exceptionally poetic, innovative, and environmentally responsive in the face of Vietnam's rapid urbanisation and escalating climate challenges. Through a blend of compelling narratives, interviews, and visual storytelling, the film sheds light on the ingenuity and resilience of architects who blend tradition with modernity, fostering sustainable solutions for the city's evolving landscape. Featuring candid conversations with architects, industry experts, and university researchers, the short film visually showcases how these studios address critical urban issues, from climate-adaptive design and community-centered spaces to promoting cultural identity amidst globalisation. It highlights how their work contributes to a vision of sustainable urbanism that is uniquely Vietnamese yet globally relevant. Aimed at architects, academics, and the general public, the film aspires to inspire dialogue about sustainability lessons for a more responsive future of architecture and urban development in Vietnam. The story unfolds in the vibrant and dynamic studios of the architectural ateliers then moves to examples of their work, offering fresh perspectives on how these local architects transform vocational and environmental challenges into extraordinary opportunities. It promises to be a thought-provoking exploration of the potential of small-scale design to shape a sustainable and culturally rich future. ------------------------- Credits Funding RMIT Vietnam Strategic Innovation Grant Film Production Company Chimnon Studio, Hanoi | Director, architectural photographer and film maker Lê Minh Hoàng & Phan Hạnh Nguyên Featured Architects Tad.atelier | Vu Tien An K59 Atelier | Phan Lâm Nhật Nam & Trần Cẩm Linh Aaaaaa | Lê Hữu Triết Passive Design Laboratory | Huỳnh Văn Khang H2 Workshop | Trần Văn Huynh & Nguyễn Duy Thế G+architects | Đoàn Bằng Giang HTAP Architects | Hoanh Tran H.a | Vương Trung Hữu AD+studio | Nguyễn Đặng Anh Dũng Tropical Space | Nguyễn Hải Long & Trần Thị Ngụ Ngôn Featured Experts Dr Andrew Stiff | Senior Lecturer | RMIT Vietnam | HCMC Dr Hạnh Vũ Thị Hồng | Deputy Dean of Architecture | University of Architecture | HCMC Dr Nguyễn Minh Quang | Lecturer | University of Economics, HCMC Thu Alexander Quỳnh, Lecturer, Vietnamese-German University, HCMC Douglas Lee Snyder | Executive Director | Vietnam Green Building Council Tim Middleton | Director of Environmentally Sustainable Design | Worklounge 03-Vietnam Project Team Dr Rachel Jahja (Project Lead) Associate Professor Graham Crist Associate Professor Anna Johnson Dr Lê Xuân Quyền Dr Dương Thị Hoàng Oanh Ding Tùng Anh Khánh Phạm Dr Andrew Stiff Duc Anh (Ace) Nguyen David Moore Hà Phương Nguyễn (Red) Translation Nguyễn Thúy Anh Thư (Lead) Lê Hồ Thảo Nhi (Lead) Nguyễn Kim Trọng Vũ Minh Khuê Lê Thùy Vy Nguyễn Kim Anh Nguyễn Huỳnh Phương Anh Trần Mộng Thùy Dương Nguyễn Ngọc Quỳnh Nhi Lê Gia An