Profile

Tropical Space was established by Tran Thi Ngu Ngon and Nguyen Hai Long

Architect Trần Thị Ngụ Ngôn was borned in 1979 in Đong Nai Provine  Viet Nam

She obtained her bachelor degree at University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City in 2004.

Architect Nguyễn Hải Long was borned in 1977 in Da Nang City Viet Nam

He obtained his bachelor degree at University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City in 2001. 

He also obtained his master degree at University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City in 2009. 

 

Currently, the studio is based in HCMC and has expertise in master planning, architecture design, landscape design and interior design. Being placed in Southeast Asia, our design approach and process have a deep-rooted cultural and climatic understanding. Therefore, we prioritise solving the challenge of the living environment in a tropical climate. We are aware of finding the balance between humans, buildings, and nature in all projects we are involved in regardless of low and high-cost buildings. We maximise that balance in the building conditions of contexts, occupants, and budget. 
Since 2011, regardless of the boundaries, such as building typologies, scales, and locations, every building/project designed by Tropical Space commits to the respect of original beauty of raw local materials; harmony with the surrounding context; a strong connection between humans, building, and nature; the building delicately crafted from local bricks by small hands of local labours as real patient and hard-working craftsmen; and a symbiotic existence in the Vietnamese tropical climate. Every building by Tropical Space is an opportunity to explore creativity based on the vernacular material of tiny clay bricks and conduct research and tests of their forms, structures, and construction techniques, as well as how to maintain buildings existing in the hot and humid climate.

"Tropical Space might not yet be a household name, but that looks set to change with the Ho Chi Minh City–based studio’s considered, ecofriendly approach to architecture that brings an elevated, avant-garde quality to the simplest of building materials.

The founders, Nguyen Hai Long and Tran Thi Ngu Ngon (a couple in business as well as life), met while studying at Ho Chi Minh City University of Architecture and say their “break” came when they decided to focus on solving the challenge of living in a tropical climate. “Housing design in modern Vietnam is quite closed with rooms having thick walls and doors for air-conditioning. We create more porous designs to allow the house itself to breathe.”

“Tropical Space are clearly pioneers in that they’re not just filling a need, but are actually creating new opportunities for contemporary architecture in a place where those opportunities have been scarce. And they’re doing so by pragmatically using rudimentary materials and construction techniques to produce extraordinary results. They’re not only opening our eyes to what’s possible in Vietnam, but perhaps more importantly, they’re showing the Vietnamese what’s possible at home.” —Aric Chen, M+ lead curator of design and architecture 

 

 

Metropolis, 18 October 2016, https://www.metropolismag.com/architecture/new-talent-seven-innovative-design-studios/