Tropical Space  Co., Ltd.

Terra Cotta Studio

Terra Cotta Studio
© Hiroyuki Oki

TERRA COTTA STUDIO

Tropical Space

ARCHITECTS
Tropical Space

MANUFACTURERS
Dai Hiep, Dong Lam

PHOTOGRAPHS
Hiroyuki Oki

AREA
98 m²

YEAR
2016

CATEGORY
Workshop

LOCATION
Điện Phương, Vietnam

CONSTRUCTION
Local workers

SITE AREA
49 m2

ARCHITECTS IN CHARGE
Nguyen Hai Long, Tran Thi Ngu Ngon, Nguyen Anh Duc, Trinh Thanh Tu

TEXT
Le Thi Hanh Nguyen

BUILDING AREA
98 m2

Text description provided by architect.

The project is located next to Thu Bon river, Dien Ban district, Quang Nam Province. This river has a huge interaction to local life on both side of it.

Terra Cotta Studio
© Hiroyuki Oki
Terra Cotta Studio
© Hiroyuki Oki

Majority of the resident live depending on agriculture, besides with variety of traditional craft villages such as terra cotta, mat or silk.

This terra cotta workshop has its life follow the movement of this river. The Terra Cotta Studio is a working space of the eminent artist Le Duc Ha.

The project is a cubed-shape building with the dimension of 7m x 7m x 7m. Surrounding the studio is a bamboo frame scaffold used for drying terra cotta products.

Terra Cotta Studio
© Hiroyuki Oki
Terra Cotta Studio
© Hiroyuki Oki
Terra Cotta Studio
© Hiroyuki Oki

It’s also designed with two big bench for resting, relaxing and having tea. At the same time, this scaffold also function as a fence to separate the studio with the whole space of workshop.

The exterior layer of the studio is made by clay solid brick, which reminds people about Vietnam traditional furnace.

Terra Cotta Studio
© Hiroyuki Oki
Terra Cotta Studio
© Hiroyuki Oki

This area was also a part of Tra Kieu which was Champa Kingdom capital from 4th to 7th century, and the studio has a certain influence of Champa culture spirit.

The bricks were built interleaved creating holes which help the wind ventilating and air conditioning.

Terra Cotta Studio
© Hiroyuki Oki
Terra Cotta Studio
© Hiroyuki Oki

This layer is not the wall preventing outside environment from inside the studio, so the artist can feel the wind, the cool from river and sound of nature in surrounding area. Meanwhile, it also creates a certain privacy for the artist.

The interior of the studio is the three-floors wood frame system creating many space with dimension of 60cm x 60cm, which is function as the shelves to put terra cotta works, hallway and stairs.

Terra Cotta Studio
© Hiroyuki Oki
Terra Cotta Studio
© Hiroyuki Oki

The height of the frame is 7 meters. Follow the hallways, people can observe the workshop, river banks and the whole garden through windows.

The centre of the studio has 2 floors.In ground floor, there is a turning table that the artist works.

Terra Cotta Studio
© Hiroyuki Oki
Terra Cotta Studio
© Hiroyuki Oki

The artist and his works can interact with the sunlight, from the sunrise to twilight. Here, people can find the conversation of the artist and his works; and himself with his shadow in the silence.

At the same time, people can feel and see the time passing terra cotta artworks by the movement of the sunlight.

Terra Cotta Studio
© Hiroyuki Oki
Terra Cotta Studio
© Hiroyuki Oki

On the mezzanine, people can see many different space inside and outside the studio, as well as observe the artist working by the round void in the centre.

This is also used for leaving stuffs of the workshop and the artist’s works in the flood which happens every year in this area. The design team desires the studio will be a place containing, contemplating and spreading emotion of the artist with his both finished and unfinished artworks.

Terra Cotta Studio
© Hiroyuki Oki
© Hiroyuki Oki

The project is a destination to meet and share for people who love terra cotta and want to have the experience with the clay.


Terra Cotta Studio
© Hiroyuki Oki
Terra Cotta Studio
© Hiroyuki Oki
Terra Cotta Studio
© Hiroyuki Oki
Terra Cotta Studio
© Hiroyuki Oki
Terra Cotta Studio
© Hiroyuki Oki
Terra Cotta Studio
© Hiroyuki Oki
Terra Cotta Studio
© Hiroyuki Oki
Terra Cotta Studio
© Hiroyuki Oki
Terra Cotta Studio
© Hiroyuki Oki
Terra Cotta Studio
© Hiroyuki Oki
Terra Cotta Studio
© Hiroyuki Oki
Terra Cotta Studio
© Hiroyuki Oki
Terra Cotta Studio
© Hiroyuki Oki
Terra Cotta Studio
© Hiroyuki Oki
Terra Cotta Studio
© Hiroyuki Oki


Terra Cotta Studio
Site Plan
Terra Cotta Studio
Plan 1
Terra Cotta Studio
Plan 2
Terra Cotta Studio
Plan 3


Terra Cotta Studio
Axonometric
Terra Cotta Studio
Elevation
Terra Cotta Studio
Section

Tropical Space  Co., Ltd.
T +84 39 2418032 M +84 90 5375724
Tropical Space Co., Ltd.
318/5 Trinh Dinh Trong Valeo, Dam Sen, Phu Trung, Tan Phu, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam