Diamond Island Community Center

Diamond Island Community Center
© Hiroyuki Oki

Diamond Island Community Center

Vo Trong Nghia Architects

PHOTOS
Hiroyuki Oki (16)

STATUS
Built

AREA
3000 sqft - 5000 sqft

BUDGET
Undisclosed

YEAR
2015

LOCATION
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

TYPE
Government + Health › Community Center

Being adjacent to the newly emerging center of Ho Chi Minh City, Diamond Island is a group of condominiums on an islet on Saigon River.

To make the best use of the empty space of a gradual development program, this multifunctional community center is designed not only for local residents, but also for foreign tourists brought by boats from the city center.

Diamond Island Community Center
© Hiroyuki Oki
Diamond Island Community Center
© Hiroyuki Oki

Eight large and small bamboo pavilions are scattered throughout a park with rich vegetation along the river.

The pavilions are used for various events such as parties, banquets, promotions conferences, and are also planned to be restaurants in the future.

Diamond Island Community Center
© Hiroyuki Oki
Diamond Island Community Center
© Hiroyuki Oki

Two large domes are created by pure bamboo structures and measure 24m diameter and 12.5m height.

Inspired by a traditional bamboo basket sheltering fowls, the structure is made by skilled workers who weave each piece of bamboo on site.

Diamond Island Community Center
© Hiroyuki Oki
Diamond Island Community Center
© Hiroyuki Oki

Six smaller pure bamboo pavilions are shaped like umbrellas with 11m diameter and 7m height.

The umbrella structures consist of twelve prefabricated structural units assembled, aiming at efficiency of construction.

Diamond Island Community Center
© Hiroyuki Oki
Diamond Island Community Center
© Hiroyuki Oki

The large pavilions are double layered dome structures.

The outer roof layer of thatch overhangs from the inner basket-like structure to create deep eaves, protecting the whole bamboo structure from harsh sunshine and heavy rainfall.

Diamond Island Community Center
© Hiroyuki Oki
Diamond Island Community Center
© Hiroyuki Oki

Regardless of the shrouding shape of the roof, the interior space needs no artificial lighting for daytime activities as a skylight and open periphery provide defused daylight.

The skylight also functions to discharge hot air from the top of the dome as river breeze cooled by three surrounding ponds flows through the building.

Diamond Island Community Center
© Hiroyuki Oki
Diamond Island Community Center
© Hiroyuki Oki

Despite the application of several traditional construction methods, the project’s aim is not to reproduce the vernacular, but to create sustainable architecture suited to the present.

In order to do this, systematization of production and construction of bamboo architecture is essential and, as a result, the project is a fusion of traditional folk art and contemporary architecture.

Diamond Island Community Center
© Hiroyuki Oki
Diamond Island Community Center
© Hiroyuki Oki
Diamond Island Community Center
© Hiroyuki Oki
Diamond Island Community Center
Diamond Island Community Center
© Hiroyuki Oki


Diamond Island Community Center
Diamond Island Community Center
Diamond Island Community Center