Architects: VTN Architects
Area: 1460 m²
Year: 2021
Photographs: Hiroyuki Oki
Bamboo Contractor: VTN Architects
Principal Architects: Vo Trong Nghia, Nguyen Tat Dat
Design Team: Nguyen Van An, Tu Minh Dong, Bui Quang Huy, Manh Trong Danh, Thai Khac Phuc
City: Phu Quoc
Country: Vietnam
The Grand World Phu Quoc Welcome Center, designed by VTN Architects, serves as the gateway to the Grand World Phu Quoc master plan within the Phu Quoc United Center in Vietnam. Covering 1,460 m², the bamboo structure integrates traditional Vietnamese symbols like the lotus and bronze drum, crafted from 42,000 untreated bamboo culms. Sustainability defines the project, with natural materials and energy-efficient systems replacing artificial air conditioning and minimizing lighting use. The hybrid structure combines arches, domes, and grids, creating open, transparent spaces that seamlessly blend indoors and outdoors. Natural light, ventilation, and the warm hues of bamboo enhance the design, making it an iconic example of culturally symbolic and sustainable architecture.
The Vinpearl Project serves as the welcome center for the Grand World Phu Quoc master plan, a key component of the expansive Phu Quoc United Center. The client commissioned a bamboo structure that would reflect Vietnamese culture and stand as a symbolic landmark for the entire development, attracting visitors to Grand World Phu Quoc. The project spans a substantial area of 1,460 m², meeting the client’s vision by delivering a distinctive bamboo structure that represents Vietnamese culture while serving as a symbol of Grand World Phu Quoc. Traditional motifs, including the lotus and bronze drum, are intricately sculpted into the dense bamboo grid, highlighting and celebrating Vietnamese cultural heritage.
The project prioritizes ecological efficiency, employing natural, low-cost sustainable materials in both design and construction. Bamboo culms are joined using only ropes and bamboo pins, eliminating the need for synthetic fasteners. The design avoids artificial air conditioning, while artificial lighting is limited to nighttime use, further enhancing its energy-efficient approach.
The Vinpearl Project is fundamentally a pure bamboo structure, utilizing an impressive 42,000 bamboo culms. Its construction process is notably distinctive, refined into a standardized method with advanced adaptations for this specific site. Transporting the bamboo to the island posed logistical challenges, and the precision required to integrate multiple structural systems added complexity. The joint system, in particular, demanded meticulous attention to ensure seamless connections across the various structural elements.
The structural system of the Vinpearl Phu Quoc welcome center is a hybrid design that integrates arches, domes, and grid systems. This combination reflects extensive expertise in employing bamboo for diverse structural forms. The hybrid system unifies these elements, producing a distinctive aesthetic for the project. The cantilevered edges, in particular, necessitate careful implementation of cross-bracing as secondary structural supports, complementing the primary structural elements.
The spatial quality of the design is deeply shaped by the hybrid structural systems. Despite the structural complexity and the interlocking layers of elements, the space remains remarkably open and transparent. This openness is achieved through the design of the systems and the method used to connect the bamboo elements. The simple joint system, which relies on ropes and cost-effective fixing methods, plays a crucial role in maintaining this transparency. Furthermore, the modular design and bracing features of the framework further enhance the openness and clarity of the structure.
The grid system facilitates natural ventilation, allowing airflow through its openings. This transparency, combined with the arch pathways that span the structure, seamlessly connects the interior and exterior. The openness also permits natural light to enter from the sides and through roof openings, illuminating the space while highlighting the bamboo’s natural hues. This interplay creates a warm, intimate atmosphere despite the structure’s openness to airflow. The design balances hard, systematic grids with the softness of bamboo arches and domes. Intricate sculpted motifs of a lotus and drum within the grid further enrich the spatial experience, surprising and captivating visitors as they enter.
The Vinpearl Phu Quoc Welcome Center exemplifies the significance and innovation of bamboo architecture through its key attributes. It employs 42,000 untreated bamboo culms, relying entirely on natural materials without chemical treatment. The structure is purely bamboo, energy-efficient, and built with low-cost sustainable materials. Furthermore, it integrates traditional Vietnamese symbols, reinforcing its cultural relevance and architectural originality.
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Project Location
Address: 8VH7+849, Vinpearl, Gành Dầu, Phú Quốc, Kiên Giang Province, Vietnam
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
