An architectural project in the Duc Tho district of Ha Tinh province in Vietnam aims to protect its citizens from devastating storms. The area is prone to natural disasters and the consequences of climate change, and its citizens are often forced to rebuild buildings only to have them flattened by hurricane winds. H&P Architects set out to address this challenge by reusing waste items and efficiently using renewable energy.
The RE-AINBOW project saw the creation of a structure strong enough to withstand heavy storms, using a variety of broken construction materials such as scaffolding steel pipes, sheet metals, bricks, ashlars, bathroom ware, tables and chairs. The area’s locals were also an intricate part of the structure’s manual construction.
The building was designed to fulfil the community’s static and dynamic needs. In the static category, the designers constructed a health station, public restrooms and ancillary areas. To ensure the locals could adapt to any disaster situation, the design incorporates a classroom, an art performance theatre, a meeting place, a sports fitness centre, and refreshment tent, which can perform various other functions.
“The aim of the project is to help improve public capability to adapt and respond to climate change via re-use of waste items and efficient use of energy,” says the company.
Aesthetically, the company used a range of colours to emphasise the equal value of each contributor.
“It is, at the same time, intended to improve social awareness of the diversity in identity and the legitimacy of the pursuit of equality of each individual in the society in shaping and developing new rural model in Vietnam currently.”
