THE VIETNAM ASSOCIATION OF THAILAND BY ARCHITECTS TRACT BEARS CERTAIN RESEMBLANCES TO CHINESE ARCHITECTURE, BUT WITH MORE DELICATE DETAILS THAT DEFINE THE BUILDING’S SILHOUETTE THROUGH THE USE OF MATERIAL.
Since the Vietnam Association of Thailand’s current location is a small shophouse that won’t be able to accommodate future expansion and activities, the new space for the community of upper northeastern Thais of Vietnamese descent by Architects Tract aims to function as the headquarters of the association’s operations. The new program houses indoor and outdoor multifunctional spaces, language learning rooms and an area where religious ceremonies take place. The floor plan divides the building into two wings. The activity ground at the center physically links the project’s front to the temple located further to the back of the property. A small pond at the center of the project is placed to draw visitors’ attention to the building. Stylistically, the building bears certain resemblances to Chinese Architecture but with more delicate details such as the curved lines that define the building’s silhouette through the use of main materials such as bricks, ceramic and stone tiles, both of which contribute to the tranquility of the structure’s physical appearance.
The Vietnam Association of Thailand, Image courtesy of Architects Tract