MÔhe’ritage Project: Reinterpreting the Relationship Between Heritage and Contemporary Environment

Miniature Architecture: A Contemporary Vision of Place and Memory

The concept of “place” and “self” has been a central focus in contemporary architecture over recent decades, as buildings are no longer merely physical spaces or forms, but instruments for expressing human identity and personal and collective history. In this context, the MÔhe’ritage project provides a prominent example of how simplicity and nostalgia for childhood and emotion can be integrated into contemporary architectural design.

Simplicity and Human Connection

The project is characterized by avoiding exaggeration or directly turning architecture into a mere temporal marker; instead, it adopts a simple, human-centered approach, allowing users to feel comfort and belonging. The softness and calmness in the design reflect an experience reminiscent of innocent childhood, creating a space that enhances the emotional connection between humans and their surrounding environment.

Heritage and Geographical Context

The project is located in the western area of Hanoi, amidst significant historical and natural sites such as the Va Temple, the ancient village of Duong Lam, and Ba Vi Mountain. This location makes the project part of a series of local heritage sites and landscapes, aiming to reinterpret the relationship between modern buildings and the surrounding heritage environment.

Rewriting the Story of Heritage

The project carries the theme of “rewriting the story of heritage,” transforming the tangible and intangible heritage values of the Doai area into a contemporary architectural work. This approach allows architecture to become a bridge between the past and the present while preserving the cultural and spiritual identity of the place.

The Human Dimension in Design

The name “MÔ” is derived from the word “where” in the central Vietnamese dialect, and it also serves as a friendly invitation from the local inhabitants to engage with the place. This naming choice reflects the project’s philosophy of making architecture a living space that interacts with humans, rather than just a rigid structure.

Mind Space: A Sensory Experience of Traditional Architecture

The village of Duong Lam is located in an area renowned for its red soil, known as “laterite,” and is famous for its traditional northern houses and old urban planning, characterized by the “fig tree, ferry, and communal house courtyard.” This planning pattern allows anyone from the previous Doai generation to vividly imagine the scene, even with closed eyes.

Through the cold and rough appearance of the red soil and the scent of old wood from columns, beams, and supports, MÔhe’ritage offers a unique experience: the user simply lets their mind wander through every corner and material to discover that traditional architecture is still present, integrated, harmonious, timelessly contemporary, while maintaining a continuous feeling of comfort and warmth.

Heritage Fragments: Reimagining the Past

Installation arts are an essential component of contemporary architecture, while reuse represents a key principle in sustainable architecture. However, in the MÔhe’ritage project, the technique employed is not explicitly named; the designer aims to preserve the individual characteristics of each element as an independent entity and a unique “self.”

Through spaces displaying architectural memory, heritage is reimagined innovatively via preservation, storytelling, and renewal. These “heritage fragments” not only evoke memories but also convey the cultural spirit of the region, allowing tangible and intangible components to coexist naturally and cohesively within the architectural space.

Wooden Components: Bridges Between Past and Present

The project contains wooden elements of heritage value, such as the carefully carved traditional house apex, which incorporates centuries-old wood. These components give the user a sense of proximity to history and personal space, akin to a small seat in the corner of an old house. The simple display and elegance of these pieces allow the story of heritage to be communicated clearly and directly, without exaggeration or complexity, enhancing the experience of cultural connection.

The Five Elements and Energy Flow in Traditional Vietnamese Architecture

Traditional Vietnamese architecture is characterized by its natural harmony with the surrounding environment, where the five elements of Feng Shui seamlessly enter human spaces without constraints. This harmony reflects the concept of “returning to the original circle,” where the house becomes a place where residents gather around the fire for daily and communal activities such as eating, heating, and social interaction, fostering a culture of participation and mutual protection.

Fire: The Heart of the House and Center of Vitality

In this context, the fire (kitchen) is not merely a functional space but the heart of the house and the home of vitality, memory, and family connection. Fire resembles the axis of the universe in Eastern culture, around which the other household functions are organized.

The hearth is positioned centrally, making it both sacred and accessible, filled with the scent of firewood, warmth, and children’s laughter. This design allows the mind to follow the smoke and evoke fond childhood memories. Fire facilitates the transfer of positive energy (Yang) and activates the senses, connecting the human with the home from a cultural and spiritual perspective.

Water Tank: A Point of Energy Balance

The water tank in the MÔhe’ritage project is a small yet essential element in maintaining architectural energy balance. It is not intended for large practical functions but is sufficient for misting and play, making it safe and comfortable, like a mother’s embrace, while simultaneously connecting the house to the local pond, lake, or the Red River from a bird’s-eye perspective. Despite its small size, the tank plays a crucial role in achieving delicate acoustic energy balance (Yin), adding a sensory and spiritual dimension to the space.

Columns and Wooden Structures: Sustainability and History

Columns and wooden structures play a pivotal role in determining the sustainability of traditional buildings. At MÔhe’ritage, natural wood recycled from old damaged houses is used, embodying the philosophy of reuse in sustainable architecture.

The wooden element in Feng Shui carries a gentle Yang energy and integrates with the surrounding trees to form connected pathways and spatial lines, in addition to its practical and historical value. These components make the architecture not merely a set of buildings but living spaces that harmonize with the local environment and history.

Metal Element: Strength and Beauty in Contemporary Architecture

The metal element in contemporary architecture includes steel structures, corrugated iron roofs, and other metal materials. It is an indispensable component for enhancing building sustainability and longevity.

In the MÔhe’ritage project, the designer applied local color paint on the large corrugated iron roofs, with two layers of cold-rolled iron to meet aesthetic requirements, save energy, and optimize costs.

Additionally, sound transmission through the corrugated iron roofs helps integrate the interior space with nature, especially in quiet areas, where users feel more comfortable with the sounds of rain, wind, and insects. Metal carries a neutral energy that acts as a transitional element, harmonizing with other materials to balance Yin and Yang energies in the space.

Earth Element: Sustainability and Natural Balance

The earth element includes soil and materials derived from it. Traditional earthen walls glazed with local and contemporary colors play an important role in creating a harmonious and comfortable space.

These walls provide effective acoustic and thermal insulation and contribute to a precise natural climate within the project, with passive self-cooling, aligning with the concept of green sustainable buildings. This technique, employed by the designer in several projects, reflects respect for architecture, nature, and local materials.

Historical and Geographical Context

The name Sontay appeared in 1469 during the Le Dynasty. Today, it is one of the districts of modern Hanoi. Formerly known as Doai (Westernland), it includes the ancient village of Duong Lam, which gives the project a strong connection to heritage and local history, enhancing the harmony between modern buildings and the surrounding cultural environment.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

It can be seen that the MÔhe’ritage project represents a clear attempt to connect Vietnamese heritage with contemporary architecture. In some aspects, it succeeds in demonstrating respect for traditional details, such as the use of old wooden components and the employment of natural elements to achieve energy balance. This approach provides an opportunity to understand how traditional values can be integrated into a modern context, serving as an inspiration for designers interested in sustainability and material reuse in architecture.

However, the project remains limited in terms of practical application and scalability. Its intense focus on heritage sensitivity may reduce the flexibility of space usage or its adaptation to diverse modern residential needs. Additionally, integrating traditional energy elements (such as fire, water, and wood) requires a deeper clarification of how they impact users’ daily functions in contemporary life. Furthermore, the project may face challenges in balancing heritage aesthetics with modern technical efficiency, particularly regarding the materials used and environmental standards.

Despite these reservations, the project offers a valuable opportunity to study the relationship between humans and space in small-scale architectural environments. It illustrates how designers can leverage heritage elements in a way that allows for reinterpretation within contemporary designs while maintaining sustainability and cultural sensitivity, making it a rich subject for architectural analysis and academic discussion.