GARDEN OF GATHER

A research and design prototype for public space on VGU Campus

Partners: Nguyen Vu Minh Thu, Ly Minh Quan,

Nguyen Nguyen Khoi

Advisors: Dr. Arch. Lucio Nardi & Dr. Eng. Nguyen Dinh Hung

Ben Cat, Binh Duong

Summer, 2024 - Summer, 2025

This project aims to assess the current use of outdoor spaces on the Vietnamese-German University campus by students and, based on the evaluation, propose an experimental architectural intervention that enhances community engagement and improves the overall quality of campus life. The outcome will be the realization of a small-scale, temporary structure on the VGU campus—designed both by and for students—to create a space that is inviting, comfortable, accessible, and meaningful in their daily routines. Following its completion, the structure will also serve as a case study to observe its potential impact on student interaction and community building. The pavilion would facilitate social and cultural events, encouraging connection and the creation of shared memories. By incorporating communal traditions, such spaces gain cultural significance and become integral to campus life. At the same time, minimizing the separation between indoor and outdoor areas through open, fluid designs allows nature to play an active role in shaping the experience. This approach not only enhances the interaction between the built environment and its natural surroundings but also fosters a more immersive spatial experience.

¹ Davide Fassi, Laura Galluzzo & Liat Rogel - Hidden public spaces: when a university campus becomes a place for communities (2016)

Conceptual sketch

The pavilion itself is encountered as part of nature and the drawing shows how it works and acts under the use of humans.

Survey analysis

Data were collected from 22nd September to 11th October 2024, and there was a total of 169 students who attended

Site analysis