Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The design and site planning for the new Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters competition were driven by goals for sustainability and inspired by both the geographical map of Vietnam and vernacular architectural features. Traditional elements, such as a prominent roof overhang, natural ventilation, sunshading devices, and a ‘living wall’ maintain their functional values within a distinctly contemporary design. In composition, the sweeping forms of the complex embody the Ying-Yang concept of balance and asymmetry, stability and fluctuation, and the site’s anchor tower has a woven texture that recalls a traditional tropical building paradigm.
