Roots And Shoots

Architectural flora maestros VTN Architects harness the strength of bamboo to create a new branch of architectural identity for Vietnam

- Lawrence Carlos

The Vietnamese proverb “Tre già măng má»c” translates to “As bamboos grow old, young shoots spring up.” It is a metaphor for how Vietnam as a country will always endure; a younger generation will grow up to continue what their elders left behind. It is this material that VTN Architects (previously Vo Trong Nghia Architects) inherited, from its rich history as an integral part of the traditional Vietnamese way of life, to first use it as a building material over a decade ago. While also popularly known for their ‘green’ architecture, the firm has equally been pushing the possibilities with this plant to become a leading proponent of bamboo architecture in Southeast Asia. Such has been their focus on this material that, along with the conventional typologies listed under the projects section of their website, bamboo architecture gets its own category.