artifact : cantho

This building forms a major gateway to Cantho University and provides a direct connection between the city streets and the campus. It connects the pedestrian access of students and staff over the campus, through and under the building itself and further onto the open plaza which is an ancillary space to the site. The building provides a large 'umbrella' at ground level which allows students and the public to benefit from its shading and protection without having to actually enter the building confines, so that security is not compromised.

Materials and finishes for the building were selected for low maintenance and long life, so maintenance costs are reduced, and architectural concepts of environmental sustainability have been applied to all design matters. From an analysis of Phong Thuy (feng sui), we have located the planning and entries of the LRC so as not to compromise these principles, and steps and access directions reflect the recommendations of the belief system. Water features are designed into the project as references to historical precedence and also as phong thuy concepts.

For the first time, a building exists that uses vegetation as part of the architectural expression. The walls have two layers, one a trellis shade screen and the other a glass curtain wall. Between these two layers, vegetation will hang which itself will provide further shading and natural cooling. The three internal light wells (one also acting as a stormwater collection vertical riser) allow ample diffused light into the centre of the building but not direct sunlight and heat. These ducts act also as smoke exhaust funnels in the event of a fire, thereby reducing the need for extra ducts and exhaust fans.

The architectural concept is for an open system of facilities that can adjust to suit the educational needs of the university as it grows and develops, based on an open architectural and planning system which provides for change over time without compromising the basic facility.