a21studio's boat and bamboo hut acts as shelter for vietnamese farmers

a21studio’s boat and bamboo hut acts as shelter for vietnamese farmers
images courtesy of quangdam

the houses sited along the river cai in the vietnamese city of nha trang have, for generations, learned to adapted to occasional flooding. rising waters have left inhabitants with limited mobility and transportation options around the area, precipitating the use of small boats to help in navigating through town. these woven vessels have become a significant part of the community of farmers living in the region, not only practically, but culturally as well.

recently, the construction of a hydroelectric system has prevented the overflow of water, obviously relieving the pressures of natural catastrophe, but also taking away the need for boat transit. these small ships, once an indispensable means of transportation, have faded into oblivion, now hung in kitchens as decorations, or thrown away from lack of space.

inhabitants of the area are encouraged to use the pavilion as a space for rest and relaxation

in an effort to enliven the boat weaving craft and maintain the memory of these traditional vessels, local architecture practice a21studio has constructed ‘the hut’ — a pavilion for farmers to rest and enjoy shade from the sun. two old, wooden gondolas have been positioned one atop another, inverted to create a both a surface for sitting and a canopy overhead. positioned on tall lengths of bamboo, the boats are tied and suspended above ground, allowing locals to climb on top, or hang beneath on a hammock secured below.

the underside of the boat offers a place for sitting and overlooking the surrounding landscape

‘the hut’ enlivens the craft and history of boat use in the region

the interconnected vessels offer both seating and shade for farmers in the area

a hammock suspended beneath the boat provides shade from the sun

the two boats are positioned on tall bamboo rods that add height to the pavilion

the project is placed near the river cai in the vietnamese city of nha trang 

a model shows the two boats and their relationship to the bamboo rods