Vo Trong Nghia designs bold bamboo extension to Vietnamese wellness retreat
by Kim Megson | 10 Nov 2015
Pioneering architect Vo Trong Nghia, famous for his bamboo-based designs, has created a bar, restaurant and multi-purpose event space to enhance a wellness resort in the Vietnamese coastal city Da Nang.
Nghia provided the original masterplan for the Naman Retreat – a 3.4ha tropical complex containing 80 guest bungalows, 26 villas, a hotel and five-star spa facilities – and was also tasked with designing the additional facilities by the Thanh Do Investment Development and Construction company.
To complete the structures, Nghia returned to his favourite form. Various types of bamboo – differing in size and flexibility – were heated, soaked in water and fumigated over a four-month period before being shaped to specification on site.
The Nghia-designed Hay Hay Restaurant and Bar, which can hold up to 350 guests, is formed of 29 fanning bamboo columns and two skylit bamboo domes. A glass facade supported by concrete pillars is designed to keep in cool air, while providing relaxing views of the surrounding coastal landscape. Outside, Hay Hay’s cylindrical bamboo bar floats on the surface of a large pool.
Similar techniques have been used to construct a separate bar located on the beach itself, and a 300-capacity hall which can host concerts, performances, lectures and conferences.
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Nghia said: “The resort was designed by a harmonious mix of greenery, natural stone and bamboo to achieve a perfect atmosphere for guests to experience the maximum purification and relaxation of body and mind.”
Existing facilities at the resort include a pure spa designed by Vietnamese architects MIA Studio. That building is covered in draping plants and hanging gardens – in keeping with the resort’s wider design – and features open-air gardens, lotus ponds and a “wall-less” ground floor.
The spa features fifteen individual treatment rooms, sauna and steam ooms, a gym and a yoga pavilion. Naman resort offers ‘detox journeys’ of up to 14 days focused on cleansing and purifying mind, body and soul with spa treatments, healthy meal plans, colon hydrotherapy, physical activities and wellness therapies.
Bamboo is becoming an increasingly popular contemporary building material, especially in Asia, because of its strength, flexibility and relatively low cost.
The Beijing and Vienna-based architecture studio Penda recently revealed its vision for a city of 20,000 people made entirely from bamboo bound with rope.
Vo Trong Nghia has added a bar, restaurant and multi-purpose event space to Da Nang's Naman Resort
Credit: Vo Trong Nghia Architects
Naman Resort is a tropical complex containing 80 guest bungalows, 26 villas, a hotel and five-star spa facilities Credit: Vo Trong Nghia Architects
Nghia said: 'The resort was designed by harmonious mix of greenery, natural stone and bamboo in order to achieve a perfect atmosphere for guests' Credit: Vo Trong Nghia Architects
The new beach bar provides a relaxing space for guests at the resort Credit: Vo Trong Nghia Architects
The bar sits next to the resort's infinity pool Credit: Vo Trong Nghia Architects
The beach bar looks out towards the sea Credit: Vo Trong Nghia Architects
Bamboo and concrete were used to create the three structures Credit: Vo Trong Nghia Architects
The resort promotes the 'holistic wellness' of its guests Credit: Vo Trong Nghia Architects
Nghia believes bamboo can be used to create structures quickly and precisely Credit: Vo Trong Nghia Architects
The new bamboo conference hall looms large over the resort Credit: Vo Trong Nghia Architects
The 300-capacity hall can host concerts, performances, lectures and conferences
Credit: Vo Trong Nghia Architects
Various types of bamboo were used in construction of all three buildings Credit: Vo Trong Nghia Architects
The bamboo pieces were heated, soaked in water and fumigated over a four month period before being shaped to specification on site
Credit: Vo Trong Nghia Architects
The flexibility of the material allows for diverse structural patterns Credit: Vo Trong Nghia Architects
29 bamboo domes were used in the construction of the restaurant Credit: Vo Trong Nghia Architects
Bamboo is becoming an increasingly popular contemporary building material, especially in Asia, because of its strength, flexibility and relatively low cost Credit: Vo Trong Nghia Architects
Pioneering architect Vo Trong Nghia, famous for his bamboo-based designs, has created a bar, restaurant and multi-purpose event space to enhance a wellness resort in the Vietnamese coastal city Da Nang. Nghia provided the original masterplan for the Naman Retreat – a 3.4ha tropical complex containing 80 guest bungalows, 26 villas, a hotel and five-star spa facilities – and was also tasked with designing the additional facilities by the Thanh
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