AD HOC PRACTICE

A fictitious ribbon is a generic attribute of urban form production. This concept is not a norm, but an urban state of exception that forces the generic to conform to the finite form of a location. The concept will manifest a global urbanscape through various site-specific interventions. Take this ribbon and place it above the Hanoian old town quarter, it will take the form of the roof’s topography and mutate into a sky pathway. Put the ribbon below the ground, it will turn softly into an urban ribbon that runs around the lake and alternatively goes up and down according to the existing urban structure. Two scenarios have been imagined.

Below / Ground-ribbon / Ground as the city The relationship between the Vietnamese with their ground rooted in the Vietnam war history. They managed to conquer the sub-surface and make it livable and breathable. The ground ribbon is inspired by the Cu Chi tunnels which were used by Vietnamese soldiers as supply routes, and living quarters for numerous North Vietnamese solders.The groundscape was turned into a highly sophisticated and organic structure, hosting multiple living programs. The ground functioned as a whole city. The fi ctitious ribbon is placed in the context of Hanoi in a post pandemic era when the relationship between the city, its ground and the nature should be strengthened. The surface-programs will be integrated in the sub-surface condition, developing downward, densifying vertically into the thickness.

The motorway around Hoan Kiem lake will return permanently to its vernacular landscape and totally dominated by soft circulations. The act of constructing and excavating, the emptiness and the wholeness are now placed at the same hierarchical level. A whole new space syntax is invented and an unintended resilient scenario will emerge. When the density of human activities and social urban frontage extend progressively to the subsurface, The surface is now dedicated to the state of biodiversity.The resilient nature city will be established unintentionally as a by product of densifying the groundscape.

If The city is considered as a ground, a substrate where thr new transitory structures will be built upon. The ribbon will serve as a framework for vertical lightweight structures development as additional spaces. It will be functioning as an interchangeable element between architecture and infrastructure in a time dimension. It will function as a local community space at the daytime and public pedestrian at night. The roof-park stands out like an oasis off ering a tropical lifestyle that coexists with nature.

The marker is composed of three main entities representing the above, the below and the crossroad. The above, below objects is made mainly from plexiglass, embracing in a glass cube. These two will be hanged upside down on the crossroad structure. The above cube is a sample of the typical Hanoian old quarter densely urban fabric while adding fi ctitious ribbon. The below cube representing the fi ctional scenario of the cityscape around Hoan Kiem lake. The installation investigates the powerful ways in which the city arises from the constant interaction between the above and the below. two boxes are almost transparent, dreamily fl oating in the air while the crossroad structure is imposing, solid. This contrast recalls the complementary, balance state of opposing entities, just like up and down, above and below. The crossroad structure gives the marker a monumental dimension. A pristine, monolithic, simple but symbolic form. Cladding anodized aluminium, the structure is stand on a refl ective surface enhancing the continuity and the infi nity. The act of visiting : If we consider human eye level as a limit to defi ne above and below, the The marker is composed of three main entities representing the above, the below and the crossroad. The above, below objects is made mainly from plexiglass, embracing in a glass cube. These two will be hanged upside down on the crossroad structure. The above cube is a sample of the typical Hanoian old quarter densely urban fabric while adding fi ctitious ribbon. The below cube representing the fi ctional scenario of the cityscape around Hoan Kiem lake. The installation investigates the powerful ways in which the city arises from the constant interaction between the above and the below. two boxes are almost transparent, dreamily fl oating in the air while the crossroad structure is imposing, solid. This contrast recalls the complementary, balance state of opposing entities, just like up and down, above and below. The crossroad structure gives the marker a monumental dimension. A pristine, monolithic, simple but symbolic form. Cladding anodized aluminium, the structure is stand on a refl ective surface enhancing the continuity and the infi nity. The act of visiting : If we consider human eye level as a limit to defi ne above and below, the installation will give the visitor a paradoxical experience, exploring the city in a new dimension. Looking up, the groundscape parts of the model representing the fantasy hidden parts of the city from below will be revealed and become the focal point of the exhibition. While looking down, people can have a fully comprehension about the city from above through the refl exion of the upside-down model on the mirror polished surface. Hence, the positions and the movements of the human body become part of the show. Raising your head up and down, moving your eyes upward and downward in order to explore the object in all dimensions. The below and the above are no longer separated but interwoven into one single object.