Design Decisions in Vietnamese Architecture: When Each Project Type Has Its Own Logic
“Sometimes a brand is mentioned merely to justìy a higher price, rather than to reflect genuine investments in technology, sustainability, or user experience.”
In the context of Vietnamese architecture being directly influenced by the pace of economic growth and the real estate market, design decisions increasingly reflect the differences between actual housing needs and business objectives. From the practical perspective of architect Nguyễn Trung Kiên, architecture does not operate according to a universal formula, but rather within specific conditions where budget, technology, and sustainability have varying degrees of influence depending on the type of project.
Design Decisions Depend on the Type of Project
According to architect Nguyễn Trung Kiên, Vietnam is currently in a period of economic development, meaning architecture cannot be separated from factors such as technology and sustainability. However, in professional practice, which factors play the decisive role depends greatly on the nature of each architectural project.
In private residential projects, particularly those with high requirements and relatively strong investment budgets, user experience and technology are often highly valued. When financial conditions allow, clients and architects have more room to explore modern technological solutions, as well as emerging experience trends shaped by the digital and AI era. In such cases, design decisions can focus more strongly on the quality of living spaces and the comfort of users.
According to architect Nguyễn Trung Kiên, architects working on these types of projects have greater opportunities to engage deeply with users’ individual needs, from daily habits and lifestyles to requirements for comfort and technology. Architecture is no longer limited to creating beautiful forms, but also functions as a “living ecosystem,” where technology helps people use spaces more efficiently, flexibly, and in ways that suit contemporary lifestyles.
In contrast, for real estate development projects driven primarily by business objectives, the logic behind design decisions takes place in a completely different context. Architect Nguyễn Trung Kiên believes that Vietnam’s current real estate business environment is not yet truly sustainable, as it is heavily dependent on the economy, property ownership regulations, real estate taxation, and policies that may change over time. These factors make real estate activities particularly vulnerable to macroeconomic fluctuations.
Although the demand for housing in Vietnam remains very high, real estate is also commonly viewed as a profitable investment channel. The promotion of real estate as a profit-generating asset or primarily as a business activity has directly influenced how projects are developed. In this context, many real estate projects are expected to be delivered quickly, at low cost, and with maximum profitability in order to generate significant margins for speculative investment.
According to architect Nguyễn Trung Kiên, this investment logic creates considerable pressure on the design process. In many cases, architects are required to work within strict cost and schedule constraints, significantly reducing the room for experimentation with technology, sustainability, or user experience. Architecture then ceases to be the primary objective and becomes part of a broader financial and business strategy.
As a result, in these projects, budget is often placed at the top of the priority list, while factors such as technology, sustainability, and user experience may temporarily be overlooked. Sometimes, branding is also introduced as a tool to increase the selling price or perceived value of a project, rather than as a genuine investment in the quality of the living environment.
According to architect Nguyễn Trung Kiên, this difference demonstrates that Vietnamese architecture operates according to multiple “parallel logics,” clearly reflecting the relationship between architecture and the economic and investment environment in which it exists.
Recognizing the specific logic of each project type, he argues, is essential for architects to make appropriate decisions and avoid imposing a single set of criteria on every project. Architecture can only fully realize its value when it is placed within the right economic, social, and investment context.
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Sustainable Architectural Trends for the Next 5–10 Years
Alongside the discussion of design decisions, architect Nguyễn Trung Kiên believes that over the next 5–10 years, architecture will continue to evolve in response to increasingly practical social demands, particularly changes in the way younger generations want to live.
One trend he considers sustainable in the medium and long term is environmentally friendly architecture. Buildings capable of adapting to climate change, living conditions, and daily habits are gradually establishing their position, replacing architectural approaches that prioritize visual extravagance, decoration, or superficial detailing.
According to architect Nguyễn Trung Kiên, changing user awareness, particularly among younger generations, is having a strong impact on the future direction of architecture. This generation is not only concerned with the appearance of buildings, but also questions their efficiency, long-term operating costs, and the impact of living spaces on health and the environment.
Young people today quickly embrace architectural trends that provide modern conveniences while responding to advances in science and technology. This creates pressure for the architecture industry to change, requiring buildings to pay greater attention to energy efficiency, comfort, and long-term suitability.
According to architect Nguyễn Trung Kiên, one notable direction for the future is the combination of greening, environmental friendliness, and adaptability to modern technology. Architecture cannot remain outside society’s broader movement toward reducing emissions, minimizing pollution, and using energy more efficiently. Architectural solutions that reduce energy consumption while optimizing comfort and convenience through lower emissions are receiving increasing attention.
However, he believes sustainable architecture should not be understood in an overly idealistic way. In the practical context of Vietnam, the application of energy-saving or green-building solutions must be carefully considered and aligned with the investment capacity, technical expertise, and operating conditions of each project.
He also frankly acknowledges that, despite years having passed since net-zero commitments were made, Vietnam has yet to have a building officially recognized as achieving this standard. The gap between commitments and reality remains a major challenge, but this does not diminish the significance of energy-efficient and net-zero-oriented architecture. On the contrary, it remains an inevitable direction - one that is both human-centered and necessary for people and the environment.
According to architect Nguyễn Trung Kiên, the issue is not about formally pursuing international standards, but about gradually improving the quality of the living environment through solutions that are appropriate to the Vietnamese context. Sustainable architecture, therefore, should be understood as a long-term process rather than a short-term destination.
From architect Nguyễn Trung Kiên’s perspective, Vietnamese architecture today operates within highly specific conditions, where each project type follows a different logic in making design decisions. At the same time, in the medium and long term, environmentally friendly and energy-efficient architecture will remain a sustainable direction, despite the many barriers to implementation. Recognizing the right context and practical limitations is essential for architecture to adapt and develop appropriately alongside Vietnamese society in the years ahead.
Nguyễn Trung Kiên is known as one of the founding members of GK Archi, one of Vietnam’s notable architecture firms in the Asia-Pacific region. Behind these achievements, however, lies nearly 20 years of persistent dedication to the architectural profession, shaped by extensive effort and practical experience. The accomplishments that architect Nguyễn Trung Kiên and GK Archi have achieved over the years not only reflect their commitment to their chosen path, but also demonstrate a gradual process of establishing their professional position and identity within Vietnam’s architectural industry.
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