The Changing Client, True Value in Design, and the Path Toward Sustainable Architecture in Vietnam
"The trend in the fields of Architecture is to propose buildings that are rooted in a specific territory, landscape, and culture."
As architecture and design in Vietnam undergo profound shifts in thinking, client expectations, social demands, and environmental pressures, the voices of architects committed to sustainable practice are becoming increasingly important. Drawing on his professional experience in Europe and more than two decades of practicing bioclimatic architecture in Southeast Asia, Charles Gallavardin offers a candid perspective on changing client expectations, the boundary between “meeting requirements” and “creating value,” and the architectural trends that are likely to endure in Vietnam over the next five to ten years.
Clients Are Changing: From Quantity to Quality
According to Charles Gallavardin, one of the most significant changes observed over the past three to five years has not come from architectural form, but from the mindset of clients themselves. He sees a clear distinction between two generations: clients over 40 and younger clients under 35.
For the older generation, investment thinking often remains centered on quantitative factors such as the number of rooms, built-up area, land size, and the ability to maximize occupancy or utilization. This approach was once well suited to a period of rapid real estate growth, when expansion and increased capacity were the primary priorities. However, its limitations are becoming increasingly apparent, particularly as environmental concerns, operating costs, and user experience receive greater attention.
Younger clients, by contrast, tend to approach projects from a fundamentally different perspective. For them, design is not simply about “how much can be built,” but rather “what kind of experience can it create?” The quality of living spaces, user comfort, environmental sustainability, and connections to local culture and context have become key priorities. Rather than replicating architectural models from the West or Singapore, this generation seeks buildings with a distinct identity-ones that respond to the local climate, landscape, and way of life.
Another notable aspect is the level of trust younger clients place in architects. They tend to respect professional expertise, understand the role of contracts, and be willing to work collaboratively with architects in the search for optimal solutions. At the same time, they actively contribute fresh ideas and embrace innovation without pursuing technology for its own sake. Instead, they are increasingly interested in “low-tech” solutions that are genuinely sustainable and suited to Vietnam's actual conditions.
According to Charles Gallavardin, this shift stems from stronger educational foundations, greater access to global information, and a more pronounced awareness of environmental issues among younger generations. This is an important driving force helping Vietnamese architecture gradually move away from mass standardization and toward deeper, more enduring values.
The Boundary Between “Meeting Requirements” and “Creating Value” in Architecture
Based on his professional experience, Charles Gallavardin believes it is essential to distinguish between a conventional construction project and a truly architectural project. A project that “meets requirements” may successfully fulfill all predetermined technical, functional, and budgetary criteria. A project that “truly creates value,” however, delivers lasting benefits to its users, the community, and the surrounding environment.
In his view, the value of architecture does not lie in chasing trends or creating visually shocking forms. Instead, buildings with the greatest capacity to endure are often those that are humble and restrained, prioritizing user comfort and integrating subtly into their surroundings. These are designs that do not require excessive explanation; their rationality, humanity, and sustainability are evident in the architecture itself.
A value-creating project must be grounded in solid architectural knowledge: carefully considered creativity, effective collaboration with technical specialists, and above all, a human-centered mindset that places user experience at the heart of the design process. Drawing on traditional architectural elements should not mean copying historical forms, but rather reinterpreting them through a contemporary language suited to today's living conditions.
Particularly in a tropical climate such as Vietnam's, bioclimatic architecture plays a crucial role in creating genuine value. A well-designed building should know how to provide shade, protect against rain, minimize the use of glass, and reduce dependence on air conditioning. These solutions not only save energy, but also extend the lifespan of buildings and improve the quality of life for their occupants.
For hospitality and resort projects, creating value also means telling a story rooted in the local context. When architecture incorporates natural and locally sourced materials while reflecting the history and culture of a place, the guest experience becomes deeper and more memorable. According to Charles Gallavardin, Vietnam urgently needs more projects of this kind to move beyond the architectural homogenization taking place across the country-an increasingly visible phenomenon that risks obscuring the diverse beauty and identity of its regions.
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Frugal, Contextual Architecture and the Sustainable Path Ahead
If he had to identify one trend with the greatest potential for long-term relevance over the next five to ten years, Charles Gallavardin believes it would be architecture deeply rooted in territory, landscape, and local culture, guided by the spirit of “Frugality”-using fewer resources while creating happiness and fostering creativity.
This is not simply a stylistic trend, but a comprehensive approach to building.
From this perspective, architecture should not be a tool for maximizing resource extraction, but a means of caring for the land, respecting nature, and serving people. Future Vietnamese architecture cannot be uniform across the Mekong Delta, Da Lat, Hanoi, or Sa Pa, because each region has its own climate, way of life, and material resources. Design should therefore be grounded in the concept of the “bioregion”-an ecological region in which architecture responds to the distinctive natural and cultural conditions of each place.
From there, Charles Gallavardin argues that Vietnam needs to develop a genuinely green construction industry rather than stopping at slogans. This includes developing bio-based materials such as bamboo, timber, rice husks, and rammed earth; investing in certified FSC forests for construction; and gradually reducing dependence on concrete, glass, and metal. It is a long-term journey, but an inevitable one if Vietnam is to achieve sustainable development.
Resource-efficient architecture does not mean architecture that is poor or lacking in quality. On the contrary, it is architecture that prioritizes quality of use, optimizes design solutions, and delivers long-term value to society. According to Charles Gallavardin, there is still much work to be done, but positive signals are already emerging, particularly through design awards and a professional community that is increasingly attentive to identity and sustainability.
Charles Gallavardin is an architect, interior designer, and entrepreneur, and the co-founder of T3 Architectes in Vietnam and KANOPYA Living, a company developing prefabricated accommodation models. With more than 20 years of experience in sustainable and bioclimatic architecture across Europe and Southeast Asia, he is committed to a design philosophy centered on resource efficiency, respect for users, and sensitivity to local context. Charles is the representative of Frugality Group in Vietnam and has received numerous international architecture awards, including the AFEX Prize 2023 and the Versailles Prize 2025.
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