Accepting the invitation of Professor Deborah Berke - Principal of Yale University's College of Architecture and Professor Leslie Lok - Cornell University, (two of the eight prestigious Ivy league schools in the US and the world); Architect Hoang Thuc Hao, lecturer at Hanoi University of Civil Engineering, founder of 1+1>2 Architecture Office, gave lectures on two topics: Happy Architecture and Modern Indigenous Architecture.

Yale University's College of Architecture, where Architect Hoang Thuc Hao had a sharing session about Happy Architecture and Modern Indigenous Architecture.

Architect Hoang Thuc Hao is the first Vietnamese architect to win the 2016 SIA-GETZ Award for outstanding Asian architects, and is also the first Vietnamese to be awarded 2 major awards (held every 3 years): The Vassilis Sgoutas Prize for Implemented Architecture Serving the Impoverished 2017 & The Robert Matthew Prize for Sustainable and Humane Environments 2023 of the International Union of Architects (UIA).

Architect Hoang Thuc Hao and the philosophy of happiness architecture

UIA said: "Architect Hoang Thuc Hao pays special attention to rural areas and poor communities, highlights the role of architects in the process of social construction and innovation. Deeply understanding and adapting to local conditions, he made pioneering innovations. People participate and are an integral part of the construction process, empowered to improve their own living environment. The Architect does not just direct to sustainability in construction; more importantly, he respects and develops cultural values in his works - an aspect often neglected in developing economies."…

Discussion meeting with professors, lecturers and students of the College of Architecture at Yale University

On this occasion, Architect Hoang Thuc Hao was welcomed very warmly and cordially. Students, professors and architects in the US were impressed with the philosophies and works that he and his colleagues designed and built. Not only were they impressed, but they were also very surprised and admired the ability of him and his co-workers to overcome many difficulties and hardships in tight economic conditions. A huge number of school buildings and community buildings which were designed by the Architect have sprung up, contributing to creating happiness and peace for children or vulnerable groups of people in difficult circumstances in remote areas. With his philosophies, Architect Hoang Thuc Hao once again affirmed that architecture aiming to bring happiness to people, exploiting the spiritual elements to create modern indigenous architecture was the right direction which was appropriate in the context of rapid and strong urbanization and globalization in developing countries. The articles shared by the Architect in the US have partly helped young Vietnamese architects be more confident in their orientation to building advanced architecture, integrating into the world on the basis of promoting local identity.

Architect Hoang Thuc Hao in the sharing session about Happy Architecture and Modern Indigenous Architecture and interacting with students.

Event link: https://www.architecture.yale.edu/calendar/652-1-1-2-happiness-architecture

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