PES-Architects and NDV awarded in competition for the Mekong Delta Agricultural Museum in Vietnam

PES-Architects, in collaboration with local office NDV & Partners, have been awarded in the international design competition for the Mekong Delta Agricultural Museum in Vinh Long, Vietnam.

More than 50 Vietnamese and international entities registered to participate in the competition organised by the Vinh Long Provincial People's Committee in summer 2024. Of these, ten were selected to move forward in planning. The goal of the museum is to promote agricultural and cultural heritage in the Mekong Delta, serving tourism, study, scientific research, cultural enjoyment, and promotion of farm products.

PES-Architects and NVD’s design is inspired by the Mekong Delta's agricultural landscapes and vernacular architecture. The 15,000 sqm museum is arranged in village-like pavilions, connecting seamlessly with its surroundings through courtyards, fields, canals, paths, and glass walls. With an emphasis on sustainability, the building employs passive cooling, local materials and community-maintained landscapes.

According to Tuomas Silvennoinen, PES-Architects’ Design Director and Chair of the Board, “The museum aims to celebrate local culture and history while fostering the theme of 'harmony with nature'. The design reflects our interest the rediscovery of natural, vernacular materials and context-specific solutions to reintroduce them into contemporary construction, creating a bridge between the past and the present.”

"Our success in this competition allows us to further expand our design services outside of China and into the larger Asian region. The project demonstrates the architectural values of our office – nature-inspired design that exists in harmony with its surroundings," continues Jyri Eskola, Development Director and PES-Shanghai Partner.

The competition prizes were awarded at a grand event in Vinh Long Town on 16 November, attracting hundreds of spectators as part of the Ceramics Festival festivities in the Mekong region.

PES-Architects and NDV look forward to continuing into the construction stage of the project.

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Design team

PES-Architects: Tuomas Silvennoinen, Martin Lukasczyk, Jyri Eskola, Cristian Coniglio, Mengxue Gu, Simon Richardus and Tuan Phan (specialist consultant) NDV & Partners: Nguyen Dinh Vinh, Vinh Nguyen, Vi Le, Nhu Nguyen, Tai Nguyenglio, Mengxue Gu, Simon Richardus and Tuan Phan (specialist consultant); NDV & partners: Vinh Nguyen, Vi Le, Nhu Nguyen, Tai Nguyen