Đoàn Thanh Hà

Đoàn Thanh Hà (born in 1980, in Bac Ninh) is a Vietnamese architect, also the youngest child in a family of three siblings and his Father and Mother are both foreign language teachers. He majored in architecture at Hanoi University of Architecture from 1997 to 2002, completed his Master of Architecture in 2007, and was writing his doctoral thesis on "Humanity in Architecture" from 2008 to 2012 before wholeheartedly imparting his wisdom and energy on Architectural practice. His first design was realized in 2001 and it was for the house in which his parents are living now. In 2009, Ha founded H&P Architects, an architecture office which pursues projects for vulnerable communities (material + social status + promotion opportunities) in Vietnam, and at the same time creates unique structures with eco-friendly building materials.
== Career ==
Ha is the first Vietnamese architect to win the Turgut Cansever Prize 2020 endorsed by the International Union of Architects (UIA). The award recognizes proposals that satisfy design principles of architect Turgut Cansever - the only person in the world to win the prestigious Aga Khan Award three times. Ha is also a rare person who has won the Gold Medal of the ARCASIA Award three times (in 2015, 2016, 2019) organized by The Architects Regional Council Asia: "... Architect Doan Thanh Ha understands the materials so well, uses them in the right places, and lets them say everything about what they have to offer which can be precious and unique. In particular, he is a master and a skilful designer, finely demonstrating structures and details in architecture. Architect Mies van der Rohe once said that Details are the Gods of Beauty in Architecture".
Ha proposes the philosophy of "Architecture for people " with the mandate: Meet the practical living activities of the people + Improve the quality of life + Make up for people's economic, cultural and social disadvantages. Architecture for people's livelihood consists of three inseparable elements: Essential Space (Content), Man-made structure in a natural manner (Structure) and Code of Conduct.
Essential spaces are those for activities under three tiers of basic human needs (according to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, from the bottom of the hierarchy upwards): Physiological needs (air, food, drink, shelter, clothes, sleep,); Needs for security and safety (job security, safe shelter,...); Social needs (friendship, trust...). From this approach, three project chains relevant to these three tiers of needs are formed: Education-Health at grassroot level (Hygiene garden for the poor in the mountainous areas, disadvantaged communities in urban and rural areas); Small modular houses (for people in disaster-stricken areas and rural areas, urban periphery); Friendly space: an open space for those in stifling urban areas.
"Essential spaces" are formed from "Practical materials" (reusable, inexpensive, locally available) with appropriate construction technology (combining traditional methods with new techniques subject to circumstances) and local participation (from inception to completion, and upgrade during their use). The three typical characteristics of these spaces are: Simplicity (Modularized architecture for easy construction, maintenance and replacement) + Flexibility (in combination, use, and extension) + Low cost.
"... Doan Thanh Ha does not practise architecture for himself, thus he does not keep a familiar style to create a brand name. Instead, he tries to diversify his main concept in accordance with specific situations and particular people".
== Projects ==
Ngói Space, Ha Noi
Revitalizing Mao Khe Mining Park, Quang Ninh
HOUSE (Human's Optional USE), Hai Duong
Tropical Cave, Bac Ninh
S Space, Ha Nam
AgriNesture, Quang Ninh
Brick Cave, Ha Noi
BE friendly space, Quang Ninh
Mành Mành salon, Ha Noi
Toigetation 2, Dien Bien
Terraces home, Ha Tinh
Properly breathing house, Ha Noi
Re-ainbow, Ha Tinh
Cheering restaurant, Ha Noi
SRDP-IWMC office, Ha Tinh
Toigetation, Cao Bang
BES pavilion, Ha Tinh
Blooming bamboo home, Ha Noi
== Awards ==
Awards 	Year of Awards
UIA Baku International Architecture Award 	2021, 2017
National Green Architectural Awards, Vietnam 	2020-2019, 2018-2017, 2014-2013
UIA Turgut Cansever International Award 	2020
KOHLER Bold Design Award 	2020-2019
ARCASIA Awards for Architecture 	2019, 2017, 2016, 2015
UIA Barbara Cappochin International Architecture Prize, Italy 	2019
Archdaily Building of the Year Award 	2019
National Architectural Award, Vietnam 	2019-2018, 2017-2016
(Ashui Architect of the Year), Vietnam 	2018
2A Continental Architectural Awards for Asia and Europe, Spain	2018
Red Dot Award, Singapore 	2018
International Architecture Awards, US 	2018, 2016, 2014
Architizer A+ Awards, US 	2018, 2017, 2016
INDE. Award, Singapore 	2019, 2018
FuturArc Green Leadership Award, Singapore 	2018, 2016
2A Asia Architecture Award 	2017, 2016, 2015
UIA Friendly and Inclusive Spaces Awards 	2017
R+D Awards, US 	2016
AZ Awards, Canada 	2015
Green Good Design Awards, US 	2016, 2015
WAN House of the Year, UK 	2018, 2014
AR House Award, UK 	2014
== Books & Exhibitions ==
HOUSES & PEOPLE (Đoàn Thanh Hà: Nhà cửa & Con người), Book, Knowledge Publishing House, Vietnam
Cloud Walkers, Special Exhibition, Leeum Museum of Art, Korea
Guest Artist, Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism 2021, Korea
Gửi quá khứ một hộp thời gian (A Time box to the past, Various Authors), Book, Kim Dong Publishing House, Vietnam
Category:1980 births
Category:Vietnamese architects
Category:People from Bac Ninh Province