Hanoi (VNA) - Buildingsconstructed of bamboo and wood by Hanoi-based H&P Architects (HPA) have wongold and silver medals in an international architecture contest.

The jury for the 2AContinental Architectural Award 2017, hosted by 2A magazine, received 550entries (450 from Asia and 100 from Europe) from 38 nations. Among 220finalists, 31 designs in seven categories won prizes. The jury includesaccomplished architects Nader Ardalan, Shirish Beri and Waro Kishi.

HPA’s BE Friendly Space, acommunity space designed for locals in the Mao Khe coal mine area in thenorthern province of Quang Ninh, won the first place among Asia’s entries inthe Public spaces category.

The name of BE FriendlySpace is taken from the initials of its two main materials, bamboo and earth.Centrally positioned within Mao Khe, the building serves as a flexible venuefor a range of community events.

Architect Doan Thanh Ha said the entire structure is made of 40cm thickearth-rammed walls, laid out in a pattern that creates a series of interstitialgreen spaces. These open areas are connected to each other through randomlyplaced windows. The structure is topped with a layer of bamboo that regulateslight and air, and blurs the division between architecture and landscape.

“The building contains fourlarge multi-functional spaces, a kitchen and service area, and washroomfacilities, set against the dense backdrop of Mao Khe – one of Vietnam’s mostpopulous towns,” he said. “Our team hopes that the venue will help raiseawareness concerning the need for more friendly public spaces amid thecountry’s mass urbanisation.”

In the InteriorArchitecture category, H&P Architects’ Manh Manh hair salon won secondplace.

The company completed theinterior renovation of the salon in the bustling Van Quan area on the westernoutskirts of Hanoi.

“In order to reduce wasteand low overall budget, we reused the existing door, glass façade and furnitureto establish a welcoming and distinctive presence among the neighbourhood,” Hasaid.

The aim for the Manh Manh Salon was to establish an unusual but familiar space.

“The five senses areengaged through the decorative features integrated throughout the light-filledinterior; the climbing vines; the tapping and rustling of the beads; thefragrance of the flowers and the offering of tea. A sense of warmth is createdby the juxtaposition of old and new materials, including the patterned brick,wooden counters and glass. The visual focus of the space is the decorativeceiling made up of about 200,000 wooden beads, hanging down at differentlengths to produce an undulating curtain floating above – mimicking the pitchedceiling,” he said.

Earlier this year, BEFriendly Space won Special Mention in the New Building category at the UIAFriendly and Inclusive Space Award 2017 and Second Place in the Friendly Spacein Suffocating Urban Areas’ Public category at the Baku InternationalArchitecture Award 2017. It also won the Restaurant category of the ArchitizerA Awards 2017 and received the Special Mention title in the HospitalityCategory at the American Architecture Prize 2017.

Manh Manh Salon won SpecialMention at the Hospitality category in the Architizer A Awards 2017 won at theHospitality category at the American Architecture Prize 2017.

The Corporation H&PArchitects (HPA) was established in Vietnam in 2009 by architects Ha and TranNgoc Phuong.

The company’s projectsinclude offices, residences, hotels, resorts, hospitals, and urban design.

It has won 40 internationalprizes so far.-VNA