Communal House Roof

Designed and Installed: LAM.WEAVINGSPACES
Location: SOFITEL HOTEL. DISTRICT 1. HO CHI MINH CITY

Within the conference space of the Sofitel Hotel, marked by its French architectural character, LAM proposed an installation inspired by the Vietnamese communal house roof, a symbol of gathering and community connection in Vietnamese culture. This image was used as a conceptual device to define the seminar area for 250 guests, reflecting the cultural dialogue between France and Vietnam, the central theme of the conference held by the Institut français de HCMC. The communal house roof is a distinctive form in traditional Vietnamese architecture, shaped by climate, regional conditions, and vernacular construction techniques. Its recognizable features include a low building mass, deep overhanging eaves, and curved roof edges that rise into pronounced tips. For this installation, materials were reused from the EVSDA workshop series. A 60-meter-long laminated paper structure from the project The Weaving Ring was divided into three segments and reassembled into two large roof forms, evoking the image of communal house roofs. Due to its light weight, the structure could be suspended directly from the existing framework. The geometry remained simple, allowing construction to be completed within six hours. This marked the fourth cycle of reuse for the material. Continuous reconfiguration extends its lifecycle and enables it to adapt flexibly to different design concepts.

Image:  © Design team,  © Photographer,  © Lam Weaving Spaces