The Traditional, The Vernacular, and the Indigenous, 2021.

Centuries of colonialism and imperialism from Western powers have influenced how much of the developed world functions today, whether it be in technology, fashion, or the cityscape. In countries such as Vietnam, French colonialism continues to have an impact on Vietnamese culture and their natural environment. French colonialism, lasting nearly 100 years, changed the urban fabric of the built environment of Vietnam ; it altered how cities were planned, upheaved the local architecture, and significantly shifted the integral materials required for construction. Gone was the indigenous bamboo and thatch hut with its centuries of resilient architecture, and in its place, concrete structures that were at odds with the local environment. This paper consists of two parts: first, a historical recount of French colonization on the built environment of Vietnam and second, a design interjection proposal. This proposal aims to reduce the impacts of climate change and colonialism through proposing a form of architecture that draws from pre-colonial vernacular and indigenous practices, recalling the connection between community, the natural environment and the built environment.