Green Summer Design Workshop 2025—Designing a Greener Future, One Facade at a Time

Green Summer Design Workshop 2025—Designing a Greener Future, One Facade at a Time

From June 30 to July 13, 2025, I had the opportunity to participate in the Green Summer Design Workshop 2025, hosted by Van Lang University under the theme “Designing Green Facades for Urban Housing in Ho Chi Minh City.”

This two-week program brought together over 150 students and 20 lecturers from leading universities including Van Lang University, HCMUT, UAH, VGU, and TDTU, alongside international guests from Hanyang Erica University and Inha University (Korea). It was not only an academic playground but also a collaborative platform where ideas about sustainability, energy efficiency, and urban resilience came to life.

During the online phase, I joined lectures from professors and industry experts on biophilic architecture, façade optimization, and passive cooling strategies, followed by intensive group discussions and digital modeling sessions. My team and I worked late nights developing a concept that combined modular green panels with rainwater harvesting systems, aiming to redefine how green design can blend seamlessly with local urban housing.

When the workshop transitioned to the in-person stage at Van Lang’s main campus, excitement filled the air. The opening ceremony was followed by direct feedback sessions from mentors, pushing us to refine our concept both aesthetically and technically. On the final day, our team proudly earned second prize among dozens of competing projects—a recognition of our creativity, teamwork, and commitment to sustainable design.

Through this workshop, I not only strengthened my design and collaboration skills but also learned that sustainable architecture begins with empathy—for both people and the planet. This experience reaffirmed my belief that even small design ideas can spark meaningful change when guided by purpose and collaboration.