(VNF) - Mr. Vo Trong Nghia is one of six winners of the Prince Claus Award 2016 which honour outstanding achievements in culture and development, and promote opportunities for cultural expression.

Mr. Vo Trong Nghia is an architect who is putting sustainable architecture on the map by combining local materials and traditional skills with 21^st century design.

With a focus on green spaces, his designs range from major urban structures to durable but inexpensive housing for remote communities. His approach to urban design is shaping the future of architecture and transforming Vietnam’s urban landscape. However, at the core of his practice, he uses the physical environment to reconnect humans back to Mother Nature.

Farming Kindergarten, designed by architect Vo Trong Nghia, are chosen to be one of best-designed kindergartens in the world according to Business Insider.

The Farming Kindergarten for 500 preschool children, situated next to a big shoe-factory, is a prototype of the sustainable education space in tropical climate. The building is designed for the children of factory workers within low-budget. (Photo: votrongnghia.com)

The concept of building is “Farming Kindergarten” with continuous green roof, providing food and agriculture experience to Vietnamese children, as well as safe outdoor playground. (Photo: votrongnghia.com)

The Prince Claus Awards are presented annually to inpiduals and organizations based mainly in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean for their outstanding achievements in the field of culture and development and the positive effect of their work on their direct environment and the wider cultural or social field.

Traditionally, the Fund has presented one Principal Award and ten additional Awards. On this 20^th anniversary year, the Fund is taking a somewhat different approach.

It has selected a smaller number of Laureates than usual and, in addition to the Award, which is given in recognition of their excellent achievements, the Fund has created the opportunity for each of the five Laureates to support a project that they feel expands and enhances creativity in their own environment.

The Prince Claus Awards are presented to the Laureates in Amsterdam by the Fund’s Honorary Chairmen in the presence of members of the Dutch Royal Family.

The Awards are then presented by the Dutch ambassador to the Laureates in the countries where they live and work in order to increase local impact.

Other five winners are Apichatpong Weerasethakul (1970, Thailand), a filmmaker and artist; Kamal Mouzawak (1969, Lebanon), a chef and food activist; PeaceNiche (2007, Pakistan), a not-for-profit interdisciplinary cultural centre; Bahia Shehab (1977, Egypt/Lebanon), a graphic designer, artist and educator; and La Silla Vacía (2009, Colombia), an interactive online portal./.

House for Trees - Five concrete boxes, each houses a different program, are designed as “pots” to plant trees on their tops. (Photo: votrongnghia.com)

With thick soil layer, these “pots” also function as storm-water basins for detention and retention, therefore contribute to reduce the risk of flooding in the city when the idea is multiplied to a large number of houses in the future. (Photo: votrongnghia.com)

Kontum Indochine Café is designed as a part of a hotel complex along Dakbla River in Kontum City, Middle Vietnam. The cafeteria is composed of two major elements: a main building with a big horizontal roof made of bamboo structure and an annex kitchen made of concrete frames and stones. (Photo: votrongnghia.com)

Bamboo Wing is the pure bamboo cantilever structure flying over the sky as bird’s wings. The shape of the roof is suitable to take the cool wind into the building through the surrounding pond, and the deep eaves cast its shadow on the floor, making comfortable thermal environment without using air conditioners. (Photo: votrongnghia.com)

Minh Phuong