TIZIANO VUDAFIERI'S TALK IN HO CHIN MIN CITY

The double lecture of architect Tiziano Vudafieri in Ho Chi Minh City on November 17 and 18, 2025, was a resounding success.

The event at the University of Architecture was attended by the Italian Consul General, Alessandra Tognonato, and saw the architect, in his capacity as Italian Design Ambassador 2025 in HCMC, explore design as a process of dialogue and cultural responsibility.

The talk, titled "PROJECT AND SENSE OF PLACE – A JOURNEY INTO DIALOGUE AND SHARING", highlighted the studio's distinctive approach based on the concept of "Genius Loci". As Vudafieri emphasized, design begins with "listening" to what a place "tells" the architect—its identity and its rhythm. Only in this way can contemporary Italian creativity resonate authentically with the Vietnamese context, without overwriting it.

Consul General Alessandra Tognonato referenced Ettore Sottsass, noting that “Design is a way of discussing life”: designing is not only about creating beautiful spaces but also about questioning what the world gains from what we build.

Vudafieri's discussion stressed that the goal is not merely to design spaces but to “design relationships,” activating sharing and interaction among users. This philosophy results in constantly unique projects, presented across four key fields: Hospitality, Residences, Retail, and Workplaces.

Project examples included the Urban Hive Hotel in Paris, a 4-star property conceived as a "Hive" for the new generations—a place for meeting, working, and socializing that reinterprets classic Parisian design codes with a modern touch and playful storytelling—and the DELVAUX case study, which demonstrates how to celebrate Belgian identity while paying homage to the culture of the host city.

Finally, a message to the younger generations: do not chase trends—design meaning. Vietnam, with its energy and the “quiet strength” evoked by Vudafieri, offers a unique opportunity to translate vision into space, experience, and identity.