jailcd2017048: "A Study of Soviet-style Apartments in Vietnam and Japanese Residential Architecture That Leads to the Re-Design of Hanoi’s Nguyen Cong Tru Apartment Complex"

Abstract

Soviet-style apartments have been the focal point of Hanoi’s population development since 1960. Those low-rise buildings had created a well-knitted, robust community. This, however, also comes with disadvantages. As time made the buildings deteriorate and people’s needs for better housing conditions rose, the old flats couldn’t fit anymore. Modern apartments then came and solved issues concerning living standards with high-end modern housing equipment, large rooms and cleanliness. But contemporary apartments also brought people’s privacy to extreme levels. Neglecting becomes a trend, which gives way for the decline of communities and in the worst cases: isolation and crime. 
 Nguyen Cong Tru is one of the oldest and most iconic apartment complexes in Hanoi. This complex, like many other Hanoi old apartments, is in the process of being planned and rebuilt. Located in the central area with high building density, an iconic flea market and a long-lasting community, the question for rebuilding Nguyen Cong Tru apartment complex has been a highly difficult problem for architects and city managers alike. The research’s aim is headed towards the understanding of plan layouts under architectural and urban planning perspectives of Soviet-style apartments in Vietnam and Japanese residential building designs, using site surveys, historical materials and official documents. Consequently, by comparing and implementing the advantages from both sides I will create a new proposal for Nguyen Cong Tru apartment complex.