The Association of Structure Wood Architecture – Ho Chi Minh City (SAWA) cordially invites Members, Businesses, and Partners to attend the scientific seminar “BUILD VIETNAM WOOD – BUILD THE FUTURE,” taking place at 13:00 on December 12, 2025 at TAVICO HOME – the Hố Nai Wood Hub, Đồng Nai.
As Vietnam advances toward its Net-Zero 2050 commitment, structural wood and contemporary timber architecture are emerging as key solutions for reducing emissions, optimizing resources, and revitalizing cultural and environmental values in the built environment. The seminar provides scientific, practical, and international perspectives on the future role of wood in modern architecture and construction.
⭐ SEMINAR AGENDA
• Back to the Future – Vietnamese Timber Heritage in Contemporary Architecture
• International Case Study: The Value of New Zealand’s Plantation Forest Wood and Applications for Vietnam
• Mass Timber and Regenerative Architecture in Modern Cities
• Integrating Wood with NetZeroNomy – A Foundation for the Net-Zero Future
⭐ SPEAKER PROFILES
Mr. Vo Quang Ha – Chairman of SAWA
Mr. Võ Quang Hà is a Vietnamese entrepreneur with more than two decades of experience in the wood construction sector. He currently serves as Chairman of TAVICO Group, Chairman of SAWA, and Standing Vice Chairman of DOWA. Under his leadership, TAVICO has evolved from a small sawmill into a complete wood industry ecosystem, including TAVICO Depot and TAVICO Home. Since assuming the chairmanship of SAWA in 2024, he has oriented the association toward enterprise connectivity, material standardization, international cooperation, and the development of structural wood for modern construction. He is widely regarded as a pioneer in legal wood trade and sustainable wood industry development in Vietnam.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hanh Nguyen – LAA.I Institute
Architect, Assoc. Prof., PhD, educator, and landscape researcher with more than 25 years of experience in teaching and design. Her work focuses on architectural development grounded in cultural identity and Vietnam’s climatic context.
At the seminar, she discusses the relationship between Vietnamese timber heritage and contemporary architecture, analyzing traditional principles that can be applied in today’s sustainable design approaches.
Mr. Scott James – Consul General of New Zealand in Ho Chi Minh City
A seasoned diplomat with substantial experience in development cooperation, particularly in forestry—a key strength of New Zealand.
At the seminar, he presents an overview of New Zealand’s plantation forest wood economy, analyzing industry structure, stakeholder roles, forest management, processing, logistics, traceability, and practical implications for Vietnam.
Arch. Lee Knowles – Projects Development Manager, Huni Architectes
Architect Lee Knowles works with Huni Architectes, an international architectural practice known for its impactful projects across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The firm is recognized for its creative, human-centered, and sustainability-oriented design approach.
A graduate of De Montfort University (UK), Lee brings extensive experience in multidisciplinary and cross-cultural projects. His design philosophy emphasizes natural materials, regenerative spaces, and meaningful user experiences.
At the seminar, he presents Huni Architectes’ perspective on Mass Timber, highlighting wood as a foundation for regenerative, humane, and low-carbon architecture.
Mr. Tim Nguyen – Founder of NetZeroNomy, Director of the Sustainable Development Center – Vietnam Institute of Digital Economy
In his presentation, Mr. Tim Nguyen introduces the NetZeroNomy approach—an economic model integrating symbiosis, circularity, green principles, and digitalization. He explains the role of timber architecture in carbon reduction, carbon storage, and low-carbon urban development, while proposing the “NetZero Timber Architecture” initiative and the Symbiotic Alliance strategy for Vietnam’s Net-Zero 2050 transition.
⭐ EVENT INFORMATION
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🕐 Time: 13:00 – Friday, December 12, 2025
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🕹 Venue: TAVICO HOME, 81 Điểu Xiển Street, Long Bình Ward, Đồng Nai Province
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🔗 Registration:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeLm8mC7b5h8co_S525ehLx-qEiHq54X5fHmpmmYS2OZ7X-QA/viewform
The seminar welcomes wood industry enterprises, architects, engineers, developers, research institutions, and organizations interested in structural wood, green buildings, Net-Zero practices, and sustainable materials.
SAWA respectfully invites businesses and partners to register and participate.