On the morning of August 17, 2025, in Ho Chi Minh City, Café Net Zero #20 took place under the theme “Embedding Architecture into the Environment”. This recurring initiative organized by Net Zero aims to create an open forum for architects, engineers, researchers, and young communities interested in sustainable development.
The event was held in a warm, friendly, and open atmosphere. More than 50 participants came together to exchange perspectives on how architecture can harmonize with nature, reduce negative environmental impacts, while still meeting the diverse needs of contemporary society.
Architecture and the Environment – A Necessary Perspective
In her presentation, architect Trần Thị Ngụ Ngôn, Co-founder of Tropical Space, delivered a profound message: architecture should not be an act of possession or intrusion, but rather be “embedded” into the environment, becoming a living entity capable of dialogue, sharing, and breathing together with its natural and social context.
According to architect Ngụ Ngôn, the rapid expansion of the built environment to meet modern human needs has led to severe consequences: resource depletion, ecological damage, and environmental degradation. If architecture continues to separate itself and oppose nature, this vicious cycle will only persist.
The “Embedding Architecture into the Environment” approach offers a different path: viewing buildings as part of an ecosystem, capable of generating balance, respect, and resonance with the landscape through space, form, solutions, and materials. Architecture, therefore, should not stand in isolation but coexist and share a common atmosphere with both nature and society.
From this philosophy, architect Ngụ Ngôn emphasized the responsibility of designers and builders: each project should be considered an opportunity to create harmony rather than conflict, accompanying humanity towards a more sustainable future.
SAWA’s Role of Partnership
With a spirit of social responsibility and a vision for sustainable timber construction, Mr. Nguyễn Mạnh Bình San, Vice President of SAWA, shared insights about SAWA’s role and mission in society. He emphasized that SAWA is not only an organization that brings together businesses and individuals in the timber construction sector, but also a pioneering entity that promotes sustainable values, contributing to the advancement of contemporary architecture and urban development.
Introducing the Exhibition “Mass Timber House in the Forest – 2025”
In his speech, Mr. Bình San also introduced to the architectural community the International Exhibition “Mass Timber House in the Forest – 2025”, one of the key activities jointly organized by SAWA and Net Zero in 2025.
The exhibition is expected to become a special milestone, showcasing the potential and future of wood in modern construction. Beyond displaying large-scale timber architectural models set in a forest environment, the event will also serve as a platform connecting architects, designers, experts, businesses, and communities interested in sustainable development trends.
The event aims to raise awareness of wood as a green, environmentally friendly material while affirming the applicability of mass timber and advanced technologies in architecture and construction. With the participation of numerous experts, researchers, and enterprises from Vietnam and abroad, the exhibition will be an important opportunity for exchange, learning, and fostering international cooperation, contributing to the deeper global integration of Vietnam’s timber construction industry.
Through this exhibition, SAWA reaffirms its commitment to supporting the sustainable development of timber construction, harmoniously linking architecture, nature, and community. SAWA’s presence at Café Net Zero #20 not only reflects its role as a partner of the program but also serves as a testament to its long-term commitment to building a green, human-centered, and sustainable architecture and construction sector. This will lay the foundation for SAWA to continue spreading values, connecting communities, and joining hands to build a future in which people and the environment coexist in harmony.