Join Vietnam-based architect Võ Trọng Nghĩa as he discusses the ways in which designers can contribute to healing the Earth, from increased mindfulness to the many sustainable practices he employs in his own work. This lecture will touch upon his use of bioclimatic materials and collaboration with local skilled labourers to merge traditional Vietnamese construction techniques with contemporary design. He will also expound on the value of meditation as an effective modern design tool: Võ spent years meditating intensively at Pa-Auk Forest Monastery in Myanmar, using the knowledge and experience he developed there to contribute to social and environmental wellness through his architectural projects.

A graduate of the University of Tokyo and of Waseda University, architect Võ Trọng Nghĩa established his eponymous practice, Hanoi-based VTN Architects, in 2006. Celebrated for infusing his work with lushly planted walls, hanging vines, structure-piercing trees, weathered stones and sunken landscapes, he incorporates traditional Vietnamese building techniques, such as complex bamboo trusses, perforated blocks, cooling water systems, shaded terraces and thatched roofs, into his uniquely innovative designs. In 2014, the World Economic Forum selected Võ as a Young Global Leader, and he was named Architect of the Year by Dezeen in 2019.

Jeffrey Cook Memorial Lecture
The Jeffrey Cook Memorial Lecture is presented in the name of architect Jeffrey Ross Cook. Born in Canada, Cook studied architecture at the University of Manitoba and was a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and an elected member of the International Committee of Architectural Critics. Widely acknowledged as one of the pioneers of solar and bioclimatic design, he ran a Masters course in Solar Energy Design at Arizona State University that attracted students from countries around the world. The Faculty expresses its appreciation to the Jeffrey Cook Charitable Trust, which was established in 2005 to pay tribute to its namesake.

In addition to advancing Cook’s lifework and legacy, the Trust has as its focus the opportunities of the built environment and its interaction with the natural environment in securing human sustainability and enhancement. This includes passive and low energy design, respect for indigenous cultures, and the wise use of local resources in the built environment. We are grateful to the Jeffrey Cook Charitable Trust for its philanthropic grants to the Faculty to support research, the annually recurring Memorial Lecture, and its support of student travel related to selected design studios.