The Vietnamese Mekong Delta Geological Museum

The Vietnamese Mekong Delta – for generations, has been a place where people have lived closely connected to the alluvium and rhythm of the river. Here, the land is not only the foundation for construction, but also a place to preserve memories, a form of living heritage of this land. Climate change, landslides, salinity or ecological imbalance… all are gradually eroding this fertile delta. And in that context, recording, preserving and recreating the process of forming this land has become an urgent matter. Not only is it the role of an architectural work, but also a reminder – of the relationship between humans and their own living environment.

The Geological Museum Of The Vietnamese Mekong Delta was formed from that need. This project is not simply a place to display artifacts, where each layer of geological strata becomes a language, and alluvium becomes a material for people to better understand the place they live. Through the museum, the journey of thousands of years of land formation will be looked back on. At the same time, the project is expected to become a cultural landmark where scientific research, education, tourism, and community engagement converge. It does not stand apart as a closed institution but interacts with daily life, so that the story of the delta is told in a vivid, approachable, and multi-sensory way.

Summary of the reasons for choosing The Geological Museum Of The Vietnamese Mekong Delta project:

·        First, to preserve geological values and formation history.

·        Second, to raise public awareness of the place where they live and environmental change.

·        Third, the museum will act as a new educational method, helping people access knowledge in a multi-dimensional way.

·        Fourth, the project aims to strengthen community pride and create a bridge between tradition and future generations.

The idea of creating the shape comes from the image of a strong alluvial flow from upstream to downstream, then tends to flare to form the appearance of this delta. That is the reason why the block of the project has a curved shape that gradually slopes from high to low and when viewed from above, it tends to expand later. The project is divided into small blocks that gradually level down. Looking from the side elevation, each curve can be seen as layers of alluvial sediment that accumulate to form the delta land here.

On the overall plan, the main block is located at position 1/3 to emphasize the forward sliding. The front square and the back yard are connected through a radial axis and a large lake in front of the building. The warehouse/factory block is ordered to one side with the least interaction with the remaining river bank, the walkways are arranged around on different elevations to increase interaction for users. In addition, the surrounding landscape design incorporates native trees and aquatic vegetation to recreate the ecological environment of the delta, while also providing shade and a sense of familiarity for visitors.

The vertical cross-section in the middle of the building is inspired by the image of layers of alluvium deposited over time and forming a gradually higher geological layer. That is why the roof system above has a layered structure and a moving axis in the middle to gradually go up to the 1st and 2nd floors. The rear elevation (A-W elevation) is divided into many blocks, following the natural shape of the water's tail and it also metaphorically represents the image of hundreds of local boats stacked closely together to form a source of strength against natural disasters.

The project consists of 3 main floors, 1 ground floor and 2 upper floors:

·        Ground floor (+0,000), including Public area and Storage/Laboratory.

·        Mezzanine floor (+3,500), including Research and Administration area.

·        1st floor (+7,000), including Display area.

·        2nd floor (+15,000), including Display area.

The main material of the project is concrete. The sides in the thematic spaces will be treated with earth and stone to create a rough feeling and suitable for the meaning of each theme. The exhibition areas give visitors the feeling of experiencing going through the soil layer below the forest, conquering the geological layers,... Combined with sound, light and interactive technology, the storytelling of the museum becomes more engaging, especially for younger generations who may otherwise feel distant from geological concepts.

The idea of taking natural light from the long glass rows along the side of the building helps the interior space to be expanded on both sides as well as helps visitors define the flow of movement when visiting. The design also emphasizes sustainability, with natural ventilation, rainwater collection systems, and green roofs that help regulate temperature and reduce the building’s ecological footprint.

Because it is built on weak ground, with 3 sides facing the river, structural stability is a challenge. In addition to using reinforced concrete pile foundations, the landscape will be separated into 2 different heights:

·        One is the height of (+0.000), here the landscape will be as high as the ground floor, the solid embankments will surround this landscape and hold the ground firmly.

·        Two is the height of (-1.500), which is the remaining landscape outside, where it will be directly affected by the river tide, helping visitors walking above to easily feel and interact with the river.

Ultimately, the museum is not only a place to preserve knowledge but also a living space where the past, present, and future of the Mekong Delta converge. It is envisioned as a resilient structure, standing as both a cultural beacon and a call to action for environmental awareness in one of the most vulnerable regions of the world.