30 days of research / 6 days of exhibition
A series of city walks, workshops and discussions followed by an exhibition.
15 urbanists
15 participants from various backgrounds join
IN HO CHI MINH CITY
for Cities Week will be held in Uom Art Hub in Ho-Chi-Min City, Vietnam, in collaboration with studio anettai
About Urbanist Camp / for Cities Week
Hosted by for Cities, urbanists from diverse countries and backgrounds gathered in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in May 2023 for collaborative production of local research and exhibitions. The program systematically covered field research overseas, networking with local urbanists and creative hubs, and planning/design output. As a final output program, we organized a pop-up exhibition in the final week to showcase the research and findings of the participants.
Each participant was encouraged to find their own thematic interest, which they developed through independent research, collective field research, and visits during the course of their stay.
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Introduction to Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam's population is set to exceed 100 million in 2023, leading to rapid urbanization with a surge in high-rise buildings and infrastructure. However, this growth has unveiled urban issues like increasing motorcycle numbers, resulting in air pollution and traffic congestion. Additionally, major cities in Vietnam lack consolidated green spaces. On the other hand, green architecture and a vibrant creative scene among the youth are thriving. Since its establishment in spring 2021, for Cities has continued its activities as a hub that supports various young practitioners in architecture, urban planning, and city development across Asia.
Embracing the energy of developing Asian countries, for Cities seeks to create connections and envision alternative urban futures that stand in contrast to those in Japan, a country facing an aging and diminishing population. Our efforts to build bridges between diverse cities throughout Asia and give shape to the diverse visions of alternative urban futures began with an Urbanist Camp in one of the region’s most flourishing economies: Vietnam.
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Program
Week 1 Field Research
Extensive field research was conducted in various areas in and around Ho Chi Minh City. The first step was to enter the area and extract elements that had the potential to challenge or inspire.
Week 2 Site Visits and Interviews
We visited vibrant, well-known design studios and creative hubs in Ho Chi Minh City. We also interviewed various urbanists who are practicing unique activities that address the local urban environment. During this week, participants settled on their project themes and began conducting independent research.
Week 3 Exhibition Preparation and Creation
Working and creation period for “for Cities Week” to be held during week 4. The results of each participant’s thematic research and analysis were published as an original zine.
Week 4 Exhibition/for Cities Week 2023
An exhibition of research results was held in the exhibition venue and the surrounding neighborhood. Workshops, talk events, and tours were held alongside presentations of research outcomes.
Exhibition
As a final output of the program, we organized a pop-up exhibition in the final week to showcase the research and findings of the participants who gathered from various countries and backgrounds. Each of the 12 participants was encouraged to find their own theme of interest during their stay, and they conducted independent research along with the collective field research and visits.
Research topics of the participants
#BetweenKindness#Women’sExperienceMatters#CircularRoofs#HowWeLiveWithTrees
#EveningSociety#MobilityJustice#HowToStayCool#CityIsOurDanceFloor#GrowCity
#SpaceOfStreetArt#ColorSpace
For details of research, please check out the exhibition booklet 👉here
Ugly Building Tour
With participants and for Cities, this city walk takes you to the “ugly” side of Saigon city and encourages you to share what you don’t like and consider as “ugly” in the city. The mission here is not to negatively criticize something specific - rather, to recognize WHY we think that way, to discover what we cherish the most in our urban landscape.
📸 Photo Gallery
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City Collage Workshop
By Cécile Ngọc Sương Perdu
In collaboration with Cécile Ngọc Sương Perdu, a designer and artist based in Mekong Delta, this workshop invited people to think about the future of Saigon, one of the fastest growing cities. The program encouraged participants to share stories about what they want to preserve and cultivate for the future, and to express their ideas in a single collage piece using natural and printed materials.
📸 Photo Gallery
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Urbanist Meetup
As part of the closing event for Cities Week 2023, we had a casual presentation session to introduce our monthly-long collaboration with Studio Anettai, who supported the Urbanist Camp program on-site and worked on the spatial design of the venue for Cities Week 2023. After the presentation, there was an open meet-up with people who were involved in the program as collaborators/partners or participants/visitors.
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Live Painting
By Alec Tru Ha
Vietnamese artist Alec Tru Ha offered a live painting of his cheerful drawing on a plastic tarp at the exhibition venue. The entire process was enjoyed by the visitors on site and our followers through Instagram live.
📸 Photo Gallery
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Venue & Collaborators
UOM ART HUB
UOM ART HUB is a newly established center for art and creative activities based in Ho-Website Chi-Minh.
The space was organized around elements and materials native to Saigon, in collaboration with studio anettai, an architectural design office and 3D visualization team based in Vietnam.
Website
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Studio anettai
Providing local research support on-site is supported by the architectural design office and 3D visualization team “Studio Anettai” based in Vietnam. The team is led by Japanese members Takahito Yamada, Nobuhiro Inudo, and Moe Watanabe.
Website
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What is for Cities Week?
for Cities Week is an annual research program and exhibition hosted by for Cities in cities primarily across Asia. The program is divided into two parts — a research period with participants and a presentation/exhibition period. Additionally, we conduct workshops, talk sessions, and city walks through our program. Previously held in Tokyo, Kyoto, Cairo, Ho Chi Minh City and Chiang Mai, the exhibitions have attracted over 1,000 urbanists.
for Cities Week 2021 Tokyo/Kyoto
for Cities Week 2022 Cairo
for Cities Week 2025 Chiang Mai