DIALECTIC CITY: RE-ACTIVATING THE MARSH EDGE

by Julia Topley

Hanoi is unique in its unplanned planning, a city which reflects a complex network of power relations; a city that is unbalanced, not fixed, nor is it permanent. It is constantly moving. Despite the beauty of its unpredictability, Hanoi is a city consuming itself. And its growth in population is increasing at an alarming rate; a rapid urban transition bringing pressures to the city.
The proposal aims to reactivate a site which has been restricted by conflicting boundaries and a chocked urban block: The Marsh Edge. A non-destructive, regenerative infrastructure designed for the people of Hanoi to build upon, utilise, in a site which bares the contradictions of protecting the city, whilst not being protected itself.
An approach that understands Hanoi, not simply as the hard city of laws and restrictions, but as the soft city characterised by its street life, celebrating spontaneity and playfulness.
Providing resources and support to its community, The Hanging Market, The Water Belt and The Tube House Stabilisers form a new interconnectivity revolving around light, fresh air and safety, connecting the home back to its context.