INVERTED OASIS

by Neguine Boumedine

The people of Hanoi enjoy greenery and being outdoors. They extend their lives unto the streets where they perform everyday activities. When possible, they gather around the city lakes that get overcrowded on week ends but most times they eat, relax, play sports and games in the middle of the city’s chaos. The old quarter of Hanoi is the center of these activities. It is characterized by unplanned developments of concrete tube houses. Traditionally these were composed of courtyards but as families built on all available space the buildings are now cramped together. I aim to design an inverted street within the block of existing tube houses and create communal spaces weaved within the new spaces .