Lakeside Ashui Pavilion floats in Hanoi
The Ashui Pavilion by H&P Architects sitting by a lake Hanoiforming a curved wood and tile structure that draws the city’s attention back to the water.
Hanoi’s landscape has changed over the decades, with lakes and canals giving way to paved surfaces. THE kiosk he responds to this situation by placing water at the center of his spatial experience. Partly within a shallow basin, the structure meets the surface directly and allows reflections to double its presence and extend its geometry outward.
images © Le Minh Hoang
A structure formed through repetition
THE group At H&P Architects he forms the Ashui Pavilion with a hemispherical volume composed of closely spaced ribs. These curved elements emerge from a circular base and trace a continuous arc, creating a shell that feels both open and closed. From a distance, the structure appears as a complete dome. closely spaced, the gaps between the members allow air, light and movement to pass through.
Each side is lined with small, gold glazed tiles. Their modular scale introduces a fine grain to the overall form, while their color changes with the light of day. The repetition of these sections gives the pavilion a steady rhythm, where structure is understood through accumulation.
the Ashui Pavilion by H&P Architects sits on the edge of a lake in Hanoi
Material memory and environmental intention
The tiles refer to bamboo joints, a familiar element in Vietnamese construction. Placed along each side, they suggest a continuous line reminiscent of both the growth of plants and the movement of water. This connection links the choice of material to a wider environmental narrative, where the pavilion suggests a renewed attention to natural systems within the city.
Light enters through the gaps between the ribs and scatters onto the blue platform below. As the sun moves, shadow zones shift across the floor, creating a changing interior state. The pavilion remains open to its surroundings, with views stretching across the water and into the adjacent park.
the structure uses curved ribs to form a hemispherical open shell
the pavilion reflects across the water suggesting a floating sphere
The gaps between the sides allow sunlight and air to pass through
