Theatre of South Vietnamese Folk Performance

Project idea

A WOODEN THEATER TROUPE DRIFTING GENTLY ON THE RIVER
"Echoes of Cải Lương resonate across the water, gently stirring the hearts of distant wanderers.
As the evening sun sets, light pierces through layers of wooden louvers, shimmering on the lake’s surface like streaks of light drifting from a singing boat on the river."

Sensing the poetic spirit of the site, thwe image of a drifting Cải Lương troupe boat reflects the deep-rooted relationship between the people and the dense riverine ecosystem. The honesty of the design is unified by the tectonic beauty of its structure and functional expression. The building roots itself in the context, initiating a dialogue with the tropical microclimate through its porous wooden frame

By reviving a forgotten landmark, Gieng Nuoc Park (My Tho) - situated in the urban core and opening toward the river - becomes an ideal foundation for a new theatre: a space that honors memories, connects the community, and asserts cultural identity. The project redefines cultural space within the city, while awakening collective memory and reconnecting people with the intangible heritage of Southern Vietnam.
Envision a theatre that serves as a landmark honoring memory and culture, while seamlessly adapting to contemporary life.

The project is envisioned as narrative architecture, where collective memory is awakened, and indigenous wisdom blends with contemporary techniques, honoring folk performing arts within the rhythm of modern community life. More than just a theater, the structure opens up a new model of cultural infrastructure - open, cohesive, and deeply rooted in the locale. It serves as a platform for cultural education, creative innovation, and introducing the river region’s identity to the world.

Project description

The theatre is strategically arranged along the Gieng Nuoc Lake, directing its views toward the park and the Yersin pedestrian street. Instead of a closed, solid volume, the architectural form is reinterpreted, highlighted by a porous wooden frame system and open spaces facing the water, appearing to dissolve and blend into the urban landscape. It acts as a living entity, welcoming artists, audiences, locals, and distant travelers who gather to share, contemplate, and weave new narratives - creating a continuous, rhythmic interaction with the park.

The design’s focal point is the wooden frame floating on the water, transforming the theatre into a poetic “multi-tiered wooden square,” where memory, art, daily life, and nature intersect. It organizes three main open, permeable, and flexible spaces - turning each module from a mere repetition into a vibrant stage. Surrounded by open spaces interwoven within the wooden structure (exhibitions, gathering areas, performance spaces, and services), the building interacts constantly with the park, ensuring it remains alive throughout the day even without scheduled performances.
Organization of 3 Main Spaces: Auditorium, Exhibition, and Community Area
1. Contextual Dialogue:
Instead of a massive building block, the design preserves the lake, creating an open wooden frame with voids directing toward the park and the river, generating a continuous spatial flow.
2. Evoking Memory
The facade draws inspiration from vintage “Cai Luong” banners and posters, translating them into dynamic panels that invite the public to step into the realm of memory and performing arts.
3. Local Identity
Timber, proportioned according to the “Thuoc Tam” (traditional Vietnamese measurement scale) and a 12.8m structural grid, shapes a deeply familiar spatial experience.
4. Floating Auditorium
The 1,200-seat auditorium is suspended within the wooden frame, becoming a striking focal point reminiscent of a drifting traditional boat (ghe bau lung lo troi).
5. Interwoven Cantilevered Floors
Appearing to “fly” and extend over the lake, the cantilever system interlaces with the frame to create semi-open, flexible, and diverse spatial layers. These multi-tiered, adaptable terraces accommodate public programs: workshops, exhibitions, performances, community gatherings, cafes, and souvenir shops - inviting daily use and sustaining an artistic atmosphere far beyond performance nights.
6. Underground Space Utilization
Small auditoriums and festival spaces connect to the Yersin pedestrian axis, activating and utilizing the subterranean level. The Cải Lương Memory Museum guides visitors into a realm of light reflected through the magical, dreamy water - an immersive journey into the cultural depths of Southern folk performing arts.
7. Contemplative Space: “Echoes of the Past” (Hoi vong âm)
Concluding the emotional journey with a tranquil outdoor amphitheater set amidst the water, immersing visitors in the pure resonance of architecture, landscape, and memory.

Technical information

Function: Theater of Southern Vietnamese folk performance
Building Type: Urban - Cultural - Identity - Community Centre
Location: My Tho Ward, Dong Thap province

Documentation

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