The existing dilapidated kindergarten classroom building at Tan Tay, Long An Province, 90-minute drive from Ho Chi Minh City, was demolished in anticipation of the recent powerful storm Usagi. The school is now in urgent need of a new classroom building to accommodate more than a hundred children. After the successful school courtyard project near Hanoi in 2018, we are working with CapitaLand again to co-design and build the new school together with the school teachers and the villagers.

During the IAP trip, students will take part in a participatory community design workshop, together with students from reputable local universities in Ho Chi Minh City, to co-design the school building and the surrounding compound. The site is flanked by trees and garden that has great potential to be transformed into a lively learning environment for the children, with community garden/farm, play area, sheltered canteen area integrated into the school architecture and landscape design. The construction of final design is scheduled to start in May 2019, and will culminate in an expedition organized by CapitaLand in Oct 2019.

Beyond the IAP, this project will be offered as an Option Studio for Term 7/9 ASD students, to further develop the ideas into sustainable, buildable design. ASD Term 7/9 students are encouraged to sign up if they are keen on the option studio. Students from other years and pillars with strong interest and relevant skills are also welcomed to sign.