H&P Architects' Ashui Pavilion in Hanoi Reclaims Urban Waterfront with Ceramic-Tiled Hemispherical Structure

H&P Architects has finalized the Ashui Pavilion, a structure made of timber and tiles, located next to a lake in Hanoi, Vietnam. This pavilion addresses the city's historical reduction of water bodies by centering water within its spatial design. Nestled in a shallow basin, it interacts directly with the water, allowing reflections to amplify its presence and extend its form. The hemispherical design features closely spaced ribs rising from a circular foundation, giving the appearance of a complete dome from afar while remaining open to air and light up close. Each rib is adorned with small golden glazed tiles that change color with the sun, echoing bamboo joints found in Vietnamese architecture, thus connecting the material to local cultural traditions. Light filters through the ribs, casting dynamic shadows on the blue platform below. The pavilion offers views across the water and into the nearby park, aiming to reconnect urban environments with natural systems through its design and environmental focus.