H&P architects encircles vietnamese toilet block with structural bamboo
image © doan thanh ha
all images courtesy of H&P architects

 

 

 

in vietnam, 88% of rural schools do not have a toilet that meets the criteria of the country’s national ministry of health, while a quarter have no toilet altogether. son lap school, located in the cao bang province, has a total of 485 students ranging from kindergarten age to the mid-teens, yet no bathroom facilities that met minimum standards. consequently, local practice H&P architects was commissioned to design a structure that included a toilet, a wash area and pleasant vegetation.

H&P architects toigetation toilet block vietnam designboom
the project is located in vietnam’s rural cao bang province
image © doan thanh ha

 

 

 

named ‘toigetation’, the scheme includes a thick layer of vegetation (trees and herbs) on its four sides that helps both regulate the indoor climate and reinforce the load-bearing structure. built with the assistance of the region’s villagers, local materials such as bamboo and brick are used to ensure natural ventilation and lighting. in addition, integrated solar panels produce energy, while greywater is harvested and reused.

H&P architects toigetation toilet block vietnam designboom
the structure includes a toilet, a wash area and vegetation
image © doan thanh ha

H&P architects toigetation toilet block vietnam designboom
the scheme’s thick layer of vegetation helps regulate its indoor climate
image © doan thanh ha

H&P architects toigetation toilet block vietnam designboom
integrated solar panels produce energy, while greywater is harvested and reused
image © doan thanh ha

H&P architects toigetation toilet block vietnam designboom
local materials such as bamboo and brick are used to ensure natural ventilation and lighting
image © doan thanh ha

H&P architects toigetation toilet block vietnam designboom
the building was constructed with the assistance of local villagers
image © doan thanh ha

H&P architects toigetation toilet block vietnam designboom
trees and herbs complement the load bearing structure
image © doan thanh ha

H&P architects toigetation toilet block vietnam designboom
image © doan thanh ha

H&P architects toigetation toilet block vietnam designboom
the toilet block brightly illuminated at night
image © doan thanh ha

 

 

project info:

 

location: son lap school, son lap commune, bao lac, cao bang province, vietnam
architect: H&P architects
architect in charge: doan thanh ha & tran ngoc phuong
team: luc van tu, chu kim thinh, nguyen van manh, patricia erimescu, vo quynh thu, nguyen thi xuyen, chu van dong, nguyen hai hue, hoang huu nam
architectural adviser: dr. nguyen tri thanh
construction: h&p architects and volunteers
completed: december, 2014
photography: doan thanh ha