Ninh Thuan center for phallic belief and featility culture

Idea projektu

1. Rationale for Choosing the Topic
Vietnamese culture is a rich and diverse tapestry, in which the Fertility Belief holds a particularly important place. Fertility – symbolizing vitality, reproduction, and growth – is not only a form of early belief, but also a core element embedded in the spiritual life, artistic expression, and traditional customs of the Vietnamese people.
In Ninh Thuan Province – a land deeply shaped by ancient Cham culture – this belief is strongly reflected through festivals, Cham tower architecture, folk art, and agricultural rituals. However, under the pressures of modernization and urbanization, both Cham culture and the Fertility Belief are gradually fading away. There has yet to be a contemporary architectural work that actively connects, preserves, educates, and honors this belief in a modern context.
Therefore, the establishment of the Ninh Thuan Fertility Belief Cultural Center carries great significance. It is not only a place to preserve and promote traditional heritage, but also a bridge between past – present – future, between humanity and nature, and between the spiritual and the material worlds. This project celebrates and reawakens local cultural wisdom rooted in the philosophy of fertility
2. Theoretical Foundation
2.1. Fertility Belief in Vietnamese Culture
The Fertility Belief expresses a deep faith in reproductive power, symbolized by the linga–yoni pair. This powerful symbol represents the harmony of yin and yang, as well as the growth of future generations and agricultural abundance. In Vietnamese folk culture, this belief appears in various forms, including:
• Fertility rituals and festivals, such as the Tro Tram Festival in Phu Tho
• Decorative motifs in communal houses, temples, and pagodas—featuring images of linga–yoni, mother’s breasts, and seeds
• Worship practices like the Mother Goddess cult and the veneration of the God of Agriculture (Than Nong)—all closely tied to themes of reproduction and farming

2.2. Expressions of Fertility Culture in Ninh Thuan
Ninh Thuan is home to the Cham people, an ethnic group with a long-standing cultural heritage and a unique belief system. Deeply influenced by Hinduism, Cham spiritual traditions prominently feature fertility symbols and rituals
• Cham Towers: Sacred Architecture Dedicated to Shiva – the embodiment of masculine and Fertility Power (Linga)
• Katê Festival, Rija Nưgar, and Rain-Praying Ceremonies: rituals symbolizing fertility, abundance, and harmony with nature
• Cham pottery, brocade weaving, and sculpture: rich in fertility motifs reflecting cosmological and generative beliefs
However, this belief system is currently at risk of fading away or being misunderstood, due to the lack of appropriate spaces for cultural practice, research, and proper representation

3. Project Objectives
• To reinterpret and present fertility beliefs through the lens of culture, art, and spirituality—avoiding vulgarity—while emphasizing their humanistic values and underlying philosophy of the cosmos, humanity, and nature
• To apply the local architectural language of Ninh Thuận—particularly Cham cultural elements, the hot-dry climate, and indigenous materials (stone, fired brick, bamboo, earth...)—in combination with formal expressions of fertility architecture (rounded, curved, concave–convex forms)
• To preserve and enhance the historical value of the ancient Hoa Lai Tower, transforming the site into a bridge between the past and the present
• To embrace traditional Champa construction techniques in order to create an architectural work that harmonizes with the local climate, culture, and spirit of the place where it stands

Popis projektu

Architectural concept
• Inspired by the symbolic imagery of the linga–yoni and the philosophy of yin–yang harmony, the building form is shaped by the interplay of solid and void, curves and lines—representing fertility and regeneration
• The overall layout is closely aligned with the heritage axis: from the Hòa Lai tower → ceremonial courtyard → central space → experiential area → landscaped zones for learning and rest
• The overall design embodies a seamless integration between the built structure and the natural garden landscape. This continuous interweaving enhances the microclimate performance—openings guide wind flow, while structural techniques and the building envelope provide effective shading and heat resistance
• Fertility beliefs in Champa culture celebrate the pure beauty of the human form through intricate carvings and the use of light. The architectural design subtly harnesses natural lighting—drawing inspiration from illumination techniques used in ancient temples—to gently light up the new spatial environment and highlight works of art

Technické informace

. Indigenous architectural language
• Local materials: unbaked clay bricks, rammed earth, sandstone, and timber — evoking the warm, earthy tones of ancient Cham towers.
• Roof forms: pointed, pyramidal roofs reminiscent of Cham temples, blended with soft, curved domes inspired by fertility symbols.
• Cham decorative motifs: patterns of flowing water, spirals, and suns — representing the life cycle and vitality.
• Natural ventilation and lighting systems: skylights and breeze blocks — adapting to the hot, dry, and windy climate of Ninh Thuan

Dokumentace

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