Perspective of the nearly 600 billion VND Children's Library in Ho Chi Minh City inspired by bamboo forests

The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has just approved the results of the "Architectural Plan for Children's Library" competition under the Project to Build a Children's Library in the campus of the Ho Chi Minh City General Science Library.

Plan number TV03 of the Joint Venture of Vietnam Urban Development Consulting Joint Stock Company and Greenberg Farrow Design Group (Singapore) Pte. Ltd (VUD - GF DESIGN Joint Venture) was chosen as the admission plan, with an average score of 87.33.

According to the design idea, the Children's Library is not just a place to read books but is oriented to become a community space, where nature, heritage and learning activities are present together.

Instead of building an independent structure next to the existing library, the architectural plan takes the image of a modern bamboo forest as the main inspiration.

Bamboo forest" is not understood in the sense of creating a real forest but as a way to organize space. When exploring a new library, children will gradually approach and get acquainted with the existing library project. Through this, the value of heritage is brought into experience instead of just being seen as a separate project.

According to the design team, bamboo symbolizes resilience, humility, community spirit and the ability to develop continuously. Bamboo trees do not exist alone but grow in clusters, forming a connecting system.

This idea is transformed into an architectural model, in which learning spaces are connected to each other. From reading, playing, technology, crafts to culture and community activities are interwoven, creating a "vertical learning landscape".

This organization allows children to freely move between areas, actively choose activities and form their own discovery journeys. The library not only encourages reading but also creates an environment for children to experience, interact, be creative and learn.

In addition to the library function, the project is designed flexibly with areas that can be used for exhibitions, seminars, educational events, community activities or for rent.

Outside of operating hours, these spaces continue to be exploited, contributing to increasing usage efficiency and creating revenue, towards ensuring financial sustainability for the library.