IN-PERSON Lisbon Livable Cities. Section B

Abstract

Traditional crafts are integral to regional cultural practices but face extinction due to modernization, resource scarcity, and threats to village identity. This study explores the potential of computational design and digital fabrication to rejuvenate Vietnamese weaving techniques, preserving cultural significance while reducing labor demands. Conducted in Phu Nghia village, Hay Tay Province, Hanoi, Vietnam, the research integrated digital joinery with regional weaving techniques to reintroduce traditional materiality and form. The study prioritized values such as embodied energy, environmental responsibility, and socio-economic impacts over mass production. The methodology included a literature review and on-site interviews. Data from research articles on the socio-economic effects of the ‘Doi Moi’ reform and sustainable geographical practices in the region were analyzed to support participatory design with local weavers. By combining digital computation with traditional techniques, the study formalized previously undocumented intuitive methods of local artisans, resulting in multiple design iterations and detailed drawings using a digital joinery system. This approach facilitated new design opportunities and community involvement, culminating in the creation of lightweight modular lighting structures. These structures serve as functional items and symbols of the village’s identity. Durability and flexibility testing of 3D joinery involved materials such as PLA, ABS, Nylon, Carbon Fiber, and PETG Translucent. Objectives included testing a hybrid computational description of the craft at an architectural scale, conducting structural tests on bamboo, rattan, and 3D printing materials, and developing hybrid tectonic descriptions. The study concludes by proposing computational regionalism to translate local craft knowledge into new construction interpretations, questioning the local-global supply relationship.