On the afternoon of November 7, 2025, at Grand Mercure Hotel (Hanoi), LIXIL Vietnam hosted the “LIXIL ALP 2025–2026” event — a platform where multiple stakeholders gather, engage in dialogue, and co-create ideas around the theme of “Urban Health.” The event marked an important milestone for the new research phase, officially announcing this year’s research topics and participating units.
Multiple Perspectives on “Urban Health”: Dialogue – Co-creation – Synergy
Wrapping up the 2023–2024 cycle themed “Urban Regeneration,” LIXIL ALP officially launched its new journey, “Urban Health,” in early October in Ho Chi Minh City. Despite being newly introduced, the program has already captured strong interest and participation from experts, professional associations, research organizations, developers, and architects nationwide.
This year, the program expands its focus from spatial revitalization to a more holistic vision of urban quality of life — emphasizing balance between people, architecture, and the environment, and aiming toward sustainable, humane, and healthy cities for the future.
Mr. Uchidate Katsuaki – General Director of LIXIL Vietnam – shared:
“Today’s in-depth dialogue is a significant milestone in transforming ideas into action. We hope that insights from various stakeholders will create a synergy of collective intelligence, shaping feasible directions for the research topics. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that selected studies can be piloted in real-world settings, contributing to greener, more sustainable, and more human-centered cities in Vietnam.”
Mr. Uchidate Katsuaki – General Director of LIXIL Vietnam
The event on November 7 marked a significant transition for the LIXIL ALP journey, opening the next phase of the 2025-2026 research program. At the event, LIXIL ALP officially announced the research themes and participating units for its upcoming extended activities. The program brought together a wide range of developers, architects, experts, professional associations, and partner organizations to share perspectives and move toward more comprehensive solutions for living quality and “Urban Health” in Vietnam.
At the event, Ms. Nguyen Quynh – Head of B2B Marketing and Corporate Communications at LIXIL Vietnam – shared: “LIXIL ALP 2025-2026, with the theme ‘Urban Health,’ encompasses the physical, mental, and environmental well-being of urban residents. The six research topics announced today mark the beginning of an in-depth phase, forming a holistic research framework – from external environments to interior spaces, from physical health to mental wellness, and from technical infrastructure to social equity.”
Ms. Nguyen Quynh – Head of B2B Marketing and Corporate Communications, LIXIL Vietnam
Accordingly, this year’s research topics were selected with a focus on core factors that directly influence the physical and mental well-being of urban residents – spanning environmental quality, interior spaces, urban landscapes, infrastructure, and city resilience. From dozens of submitted proposals, the Advisory Council shortlisted six representative topics, ensuring creativity, practical value, and the potential for pilot application within the context of Vietnamese cities. Specifically:
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Field: Green Urban Mobility
Topic: Towards Designing Urban Spaces Where Children Can Walk to School
Research Unit: NH Village Architects
Advising Expert: Dr. Architect Nguyen Quoc Tuan -
Field: Environmental Health – Air & Water Quality
Topic: Wind Tower: A Natural Ventilation Solution for Urban Architecture Inspired by Traditional Values
Research Unit: Pho Xanh Design
Advising Expert: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan -
Field: Healthy Living Through Interior Spaces
Topic: Old Apartments – A “New Therapy” for Ho Chi Minh City’s Urban Fabric
Research Unit: K59 Atelier
Advising Expert: Dr. Tran Mai Anh -
Field: Urban Landscape & Mental Well-being
Topic: Community Garden
Research Unit: The Green Dots
Advising Expert: Dr. Pham Tu Ngoc -
Field: Healthy City
Topic: Biodiversity for a Healthy City
Research Unit: Think Playgrounds
Advising Expert: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Architect Pham Thuy Loan -
Field: Healthy City
Topic: Development Orientation for Urban Riverfront Water Parks: The Case of Thu Thiem Park, Ho Chi Minh City
Research Unit: Quang Nam Institute of Urban and Rural Planning
Advising Expert: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Architect Pham Thuy Loan
Representing the Advisory Council, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Head of the Department of Architecture and Senior Lecturer at the University of Science and Technology – The University of Danang, shared: “To ensure that these research topics bring tangible value to Vietnamese cities, research teams must concentrate on timely issues aligned with the overarching theme of ‘Urban Health,’ applying clear methodologies, feasible approaches, and potential for scalability. More importantly, the proposals must address real social needs, improve residents’ quality of life, and contribute solutions that can be piloted and quickly integrated into urban environments.”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan – Head of the Department of Architecture, Senior Lecturer, University of Science and Technology – The University of Danang
Expert Perspectives: Thematic Presentations and Open Dialogue
A highlight of the event was two thematic presentations offering multidimensional perspectives that help clarify the concept of “Urban Health” in the relationship between people, architecture, and the environment.
The program opened with a presentation by Architect Tran Cong Duc – Director of GMP Asia Pacific Co., Ltd., titled “Design for Urban Health” – The Lingang (SHA) Project. His talk emphasized the critical role of architecture and urban planning in safeguarding human well-being.
In his presentation, Mr. Duc underscored the importance of water as a core element. For Lingang, the design team created a central lake with a diameter of 2.5 kilometers and an 8-kilometer lakeside walkway, functioning both as a freshwater reserve for the coastal area and as a microclimate regulator. Inspired by the image of a ripple spreading from a drop of water, the urban structure is organized into functional layers, demonstrating a harmonious approach that integrates nature, people, and economic activities.
Architect Tran Cong Duc – Director of GMP Asia Pacific Co., Ltd.
Continuing the presentation series, Architect Nguyen Tieu Quoc Dat and Architect Chu Kim Duc, co-founders of Think Playgrounds, offered a grounded and practical perspective through their talk titled “Biodiversity for a Healthy City.”
The presentation highlighted nature as a form of living infrastructure, emphasizing its essential role in building resilient and healthy cities. Through examples such as mini forests, community parks, and the ecological corridor along the Red River, they introduced models that demonstrate how people, design, and nature can be interconnected to shape healthier and more sustainable urban environments.
Architect Nguyen Tieu Quoc Dat and Architect Chu Kim Duc (Think Playgrounds)
The program continued with an open panel discussion, where speakers, developers, experts, and architects shared diverse perspectives on architecture, urban development, and community engagement. The dialogue reaffirmed the role of LIXIL ALP as a platform that connects knowledge, creativity, and social responsibility—aiming toward sustainable, human-centered, and experience-rich cities.
During the discussion, participants focused on design solutions for young generations, particularly school environments, with the goal of fostering healthy and energizing learning and daily-life experiences. The speakers also explored ways to integrate technology with local conditions in urban planning to better harness natural resources, protect ecosystems, and preserve landscapes. Additionally, interior solutions and technologies were highlighted as approaches to saving energy, protecting the environment, and improving the quality of life for urban residents.
Speakers, experts, and architects participating in the open panel discussion
Representing the program’s professional sponsor, Architect Hoang Thuc Hao – Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Architects and Chief Architect of 1+1>2 Architects, shared: “Urban Health is a profoundly humanistic topic that touches on the shared concerns of all social groups -not only those within the profession. LIXIL ALP has fulfilled its role in bridging awareness and action, from academic discourse to real-world implementation. The program goes beyond architecture; it expands to environmental and social dimensions, encouraging practitioners to view the city as a ‘living organism’.”
He also emphasized that, as the professional sponsoring body, the Vietnam Association of Architects will participate in assessment and expert review from the earliest stages to ensure that the research topics are both innovative and grounded in solid academic foundations. At the same time, the Association will help connect research teams with businesses, developers, and government agencies to create opportunities for piloting feasible ideas in real environments—contributing to the transformation of knowledge into concrete design solutions for Vietnamese cities.
Architect Hoang Thuc Hao – Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Architects, Representative of the Professional Sponsoring Body
Architect Do Xuan Long – Head of Planning Department, Flamingo Group added:
“From the perspective of developers, we can provide the conditions, environment, and space for research and solutions to be applied and tested in real-world settings. Only through actual piloting and implementation can these solutions be further refined and deliver the greatest value to the community in the future.”
Architect Do Xuan Long – Head of Planning Department, Flamingo Group
Mr. Nguyen Truong Chinh – Executive Director of Nationwide Sales, LIXIL Vietnam shared that LIXIL’s production and business activities are being implemented with a focus on environmental and social responsibility, including goals for emission reduction, waste recycling, and efficient water resource usage. He also emphasized LIXIL Group’s “Live Well” philosophy, which leverages the power of products by combining quality, technology, and human-centered design to optimize user experience, providing relaxation and energy renewal for consumers.
Mr. Nguyen Truong Chinh – Executive Director of Nationwide Sales, LIXIL Vietnam
Extending the Journey of Knowledge through the Book “LIXIL ALP 2023–2024: Urban Regeneration”
At the event, LIXIL Vietnam also introduced the book “LIXIL ALP 2023–2024: Urban Regeneration”, summarizing the two-year research journey. The publication compiles several notable projects from Vietnamese architecture offices, showcasing new ways of thinking about heritage conservation, space revitalization, and creating urban living value.
Although recently launched, the book has already drawn attention and praise from professionals, not only for its academic value but also for its practical spirit. Featured research topics include:
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C-TOWN Urban Area: A social housing model integrated with the daily life of low-income residents.
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Revitalizing Gia Lam Train Factory: Transforming industrial heritage into creative spaces.
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Awakening “Places” in the City: Redeveloping traffic roundabouts into public spaces.
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Transforming Go Cat Landfill (Ho Chi Minh City): Converting a polluted area into a green community park.
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Innovating Townhouses – Mini Building: Solutions for mixed-use buildings combining office, residential, and service functions.
Thematic Book “LIXIL ALP 2023–2024” Summarizing Research on “Urban Regeneration”
The organizers presented copies of the thematic book “LIXIL ALP 2023–2024” to speakers, partner organizations, developers, and professional advisors.
The organizers presented copies of the thematic book “LIXIL ALP 2023–2024” to event attendees.
Sharing about the thematic book LIXIL ALP: Urban Regeneration, Dr. Architect Nguyen Quoc Tuan, Head of the Department of Architecture – Construction, Phuong Dong University and representative of the project team, said that the book compiles five notable research projects reflecting the efforts of Vietnamese architects in seeking solutions to revitalize urban spaces. The publication demonstrates a spirit that combines academic rigor with practical application, fostering connections between research and practice, architecture and community, while continuing to promote the sustainable and human-centered values pursued by LIXIL ALP.
Dr. Architect Nguyen Quoc Tuan – Head of the Department of Architecture and Construction, Phuong Dong University
Ms. Nguyen Quynh introduced the thematic book LIXIL ALP 2023–2024 at the event.
Through this event, LIXIL ALP 2025–2026 not only reaffirmed its role as a large-scale, multi-disciplinary collaboration platform but also launched a new phase in its research and outreach journey. Over the next year, the six architecture and design offices with selected research topics will conduct studies and develop design solutions centered on the theme of “Urban Health.” The series of activities will continue until 2026, culminating in a final seminar and Pavilion exhibition scheduled for November 2026, where outstanding solutions will be publicly presented to the community.