Nguyen Ha, founder of ARB Architects, was honoured thanks to her range of unique works, including Dao Mau museum. The museum is devoted to Dao Mau, the worship of mother goddesses which was established in the nation back in the 16th century before being declared a UNESCO-listed religion in 2016.

Born in 1980, Ha was granted a full scholarship for a Master Degree in the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich in Switzerland (ETHZ).

In 2010, she co-founded ARB Architects in Vietnam with her Swiss-trained architects Kurt Aellen and Laurent Cantalou. She also gained valuable international work experience by taking part in various projects in Morocco, France, and Switzerland.

Ha is also well-known as an artist of lighting installation in exhibitions such as “Xem Dem – Cang Dem” with artist Tran Duc Phuong, which is organised by Manzi Gallery and the Goethe-Institute.

Other architects listed among the Top 4 include Kim Courrèges of France, Joana Dabaj of Lebanon, and Noelia Monteiro of Brazil.

The Moira Gemmill Prize for Emerging Architecture shortlist recognises a bright future for designers under the age of 45 who are leading their own practices. This year’s shortlist includes architects based in France, Lebanon, Vietnam, and Brazil, seeking original and tactical ways in which to navigate the contexts they work in as a means of creating spaces for the local community.

VOV