DARD Vietnam: An Immersive Thesis Experience between Culture and Innovation

Date

14 November 2024

From November 17 to 23, 2024, six students from IED will embark on an experience in the gem of Indochina, serving as a preparatory step for their Interior Design thesis project.

A working phase in Vietnam, including site surveys and photomodeling activities, will precede the design phase in Milan. This marks the beginning of the thesis project proposed by IED in collaboration with RMIT Vietnam. Titled DARD Vietnam, the project focuses on adaptive digital design for architectural reuse in the Indochina region. Selected students from the Bachelor's Degree in Interior Design will explore new approaches to architectural reuse, blending contemporary design with cultural, social, and environmental sustainability.

The thesis theme will center on the adaptive reuse of an existing building in Vietnam, proposing design strategies that balance social, environmental, and cultural sustainability. The students will employ an innovative design approach, leveraging advanced digital modeling techniques and modern production tools.

INTERIOR DESIGN AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

The Vietnam project represents a model of international cooperation, bringing together students and faculty from IED Milan and RMIT Vietnam within the Erasmus+ program (KA 171 International Credit Mobility Call 2024). Part of the collaboration framework “REGENERATIVELAB: A Reimagined Tomorrow,” recognized and supported by the European Union, the project adopts reuse as a strategy for social, cultural, and environmental sustainability.

Italian and Vietnamese students will participate in an intensive one-week workshop in Vietnam from November 17 to 23, gaining an immersive experience. They will collaborate in real time using a digital replica of the site, breaking geographical barriers.

After returning to Milan, the design work will incorporate VR and digital tools to develop proposals that merge local culture with contemporary design. Advanced digital methodologies will be employed, including generative AI, real-time rendering, and Digital Twin technology.

The project aims to emphasize sustainability, intercultural exchange, and advanced digital skills, strengthening cooperation between Europe and the Asia-Pacific region while enriching the academic and professional development of the students involved.

The project is led by Matteo Rigamonti and Rachel Jahja.