IED is proud to announce the successful launch of the second edition of DARD Vietnam, the immersive thesis initiative within the framework of “REGENERATIVELAB: A Reimagined Tomorrow” – supported by the European Commission.
DARD Vietnam 2025 : an immersive thesis experience in adaptive reuse and sustainable innovation with RMIT
Date
25 November 2025
From the 8th to the 23rd of November 2025, 18 students from the IED Milano Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design embarked on two weeks of fieldwork, deep cultural immersion, and collaborative research in Vietnam, marking a major milestone in this two-year transnational project developed in collaboration with RMIT Vietnam.
Building on last year’s pilot project with six Bachelor Interior Design students, this edition broadens the scale and ambition. The cohort is now fully engaged in on-site investigations, including site surveys, photomodeling, and participatory workshops. Working alongside students from RMIT Vietnam and local public higher education institutions, the IED students are exploring strategies for adaptive reuse, architectural regeneration, and socially responsive design in Vietnamese contexts.
True to the project’s core themes, the students are investigating ways to merge cultural sustainability, environmental resilience, and innovative digital methodologies. Their research centers on real Vietnamese buildings, where they are creating digital twins and experimenting with generative AI, real-time rendering, and VR-based design tools.
This phase is not only about design: it's about dialogue and co-creation. Through joint workshops with Vietnamese peers, the students are building a shared understanding of place, context, and community needs. The digital replica of the site they create will bridge geographical divides, enabling truly collaborative work.
After their return to Milan on the 23rd of November, the students will immediately begin the translation of their on-site research into thesis proposals. They will develop design solutions that integrate local cultural insights, architectural heritage, and forward-thinking sustainability, using advanced digital tools to visualize and test their ideas.
Once again coordinated by Matteo Rigamonti and Dr Rachel Jahja, the second edition of DARD Vietnam demonstrates IED’s long-term commitment to meaningful international academic partnerships.
In June 2026, Rachel Jahja will travel to Milan to join the thesis admission as co-supervisor, guiding the students through their final presentations and marking the culmination of this second edition.
The project continues to stand as an example of intercultural cooperation and academic innovation, underlining how education can respond to local realities while fostering global peer learning.
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