
Dr. Huynh Van Khang
Lecturer
Dr. Huynh Van Khang is currently a full-time lecturer at the Institute of Smart City and Management (ISCM), University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City. He is the founder of Passive Design Laboratory (PDL), an architectural practice based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Dr. Khang obtained both his Master’s and Doctoral degrees from the Faculty of Architecture and Design at the University of Shiga Prefecture, Japan, where he subsequently held a post-doctoral research fellowship. He is a member of the Architectural Design Association of Nippon (ADAN) and the Architectural Institute of Japan (AIJ), and also holds a visiting lectureship at the University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City (UAH).His expertise encompasses environmental architecture, energy efficiency, environmental simulation, ethnography study and cultural heritage preservation. His work primarily revolves around bioclimatic architectural design, focusing on implementing Passive Design principles. By integrating natural energy sources like wind, sunlight, and heat while considering the local context, Khang strives to mitigate the adverse environmental impacts of architectural interventions. His designs seek a balance between inspiration drawn from minimalism and the distinctive vernacular characteristics of Vietnamese architecture. He has received numerous design awards and green building certifications, including the Japan Good Design Awards for passive buildings responding to the tropical hot and humid climate.Outside of his professional pursuits, Khang enjoys sketching, drawing, calligraphy, and photography. He has held several solo art exhibitions in Ho Chi Minh City, Yokohama, and Osaka, and has participated in art exhibitions for young Japanese artists.
SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES/INTERESTS
- Passive Design
- Sustainable Environmental Design
- Vernacular Architecture
- Wind and Light Environment
- Building Environmental Simulation
- Ethnography Study
Academic and Research Profile
Doctoral of Environmental Science (Architecture and Urban Design) - Department of Design and Architecture, School of Environmental Science, University of Shiga Prefecture, Japan (2017 - 2020) (Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship)
Master of Environmental Science (Architecture and Urban Design) - Department of Design and Architecture, School of Environmental Science, University of Shiga Prefecture, Japan (2015 - 2017) Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship)
Bachelor of Architecture - Faculty of Architecture, University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (2005 - 2010) (Valedictorian of the Board)
Courses
Theories of Architecture Design
Architectural Physics
Analysis and Architecture Design
Basic StudioLab 1
Living Space StudioLab 1
Living Space StudioLab 2
Work experiences
Lecturer, Institute of Smart City and Management (ISCM), University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City , August 2024 - Present
Visiting lecturer, Architecture Department, University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City (UAH), November 2023 - Present
Vice Dean of the faculty of Architecture and Arts, Head of Architecture Department, HCMC University of Technology, Vietnam, June 2023 - July 2024
Special Researcher of Environmental Science, Department of Design and Architecture, School of Environmental Science, University of Shiga Prefecture, Japan, June 2023 - October 2023
Founder, Principal Architect, Passive Design Laboratory (PDL), HCMC, December 2020 - Present
Teaching Assistant, Department of Design and Architecture, School of Environmental Science, University of Shiga Prefecture, Japan, 2015 - 2017
Project architect, Ryuichi Ashizawa Architects & Associates, Osaka, Japan, 2017
Lecturer, Faculty of Architecture and Arts, HCMC University of Technology, HCMC, Vietnam, September 2012 - August 2014
Junior architect, the FIVE and partners, HCMC, Vietnam, December 2010 - August 2012
Professional Memberships
Member of The Architectural Design Association of Nippon (ADAN) 日本建築設計学会, February 2023 - present
Member of Architectural Institute of Japan (AIJ) 日本建築学会, April, 2017 - present
List of Awards and Achievements
JAPAN GOOD DESIGN AWARD 2022 (House 4X16), Award Number : 22G130995, 10/2022
JAPAN GOOD DESIGN AWARD 2021 (Tan Uyen House), Award Number : 21G111058, 10/2021
(Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship) (Doctoral course, 04/2017 - 03/2020)
(Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship) (Master course, 04/2015 - 03/2017)
Certificate of Merit “Excellent Achievement during Full Course”, Ho Chi Minh City University of Architecture, Vietnam, 12/2010
First Class Honor, Bachelor Degree of Architecture, Ho Chi Minh City University of Architecture, Vietnam, 12/2010
Valedictorian, the Graduation Design Project Thesis, Ho Chi Minh City University of Architecture, Vietnam, 07/2010
Second Runner Up, New urban housing on East- West Boulevard, Ben Tre City, Vietnam, 06/2010
Consolation Prize, Student Research National Award, by the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training, Vietnam, 12/2009
Silver Prize, HOLCIM Vietnam Design Award, Vietnam, 10/2009
Third Place, Student Research in Ho Chi Minh City University of Architecture, Vietnam, 09/2009
Second Prize, Talent of Architectural Idea Contest 2008, Ho Chi Minh City University of Architecture, Vietnam, 04/2008
First Runner Up, Quick Design contest, Ho Chi Minh City University of Architecture, Vietnam, 04/2008
Second Prize, BlueScope Steel Vietnam Design Award, Vietnam, 03/2008
Finalist of Nguyen Hue Flower Boulevard Design Competition, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 08/2007
Lawrence S. Ting Scholarship by Lawrence S. Ting Memorial Fund, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 09/2006
First prize, Calligraphy Contest, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 08/2004
Activities in academic community and the society
Keynote speaker, SEAUS 2.0 (Southeast Asian Urbanisms Seminar) on “Cultures in Transition: Urbanism and Landscapes in Southeast Asia”, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, 11-13/06/2025
Art Exhibition for Young Japanese artists “KITEMITE – NAKANOSHIMA”, Osaka, Japan, 31/5-31/7/2025
Invited Expert, International Workshop on “Climate-Proof and Inclusive Cities, Urban Planning and Architecture”, organized by Thammasat University Research Unit (UFP) in Urban Futures & Policy, START International (Global Change System for Analysis Research, EPIC-N Program (Educational Partnerships for Innovation in Communities Network), Bangkok, Thailand, 24-26/01/2025
Keynote speaker, The Sustainable Architecture Practice Conference and the 5th Anniversary of the Architecture Program, Vietnamese - German University (VGU), 19/12/2024
Keynote speaker, Ulysses Online course Architecture, City, and Culture in East Asia, hosted by the University of Seville, in collaboration with partner universities from Vietnam, China, Japan and Spain, 21/10/2024
Keynote speaker (online), The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Southeast Asia - Summer Conference of Health, Wellness & Sustainable Design, Manila, The Philippines, 30/8/2024
Speaker, Expert in Architecture Design, Architecture Design of LIXIL Talent Match A&D Internship and Talent Development Program, HCMC, Vietnam, 24/8/2024
Moderator, AIA Southeast Asia Symposium 2024 “Grayscale: Architecture of Fog”, HCMC, Vietnam, 21/6/2024
Art Exhibition for Young Japanese artists “KITEMITE – NAKANOSHIMA”, Nakanoshima Festival Tower West 2F, Osaka, Japan, 25/05-30/06/2024
Keynote speaker , MTE International Conference and Italian Design Day 2024 (IDD), the Consulate General of Italy and the Italian Trade Commission, 26/3/2024
Speaker, The 4th International Civil Engineering and Architecture Conference (CEAC 2024), Seoul, South Korea, 16/3/2024
Art Exhibition for Young Japanese artists “KITEMITE – NAKANOSHIMA”, Osaka, Japan, 25/11-24/12/2023
Solo Art Exhibition “Portrait: Interfering in Life and Culture between Japan and Vietnam”, Yokohama, Osaka, Japan, 09/2023
Solo Art Exhibition, “Square and his daily things” (Sketch and Drawing about Vietnamese culture, architecture, portrait, daily life), 15-25/04/2012
Academic links
OCIRD: 0009-0004-8117-1123
Professional website: https://www.passivedesign-lab.com/