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Hi, I’m Du Nghiem (b. 2003, Hanoi). I’m an incoming Master of Architecture student at Rice University.
I graduated from Yale College in May 2025 with a B.A. in Architecture and Psychology, earning distinction in both majors.
I love desire paths, hammock naps, palm reading, sending postcards, and the cold feel of concrete. I am interested in memory preservation, mapping and counter-mapping.
I hope to design with curiosity, courage, and care.
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A - ARCHITECTURE
4-2. Threaded Ground
4-1. Mobile Textile Hub
3-3. River’s Edge [...]
3-2. Intimate Immensity
2-3. Play/ Ground
2-2. Sheer Folly
2-1. Kit of Parts
1-3. And/ Or
B - OTHER MEDIUM
3-2. Thresholds
3-1. Dominant Void
2-1. Illustrations
1-1. Sketches [...]
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Email | Linkedin | Instagram A5-1. ROTARY HOUSES
Academic Project
Fall 2025, Rice School of Architecture
Instructor: Monica Rivera
Located in Holtville, California, this hemp fiber facility builds on the region’s agricultural legacy while tapping into the sustainable potential of industrial hemp - known for its low water needs, soil-replenishing properties, and versatility in textiles.
Bridging research, craft, and community-based production, the facility supports a regional network of growers and makers, serving not just as a processing site but as a platform for ecological design, traditional techniques, and local economic revitalization.
Process diagram
Experiential Vignettes
RULE OF THIRDS
The facility follows a rule-of-thirds composition: a long bar building divided into three horizontal strips and two uneven chunks. Cubic volumes housing bathrooms, storage, and mechanical space, organize the central strip into distinct functional zones. Entrances and framed views at either end create open loops for circulation and visibility.
The program consists of three central zones: a prototyping wing for hemp fiber processing and docking station for the mobile textile hub for material exchange and field-to-factory integration; a workshop and research wing supporting design, education, and office work; and gallery-like corridors that showcase experimental textiles and traditional crafts.
PONDEROUS/ POROUS
The architecture draws on the sawtooth roof typology, oriented for optimal daylighting through north-facing clerestories. Terracotta roof panels provide passive cooling suited to the desert climate, while south-facing solar panels support renewable energy needs. The glazed street-facing facade offers a counterpoint to the heavy roof, establishing a light and porous interface with the public.
The interior is defined by its generous height, soft daylight, and exposed timber structure. The beams act as scaffolding, allowing fabrics, weavings, and quilts to drape, suspend, and animate the space with motion and tactility.