AIA Southeast Asia Symposium - Vietnam: A Learned Game, Correct and Magnificent, of Forms Assembled in the Light
Techcombank Tower - Photo by Weerapon Singnoi
Join us in person or online for this hybrid event as part of the SEA25 Symposium ‘Nature + Technology and the Future’!
When: Friday 12 September 2025 @ 06:00 (Eastern US Time)/ 18:00 (Singapore time)
Where: Hybrid: The Quadrant at Cecil, 19 Cecil Street #05-01, Singapore 049704/ ONLINE
CES: 1.0 LU for AIA Members
Speaker
Dr Trần Văn Thành, B.Arch M.A (Lighting Design) Ph.D. Co-founder, ASA Lighting Design Studios
Moderator
Khiem Nguyen, MPP, BArch, Int’l. Assoc. AIA, Vietnam Country Representative
Description
Le Corbusier described architecture as “a learned game, correct and magnificent, of forms assembled in the light,” emphasizing light’s essential role in shaping architectural space.
In this talk, Dr. Thành explores how lighting design—drawing inspiration from nature and refined through technology—can propel architecture into the future. Through four case studies, he demonstrates light’s transformative potential:
Swan Lake Ecopark Residence – lighting in harmony with the natural nightscape.
Masan Headquarters by Foster + Partners – a futuristic workplace vision shaped by light.
Mai House Hoi An – a giant lantern where light becomes the architecture itself.
Imperial Palace of Hue – illumination as a tool for preservation, renewal, and cultural resonance.
Together, these examples show how embracing light as a fundamental architectural material allows us to merge natural inspiration with technological innovation, shaping resilient and meaningful built environments for the future.
Speaker & Moderator Bio
Dr Trần Văn Thành began his career as an architect before pursuing his goal of becoming Vietnam’s first internationally certified lighting designer. He holds a Master’s in Architectural Lighting Design from Wismar University, Germany, and a Doctorate in Lighting and the Built Environment from London Metropolitan University, United Kingdom.
He is the Co-founder and Design Director of ASA Lighting Design Studios—one of Southeast Asia’s leading practices with over two decades of experience creating bespoke lighting solutions that blend global expertise with a deep understanding of local contexts.
Before establishing ASA, Dr. Thành gained international experience with Ulrike Brandi Lighting Design in Germany, contributing to the award-winning Mercedes-Benz Museum, and later with Maurice Brill Lighting Design in London, where he worked on landmark projects across Europe and the Middle East, including Zaha Hadid’s Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku.
Passionate about research and education, he is also active as a guest lecturer, speaker, and postgraduate research supervisor at several art and architecture institutions in the region.
Khiem Nguyen, International Associate of The American Institute of Architects (AIA), is an architect and educator with nearly 20 years of experience in architectural design. As the Founder & CEO of LaPerle, he oversees overall operations and remains actively involved in every stage of the design process, from concept development to construction documentation, leading hundreds of successful projects. Since his appointment as AIA International’s Country Representative for Vietnam in 2021, Khiem has organized and curated AIA International Conferences and Symposiums across Vietnam and Southeast Asia. He has also represented Vietnam at prestigious international architecture and business events, including Made EXPO Milan, Italy, and the Partnering in Business with Germany program.
Currently, as a visiting lecturer, Khiem teaches and conducts workshop research at University of Architecture of Ho Chi Minh City (UAH) and Hoa Sen University in Vietnam. He has also been invited as a speaker at public events, including TEDxTalk Dakao and Italian Design Day master classes, where he shares his expertise and passion for architecture and heritage with the next generation of architects.
This symposium is brought to you with the generous support of our event partners: PDP Architecture, d’Doubles, HKS, and International Association of Business Communicators Indonesia.
