The Ha Noi Rethink Project, a part of our collaboration with UNIDO – United Nations Industrial Development Organization, UNESCO, and UN-HABITAT in Vietnam came to an end on 1 March.

During the project, Fab City brought the Distributed Design approach to Ha Noi in order to generate opportunities for creatives, designers, and makers to work in Labs and Creative Hubs, learn from local and global experts as well as demonstrate their works at global events.

Here you can learn more about the three great winning projects of the Circular Living Design Challenge, an initiative that sought new ideas to motivate and develop the values and heritage of Hanoi in the cultural and creative economy.

1. Mi Tom Xanh – Circular Living Design Award Winner

Mi Tom Xanh is an organization that collects, recycles, and turns plastic noodle wrappers into fashion accessories, household goods, and decorations. It is led by Nguyễn Công Duy Anh, Lê Ngọc Linh and Vũ Thị Thảo. As winners of the Circular Living Design Challenge, they developed their project using digital fabrication technologies with the support of local FabLabs and the global Fab Network. The Circular Living Design Challenge was a part of ‘Hanoi ReThink’ – a joint project by UNESCO, UNIDO, and UN-Habitat for fostering creative industries and digital fabrication in Ha Noi and coordinated by the Fab City Foundation.

2. Coloring Air Quality – Circular Living Design Award Winner

A winner of the Circular Living Design Challenge – Coloring Air Quality is a project by Nguyễn Trần Nam Phương that recreates famous buildings in Hanoi (like the Turtle Tower) with recycled materials and a system of colored lights that change according to the air quality in real-time. By visualizing air quality in color, the purpose of the project is to arouse public concern about their health, thereby encouraging them to take action proactively to protect the environment. The Circular Living Design Challenge was a part of ‘Hanoi ReThink’ – a joint project by UNESCO, UNIDO, and UN-Habitat for fostering creative industries and digital fabrication in Ha Noi and coordinated by the Fab City Foundation.

3. Sounds of Recycled Wood – Circular Living Design Award Winner

Ms. Nguyễn Thị Hảo is a school teacher who recycles twigs, and scraps of wood and turns them into school supplies, toys, and home decor items. By integrating a fun aspect like a recording device in the toys, she is proud that they bring joy, excitement, and enjoyment not only to children but also to adults alike.

A winner of the Circular Living Design Challenge, the overarching idea of the project is to change people’s perception of wood waste, the sense of using them, and the issue of environmental protection in a creative manner.

The Circular Living Design Challenge was a part of ‘Hanoi ReThink’ – a joint project by UNESCO, UNIDO, and UN-Habitat for fostering creative industries and digital fabrication in Ha Noi and coordinated by the Fab City Foundation.