Dr Thinh Ngo

(he/him)

Publication

• Date
• Type

Research

My current research interests include:

• Urban Morphologies
• Morphogenesis of informal settlements
• Mapping urban informality

CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

Morphogenesis of Villages-in-the-City (Urban Village)

The phenomenon of Villages-in-the-City (ViCs) in peri-urban areas has long been a significant issue in informal urbanism and sustainable development in the Global South. Due to rapid urbanisation, various villages, which often have underdeveloped infrastructure and amenities, have been incorporated into cities. Although certain ViCs do not meet the criteria to be considered slums, they are hardly recognised as long-standing neighbourhoods due to their unregulated characteristics. While ViCs have not been designed by professionals, they generally have a strong social network and house millions of inhabitants. While the proliferation of ViCs within the cities of the Global South has been phenomenal due to their economic, spatial, and social integration with their urban environments, the morphogenesis of ViCs remains largely understudied. This project primarily addresses this significant gap in the literature by analysing multiple case studies across Africa and Asia using extensive urban mapping as a key research method. The project builds upon and contributes to the emerging scholarly focus on spatiality of ViCs with a focus on the relationships between informal/formal morphologies and theory of changes. In collaboration with Dr Hesam Kamalipour and Dr Nastaran Peimani.

Spatial logics of street vending in the Global South

Street vending plays a critical role in the informal urban economy of cities in the Global South, serving as a key source of livelihood for the urban poor. Limited understanding of how street vending works and its relationship with urban forms hinders the development of effective planning policies and design interventions by local authorities. This project aims to bridge the gap between urban morphologies and informal trading. Using urban mapping at different scales around the cities in the Global South, including Bangkok (Thailand), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Manila (Philippine), and Jakarta (Indonesia). This project provides a better understanding of the dynamics of street vending and contributes to how urban designers and planners can effectively engage with interventions in the Global South. In collaboration with Dr Nastaran Peimani and Dr Hesam Kamalipour.

The built environment of transit-oriented development: A analysis of train station areas

This project analyses the spatial structure of train station areas with a focus on density, public/private interfaces, and place character using open database. This study illustrates the characteristics and typologies of train station areas in a critical way and offers a foundation for further research and urban design.

PREVIOUS RESEARCH PROJECTS

Influence on socio-cultural factors on self-built housing in Hanoi, Vietnam

This research project explores the self-built housing in Hanoi city in Vietnam after the economic reform in 1986. Existing studies suggest that end users’ needs played significant roles in producing more affordable and sustainable housing, particularly in developing countries. Although the importance of connection between family needs and housing design has been recognised in academic research, housing projects developed as mass production were generally based on housing policies, urban planning regulations, and market systems relating to “supply” and “demand”. On the other hand, due to the historical, political, and economic reasons, more than 80% of contemporary housing production in Vietnam was considered as self-built houses, according to the data published by UN Habitant in 2014. The main aim of this study is to provide an in-depth analysis of self-built urban housing in Hanoi city that has been designed and constructed with close involvement of the house owners since 1986. The intention of the study is to investigate how individuals make decisions and work innovatively to design and construct their own houses within the context of a contemporary globalised city in Vietnam.

The outcome of this research supports the argument that socio-cultural values are crucial factors in the housing process. In the context of different kinds of urban typologies in Hanoi city, individuals made decisions on the design and build of their own houses not only based on building traditions but also incorporated new materials and contemporary techniques and facilities. Traditional principles regarding hierarchical relationships of spaces, such as ‘clean’ and ‘dirty','safe’ and dangerous’ spaces, have been followed. Meanwhile, new design concepts such as ‘private’ and ‘communal’ spaces also had an impact on the housing design.

Teaching

I currently teach at the MA Urban Design

The MAUD programme, jointly delivered by the Welsh School of Architecture and the School of Geography and Planning at Cardiff University, is one of the largest postgraduate programmes of its kind, bringing together the collective expertise of both schools. The programme is accredited by both the Royal Town Planning Institute and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Design studio teaching in the programme focuses on developing critically informed as well as creative and practical proposals for real sites, addressing important contemporary issues of design and urbanism.