Chau: Hello. AGO is actually from the Greek word “Agora” (market place) is a space for people to come and exchange information. AGOhub was founded by architects who really yearned for a space where they could exchange ideas, especially the younger generation of architects, who have few places to express themselves, except for exhibitions at school. We try to organize activities that encourage architects and anyone else who is interested in architecture. Architecture is somewhere in between art and reality, so, we combine the two, and hope that people will become more familiar with this particular aspect. 

Nguyen HuyenChau, community developer for AGOhub (Photo: Huyen Chau's official FB)

A: So, what are the main creative activities of AGOhub?

Chau: Each Sunday, we conduct a creative playground open to everyone. We call it playground because it’s not a course. You don’t study and learn a skill and then receive a certificate. It should be something that people feel happy with or comfortable with. Today we’re drawing on leaves. Last week, we drew on stones and made toys from recycling. We think those small steps help people relate to art, creativity, and architecture. This month we will host an exhibition by a young artist group called Hanoi Art 21, who hosts a marketing class for film. Most Vietnamese film makers have never taken a course in marketing their films. 

AGOhub is a free venue for young architects who want to experiment with new ideas, and a space for anyone who just wants to come and relax (Photo: AGOhub)

A: Who can attend the activities hosted by AGOhub?

Chau: We aim at children under 12. Surprisingly teenagers are interested in coming as well. We organized a playground for children on Sunday morning so they can get out and escape from their electronic devices for a while and give their parents a break. But we don’t limit the age of the participants because it’s a playground and sometimes adults want to be creative, too. We welcome anyone and make them feel as comfortable as possible. 

AGOhub organizes a playground for children on Sunday morning so they can get out and escape from their electronic devices for a while and give their parents a break (Photo: AGOhub)

A:What have you done to makeAGOhub more popular?

Chau: We don’t want to spam people, so we created a closed group on Facebook, which anyone interested in our activities can ask to join. We’ve only been open for 2 weeks, but we already have 63 people. I think that’s a good sign. It shows that people are looking for creative inspiration and it’s a sign that people now value creativity more than ever.
A: What’s your long-term plan for AGOhub?
Chau: It’s our first year but we feel very positive because the creativity movement is becoming recognized in Vietnam and many people are recognizing the importance of the creativity movement.  Our plan is to continue to support young artist groups and engage young architects in community projects that allow them to try out their theories and philosophy and experiment with new ideas. At the same time we are trying to enlarge the scale of our projects and events. We have a library here and we’re looking forward to establish a mentoring program for young architects and aspiring architects. We also want to research new materials and approaches to design and construction. And, of course, we shouldn’t neglect connecting with the international community because we have a lot of foreign friends here and overseas. 
A:Thank you Huyen Chau for sharing with us a story about AGOhub, a venue for you to pursue passion for architecture and arts.