TOTO ARCHITECT TALK 2025 AWARD CEREMONY AND LECTURE – ARCHITECT KUMIKO INUI: WHEN “LEARNING FROM LITTLE SPACES” BECOMES A SOLUTION FOR VIETNAMESE ARCHITECTURE
TOTO ARCHITECT TALK 2025 AWARD CEREMONY AND LECTURE – ARCHITECT KUMIKO INUI: WHEN “LEARNING FROM LITTLE SPACES” BECOMES A SOLUTION FOR VIETNAMESE ARCHITECTURE
December 2025 – The TOTO Architect Talk 2025, themed “Little Spaces and Architecture,” successfully concluded in Ho Chi Minh City, continuing its role as a familiar and reputable “gathering” for Vietnam’s architecture and design community. The award ceremony of the TOTO Architectural Design Contest 2025 and the accompanying lecture marked a special milestone as it welcomed, for the first time, a female speaker – Architect Kumiko Inui, Professor at Yokohama National University and Honorary Jury Member of the competition.
Honoring young talent: “Commoning Space – Gradience of Livings”
The TOTO Architectural Design Contest 2025 Award Ceremony – Celebrates outstanding young talents and their creativity, passion, and dedication to architecture.
Opening the series of meaningful activities, the TOTO Architectural Design Contest 2025 Award Ceremony was held in a formal and inspiring atmosphere. This year’s competition was inspired by the philosophy of Architect Kumiko Inui, under the theme “Commoning Space – Gradience of Livings”.
The competition attracted significant attention, receiving nearly 500 registrations and close to 300 submitted entries. The brief encouraged young architects to explore design solutions (including construction, non-construction, or deconstruction) that amplify the concept of “commoning,” creating spatial structures that are flexible, adaptable over time, and capable of forming seamless transitions between different realms of space.
The award winners were officially announced, honoring the most outstanding and creative design ideas, with a total prize value of up to VND 90 million:
- Grand Prize (Architect’s Choice): “Đột biến cộng sinh”
- First Prize: “VƯỜN TH/MƠ”
- Second Prize: “Vườn An Trú”
- Third Prize: “Cộng Trừ”
The project models of the Top 10 shortlisted entries were exhibited at the event venue, creating a vibrant space for dialogue and learning. This exhibition reaffirmed TOTO’s commitment to supporting and nurturing sustainable, innovative design thinking for the next generation.
The project models of the Top 10 outstanding entries of the TOTO Architectural Design Competition 2025 were showcased in the event’s main hall.
The event also marked the first appearance of the female speaker – Architect Kumiko Inui with her lecture titled: “Little Spaces and Architecture.”
Architect Kumiko Inui shared her philosophy of “Learning from Little Spaces.”
On December 13, 2025, the TOTO Architect Talk 2025: Little Spaces and Architecture attracted nearly 800 attendees, including architects, designers, students, members of the press, and industry partners, affirming its position as one of the most anticipated academic and professional forums of the year.
The highlight of the event was the lecture by Architect Kumiko Inui, titled “Little Spaces and Architecture.” She shared her philosophy of “Learning from Little Spaces,” an approach to design rooted in local research and community dialogue, in which small spaces are transformed into catalysts for social connection.
Architect Kumiko Inui presented real-world projects such as the Kyoto City University of Arts (based on the concept of “Under One Roof”) and the Miyajimaguchi Passenger Terminal, emphasizing that architecture should foster social interaction and encourage encounters and shared experiences.
This philosophy has been widely recognized by professionals as particularly relevant to the Vietnamese context, as it offers a fresh perspective for Vietnamese architects in approaching public design, emphasizing the value of transitional spaces, such as alleys, small passages, and sidewalks, which are integral to the identity of Vietnamese urban life. The lecture inspired new ways of viewing these “little spaces” as sources of creative potential, capable of shaping more humane and people-centered urban environments.
Architect Kumiko Inui at the TOTO Architect Talk 2025.
A commitment to sharing knowledge and fostering sustainable development alongside the Vietnamese architectural community.
Mr. Asada Kyoji, President of TOTO Vietnam, delivering his speech at the event.
In his speech, Mr. Asada Kyoji, President of TOTO Vietnam, affirmed: “TOTO Architect Talk continues to demonstrate our commitment to supporting the Vietnamese architectural community by encouraging multidimensional thinking and the creation of meaningful, sustainable design solutions. We believe that the philosophy of Architect Kumiko Inui offers a compelling answer to the challenge of balancing urban density with the preservation of human values and local identity.”
The TOTO Architect Talk 2025 concluded on a high note, continuing a seven-year journey of spreading the spirit of human-centered architecture and reaffirming its commitment to the sustainable development of Vietnam’s architectural community.
Acknowledgment
The Organizing Committee would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the Vietnam Association of Architects for their esteemed patronage, as well as to all members of the Jury, architects, designers, and students who enthusiastically participated. Your engagement and contributions played a vital role in making this year’s event a meaningful and resounding success.
To further enhance the quality of future programs, we kindly invite you to share your feedback through the post-event survey: https://forms.gle/autAKGKsWsPhcQih7
Thank you, and see you again at TOTO Architect Talk 2026!
Looking back at the journey of TOTO Architect Talk 2025: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zfLi7zkK4gMQfK7u3g3-H_PAsl1JVk6S/view?usp=sharing
