This document outlines Vinh Le's academic work on three urban design projects: 1) Water Rites in Madurai, India, which proposed public pools and ecological areas along the Vaigai River to support bathing and filtration in response to the city's water issues. 2) Rejuvenate Broadway in Newburgh, NY, which aimed to revitalize the city through a cultural anchor and job training program focused on preservation skills. 3) Interactive Cubes in the Bronx, which sought to reconnect NYCHA housing with the surrounding urban fabric and reinvent its role in the city.

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VINH LE
Urban Designer - Architect
M.S in Architecture and Urban Design
Columbia University, GSAPP
Email: levinh.mail@gmail.com

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TABLE OF CONTENT
A. ACADEMIC WORKS
04 • Water Rites
12 • Rejuvenate Broadway
18 • Interactive Cubes
B. PROFESSIONAL WORKS
26 • Pagoda
30 • Coral Beach
36 • Spring Garden Residential Complex
C. CREATIVE WORKS

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A. ACADEMIC WORKS

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WATER RITES
Location : Madurai City, India
Year : GSAPP, Spring Semester, 2016
Role : Team of Four
Maduraiisoneof themostimportantreligiouscitiesinsouthern
India. Every year, during the festival month of Chithirai, the city
hosts a rapid influx of around 1,000,000 domestic pilgrims,
who temporarily inhabit the city’s streets and riverbed,
giving the city an incredible transient population. One of
Madurai’s most crucial contemporary infrastructural issues
is water -- its sourcing, its distribution, its access, its reuse,
its relationship with sewage, and its political governance.
The proposal uses the edges of the River Vaigai and
the municipal overhead tanks as tools to address this
inequity for the diverse residents and pilgrims of Madurai:
1. River Vaigai Edges: This project proposes public pools and
ecological filtration areas to support and formalize sites for the
bathing, laundry, commerce, and recreation that have long
occurred along the river’s edges. These interventions will be
located at critically active nodes along eight km of the river
Vaigai, interfacing with the Chithirai Festival’s main riverbed
concentration point, informal residential areas, bus stations,
and institutions. Formally, the interventions are inspired by the
traditional“Ghats”,butareintendedtoactivelycapture,distribute,
and filter water to address societal and ecological needs.
2. Municipal Overhead Tanks: There are currently 28 overhead
tanks across the city. There is an abundance of publicly-owned
open space below and around these tanks that is presently
made inaccessible by a variety of fences and physical barriers.
We propose the regulated opening of these sites that they may
become sites for public toilets as well as for the retrieval of
potablewater.Ourintentionistomaketheroleoftheseoverhead
tanks more transparent, and more accessible; the sites also
will also contain vegetated spaces for socializing and resting,
to passively offset the heat of Madurai’s warm climate. Like the
Vaigai’s edges, we propose to turn this system of overhead
tanks into new icons that signify the access of basic amenities
for the citizens of Madurai, both permanent and transient.

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SOUTH INDIA
REGIONAL WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

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Overhead Tank
Canal
Bridge
Temple / Shrine
Chithirai Footprint
Civic Bath Infrastructure
1.
2. 3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13. 14. 15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
SITE PROTOTYPING /
RELEVANT ADJACENCIES
1. Kooldal Nagar Railway
2. E.S.I. Hospital
3. Crematorium
4. Arapalayam Bus Station
5. Government Hospital
6. Capron Hall Girls’ Secondary School
7. Madurai Junction Railway Station
8. Bus Stop
9. Meenakshi Amman Temple
10. Sri Meenakshi Government College
11. Annamalai Theatre
12. Government Rajaji Hospital
Madurai Medical College
The American College
Playground
Rajaji Park
Gandhi Memorial Museum
13. Sourashtra Boys Higher Secondary School
14. Raghavendra Hospital
15. Adlabs Ganesh Cinema
16. BIG Cinemas
17. Nirmala Girls Higher Secondary
School
18. Muktheeswarar Temple
Meenakshi Sundareswarar Girls
19. Thiagarajar College
20. Teppakkulam
21. SMP Colony
22. Madurai Corporation
PILGRIMPRIESTTUK TUKFARMERTOURISTSTUDENTSMP WOMANCHAIRMAN
CHARACTERS IN MADURAI
MADURAI MAP

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EXISTING SITE COLLAGE

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Ecological zone Working Spacces
Baths
Recreation Ecological Laundry
WATER SYSTEMS AXON

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Operationalized EdgeExisting Edge
Canal
Bathing poolsPhytoremediationProposed ghats
VAIGAI DRY SEASON
VAIGAI CHITHIRAI

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Species
Amorpha frutiosa
Azolla pinnata
Bacopa monnieri
Hydrilla verticillata
Myriophyllum aquaticum
Phragmites australis
Accumulate Lead
Biosorbs metals
Accumulate metals
Hyperaccumulate metals
Transforms and degrades a variety of contaminants
Used in reed bed treatment systems
Water filtrating along the planting areas
VAIGAI RIVER
waste discharged through pipes
VAIGAI RIVER
WASTE CANAL
BRIDGE
NEW DEVELOPMENT AREA
Species
VAIGAI RIVER
VAIGAI RIVER
FILTEREDWATERCANALDISCHARGE
BRIDGE
NEW DEVELOPMENT AREA
Taking avantage of the unique capabilities of plant root
systems - translocaton, bioaccumultion, and contminant
degradation
PHYTOREMEDIATIONAREA
OPEN WATERSHRUB WET MEADOW SHALLOW MARSH
Chrysanthemums
Dumb Cane
Morifolium
Dieffenbachua spp
Bioremediation
Phytoremediation
WATER FILTRATING A LONG THE
PLANTING AREAS.
Waste water from residential areas flow
through pipe systems and will be treated via
serial of Bioremediations. And then clean
water will be returned to the river.
Species:
Amorpha frutiosa
(Accumulate Lead)
Azolla pinnata
(Biosorbs metals)
Bacopa monnieri
(Accumulate metals)
Hydrilla Verticallata
(Hyperaccumulate metals)
Myriophyllum aquaticum
(Transforms and dregrates a variety of
contaminants)
Phragmites australis
(Used in reed bed treatment systems)
Taking avantage of the unique capabilities
of plant root systems - translocaton,
bioaccumultion,and contminant degradation.
Species:
Chrysanthemums
(Morifolium)
Dumb Cane
(Dieffenbachua spp)
Gerbera Daisy
(Gerbera ssp)
English Ivy
(Hedera helix)
Vetiver grass
(Nepturia deracea)
Mytle grass
(Acorus calamus)
WATER FILTRATING A LONG THE PLANTING AREAS

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POOL SCALES INDIVIDUAL
VAIGAI FLOW
VAIGAI FLOW
FEMALE
MALE
VAIGAI FLOW
SAND SHAPING
COMMUNITY / MULTI-GROUP
FAMILY / SMALL GROUP
VEGETATION
January - March
August - September
October - December
BATH DESIGN CONCEPT

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REJUVENATE BROADWAY
Location : Broadway Corridor, Newburgh, NY
Year : GSAPP, Fall Semester, 2015
Role : Team of Three
This project aims to revitalize Newburgh’s community and econ-
omy through capitalizing on the overflow of Beacon’s growth.
Leveraging the city’s historic urban fabric and emerging art
scene, this three-phase proposal starts with a city initated pilot
cultural and community anchor to activate a three-block area on
Broadway. This acts to improve the streets- cape environment
on the city’s major economic corridor, thereby attract- ing fu-
ture developments in the surrounding blocks. The communi-
ty anchor houses a heritage and visitor center,a grocery store
and and Pres- ervation Arts School, which generates jobs in the
fields of construction, preservation arts, retail and heritage tour-
sim. The school aims to empower youth with skills to preserve
and restore the buildings in the Historic East End of Newburgh,
becoming active agents of change in the community.

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REGIONAL YOUTH ISSUE FILLING THE JOB GAP

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Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
Apprenticeship Reimbursement
Ford Foundation
Youth Opportunity and Learning grant
$$
1a. Renovation of
City-owned vacant
property
CLASS 1
1b. Construction of mobile
modular classroom
Draws attention from
Liberty/Broadway park visitors
Visible from new cafe and
co-work space
CITY OF
NEWBURGH
SUNY
ORANGE
+
LOCAL
CRAFTSMAN
Skills
Infrastructur
e
10 YOUTH
/BUlLDING
2a. Renovation of
anchor-owned vacant
property
CLASS 2
2b. Connecting pedestrian
amenities
CITY OF
NEWBURGH
EXISTING
ANCHOR
EXISTING
ANCHOR
SUNY
ORANGE
+
LOCAL
CRAFTSMAN
Skills
Infrastructur
e
15 YOUTH
/BUlLDING
Sidewalk Replacement Program
Facade Improvement Program
Modular unit becomes new bus stop
$$
CLASS 3
CITY OF
NEWBURGH
EXISTING
ANCHOR
SUNY
ORANGE
+
LOCAL
CRAFTSMAN
Skills
Infrastructur
e
3a. Renovation of
private property
3b. Establishing
neighborhood connection
Repair streets and infrastructure
Property tax value rises
$$
Tax Incremental Financing
Rehabilitation tax credit for historic properties
NYS Preservation League grant program
20 YOUTH
/BUlLDING
Vacant lot Movement of program
Vacant buliding
Anticipated developments
Existing developments
Proposed properties for renovation
Access to street structure
Existing anchors
BROADWAY TO WATERFRONT
LIBERTYST
CHAMBERSST
LANDERST
SMILLERST
ANN ST
JOHNSONST
“THE MID-BROADWAY PROJECT”, 2016Mixed-use residential development13,000sfretail space on the ground floor91 residential units on the upper floorsMill Street Partners, LLC.
CENTRAL HUDSON BROADWAY CORRIDOR DEMONSTRATION PROJECT
Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation’s Main Street Revitalization grant
96 Broadway to be developed as Ritz
Theater extension
COMPLETE STREETS PROPOSAL
SIDEWALK IMPOVEMENT PROGRAM
ART/PERFORMANCE PARK, 2015Silverstone Property Group, LLC
INVITING NEW INVESTMENT
VACANT PROPERTY REVITALIZATION PROGRAM
SBL: 30-3-24-32
Address: 132-148 Broadway, Newburgh, New York, 12550
Ownership : City of Newburgh
Assessed Value (2013) : $12,630
Zoning : TC-1 Tourist Commercial
Property Class: Vacant Land in Commercial Areas
Lot area : 68,661.39sf
SBL: 30-2-24-26
Address: 150-156 Broadway, Newburgh, New York, 12550
Ownership : Private
Assessed Value (2013) : $,12300
Zoning : TC-1 Tourist Commercial
Property Class: Vacant Land in Commercial Areas
Lot area : 9322.66sf
SBL: 30-2-29
Address: 162 Broadway, Newburgh, New York, 12550
Ownership : City Of Newburgh
Assessed Value (2013) : $189100
Zoning : TC-1 Tourist Commercial
Number of Stories : 4
Property Class: Downtown Row Type Commercial
Lot area: 1927.93sf SBL: 30-5-29
Address: 112 Broadway, Newburgh, New York, 12550
Ownership : Private
Assessed Value (2013) : $76600
Tax Lein (As of 7/25/2012) : $3842.05
Zoning : TC-1 Tourist Commercial
Number of Stories : 3
Property Class: Residential Land w/ garage
Lot area : 2140.72sf
SBL: 30-4-27
Address: 126 Broadway, Newburgh, New York, 12550
Ownership : Private
Assessed Value (2013) : $89700
Zoning : TC-1 Tourist Commercial
Number of Stories : 4
Property Class : Downtown Row Type Commercial
Lot area : 2153.95sf
SBL: 36-2-7
Address: 159 BROADWAY, Newburgh, NY
Ownership : Registered Private
Assessed Value (2013) : $227500
Zoning : TC-1 Tourist Commercial
Number of Stories : 2
Property Class: Residential Land w/ garage
Lot area : 3052.06sf
Broadwaycoffeeshop
Coofee/teaspecialty
Bakerycafe
Dairystore
Pharmacy
Fruiterer
Charcuterie
Pantry
Wine
Pizzastore
Butcher
Office
Office
Broadwayfarm
Restaruant
Bakery
Outdoor performance space
Busstop
Outdoor seating
Outdoor seating Outdoor seating
Weekend market
Weekend market
Weekend market
Weekend market
Historic tour meeting point
Open hack nights
Community events
Bus stop
RitzTheater
CornerstoneResidences
SPACECREATEco-work
AnnStreetGallery
hire local craftsman
train youth
$19.22$25
per $1,000 of assessed value city sidewalk replacement program
city tax credit
for first time
homebuyers
$$
ground floor retail allowed
streetscape reinvestment
income
$$
Jumpstart program with city-owned properties Renovate corner properties to open up intersections Attract new homeowners2015 2017 2020 2025Attract developers investment
STREET STRATEGY

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“Any contractor doing business in the
city should incorporate training and
developing of at risk youh....train them
and give them a fair wage... absorb
them into the company.”
“If I didn’t have a job, I’d have too
much time and I wouldn’t know what
to do and where to. It’s important for
kids to do something positive with
their time.”
Carl John Powell
Taxi driver/ music producer
Peekskill, NY
Kieren, 19
Eamon, 19
Grew up in single-parent family with alcohol and drug issues
Newburgh, NY
Apprentices at small local contractor
Facade renovation incentive
PROPERTY OWNER
hire local craftsman
train youth
$19.22$25
Per $1,000 of assessed value
city grants
$$20% federal income tax credit
$$ HOMEBUYER
Home ownership incentive
city sidewalk replacement progr
required to reside in property fo
city tax credit
homebuyers
$$
DEVELOPER
lots >20,000 sf
semi-public open space
streetscape reinvestment
city tax credit
$$
income
$$
HOMEBUYER
Home ownership incentive
city sidewalk replacement program
required to reside in property for >5 years
city tax credit
homebuyers
$$
DEVELOPER
lots >20,000 sf
semi-public open space
streetscape reinvestment
city tax credit
$$
income
$$
HOMEBUYER
Home ownership incentive
city sidewalk replacement program
required to reside in property for >5 years
city tax credit
homebuyers
$$
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY COMMUNITY DISCUSSION

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STONEWORK
PLASTERWORK
MASONRY
CLEANING NEGLECTED PROPERTIES
TIMBER FRAMING
METALWORK
CARPENTRY
PAINTING
INSPECTION
LANDSCAPING
LIGHTING
HORTICULTURE
CEMENT FINISHING
ROOF REPAIR
FLOOR TILE WORK
PATCH DRY WALL CEILING
PLUMBING
ELECTRICAL WORK
WINDOW RESTORATION
OUTDOORCLASSROOM
PUBLICFRONTAGE
INDOORSITE
OUTDOORSITE
SIDEWALK
SUMMER SEMESTER FALL SEMESTER SPRING SEMESTER
Jun - Aug Sep - Dec Jan - May
ON-SITE TRAINING
15ft
85ft
12ft
95F 75F
25F
SIDEWALK
ON-SITETRAINING
85ft
12ft
PUBLICSEATING
STOREFRONT
RETAILSPACE
12ft
ON-SITETRAINING
SEASONAL PROGRAMS
ELEVATION

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MODULE DESIGN

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INTERACTIVE CUBES
Location : Mott Haven, Bronx, NY
Year : GSAPP, Summer, 2015
Role : Team of Three
Current NYCHA campus conditions are a result of de-
cades of disinvest- ment and isolation from the sur-
rounding urban fabric. NYCHA campuses are the prod-
uct of the tower in the park development, which created
an additional disconnect between the groundplane and
tower topography. These conditions have manifested
into a dire need for intervention; through design, the In-
teractive Cubes program will reintegrate this immense
social and economic system back into its surrounding
commu- nities, and also reinvent its role in New York City.
INTERACTIVE CUBES, Blocks creates community-based
networks that allow for residents to participate in the
procurement, retrofitting, placement, and final program-
ming of locally-sourced shipping containers that are
to be deployed in the expansive fabrics of the NYCHA
campuses. Creating new ground plane topographies
through the use of the containers will support commer-
cial, landscape, housing, and community programs; the
graphic identities of these Cubes, and the topographies
they create, are to be negotiated by NYCHA and those
utilizing them, allowing for site-specificity and a collec-
tive sense of agency regarding the aesthetics of a given
community’s environment.
Using the Mill Brook Houses of the South Bronx as a pro-
totype, the program is intended to showcase and sup-
port the vibrant, idiosyncratic cultures native to the Bor-
ough. The adaptability of this network of Cubes has the
potential to bring community-based economic growth
to each of the NYCHA campuses in New York City, a re-
newed sense of pride and ownership to each housing
development, and ultimately a 21st Century identity for
NYCHA.

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NYCHA

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VINH LE

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B. PROFESSIONAL WORKS

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PHAP MINH PAGODA
Location : Long An province
Scale : 6000 m2 at 1/100 Scale
Year : 2012-2013
Role : Desgn Team Leader
Team : Nhan Hoa Real Estate Investment
This Pagoda was designed based on the old foundation
of an existing Pagoda that was almost destroyed by the
war. This project has special meaning to me due to its
religious nature, so I had to gather and utilize all of my
knowledge about landscape, culture, religion, feng-shui
and archi- tecture. I directly worked with monks, carpen-
ters, modelers , and engi- neers.
The most challenging aspect of this project was to study
and design the roof structure. We had to conduct re-
search and visit existing temples, especially several an-
cient temples in my home town. After that, we worked
with and interviewed some traditional carpenters and
monks to make sure that all details were designed to
match suitable construction methods.

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MAIN SECTION

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VIEW OF MAIN ENTRANCE

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DURING CONSTRUCTIONVIEW OF SIDE ENTRANCE
WOOD STRUCTURE DURING CONSTRUCTION
3D WOOD STRUCTURE

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CORAL BEACH RESORT
Location : Ninh Van Bay, Nha Trang City
Scale : 7 ha at 1/500 Scale
Year : 2011-2012
Role : Principal Urban Designer Of Team 3
NQH Architects Firm
Situated a short distance from the beach town tourist hub
of Nha Trang and 450 km north of Ho Chi Minh City, Cor-
al Beach is part of a natural bay tucked away from public
access. The investors sought a master plan designed to
incorporate multiple functions into a grand resort, con-
sisting of: hotel, villas, dining and spa, and fitness and
management facilities.
The design team consisted of several architects, me as
the primary urban designer, and a Japanese architect
advisor Mr. Mori. We collaborated with HOK to research
the existing site conditions. We also worked with a
French resort expert and CBRE Vietnam to study the new
resort market and explore how to develop and manage
it in the future.

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SITE EXISTING

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SITE PLAN

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MAIN SECTION

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HOTEL
HOTEL

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VILLA TYPICAL FLOOR PLAN TWO BEDROOM VILLA
ONE BEDROOM VILLA ONE BEDROOM VILLA
THREE BEDROOM VILLA

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SPRING GARDEN RESIDENTAL
COMPLEX
Location : Vung Tau City
Scale : 42 ha at 1/500 Scale
Year : 2010-2012
Role : Member of Five Person Design Team : NQH Archi-
tects Firm
This land was located at the gateway to Vung Tau, a wealthy seaside
city whose main revenue comes from tourism and oil. It’s no exag-
geration to say that this is one of the wealthiest cities in Vietnam.
Therefore, our client wanted to create a high class green residential
complex that would have luxurious services such as a musical the-
ater, hotel and green spaces.
The city government required construction density to be under
35%, 16% for affordable housing and the client had to create an
artificial cooling pond for the whole area. Our design team consist-
ed of three Vietnamese architects and two Germany architects. We
started this project from 2010 with many research and options, be-
cause the client changed functions constantly.

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REGIONAL MAP MICRO CLIMATE RESEARCH
Wind Direction Ecologycal System
Sun Direction Water Surface
Wind Direction Ecologycal System
Sun Direction Water Surface

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LAYOUTS OF SITE PLAN

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SITE PLAN

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VINH LE

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C. CREATIVE WORKS

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COOKING CLASSES
Year : 2013 - 2015
Role : Co-Founder: Nem Spring Rolls Cooking Classes
Cook : Chef Ming Tsai’s Blue Dragon Restaurant
In 2013, my wife and I are entrepreneurial in our efforts to
share Viet Nam’s heartwarming cuisine and welcoming tra-
ditions with our friends and local community. Born out of
spring roll dinner parties, we created Nem – a personal ven-
ture that brings intimate cooking experiences in Vietnamese
and Southeast Asian cuisine to the Cambridge community.
Unlike structured cooking classes, Nem is quoted by many
as “cooking and enjoying a dinner party at the home of tal-
ented friends.” We’ve been honored and blessed with meet-
ing families, couples, and friends who share with us laughs,
stories and cultural discussions over lovely dinner and wine.
TOUR GUIDE
Year : 2002 - 2005
Role : Tour Guide in Vietnam and Cambodia
I developed management and organizational skills through
this job. I believe that a great tour guide is not only a charm-
ing person with a broad knowledge of history and culture.
He also needs to understand customers’ needs and effi-
ciently manage a group. Staying on schedule and ensuring
my customers’ safety are the most important responsibili-
ties.
COOKING CLASS IN CAMBRIDGE
COOKING CLASS IN CAMBRIDGE

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Urban Designer - Architect
vtl2103@columbia.edu || 484-788-1369
15 W 100th St, Apt 3N, New York City, NY 10025
Portfolio Content
Architecture Projects
• Pogoda
• Micro House
• Traditional House
Urban Design Projects
• Riverside Residential
• Spring Garden Complex
• Coral Beach Resort
Academic Projects
• Interactive Cubes
• Rejuvernate Broadway
Other Works
• Cooking Classes
• Tour Guide
BROADWAY, NEWBURGH, WATER COLOR SLUM, HCMC, WATER COLOR

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VINH LE
Email: levinh.mail@gmail.com
Phone: 484 788 1369

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THANK YOU!