H&P Architects (HPA) was founded in 2009 and Doan Thanh Ha is the one having worked on social aspects of HPA and also led newly founded companies in undertaking challenging projects for poor and disadvantaged communities in Vietnam. In the spirit that Architects for the poor, HPA’s social projects have been formulated in the viewpoint of creating spaces (as called “Essential Spaces” by Ha) in order to meet the most fundamental needs (physiological needs; safety needs; belonging needs) of the poor constrained by both conditions and opportunities. “Esssentialspaces” is made of “practical materials” (Proper: cheap, locally available, recycled materials) with appropriate construction technology (traditional craftsmanship combined with modern technology, subject to specific contexts) and participated by users from the commencement to the completion of projects. The approach is thereby expected to contribute to education, give inspiration and orient people to necessary actions - responsible for society and communities and friendly with culture and environment.

Ha’s “Essential spaces” are diverse in sizes from meeting an individual’s fundamental needs to a household and more broadly a population segment. Places of construction range from vulnerable people in natural disaster-hit areas to poor ethnic minorities in mountainous areas and also disadvantaged communities in urban and rural areas. The projects fall in 3 categories: Modular house, Education – Health and Open community space.

In addition, in the context of increasingly stuffy urbanization, Ha has also developed an“Agritecture: Architecture + Agriculture” approach and accessed to “Architecture: a nature-like environment in an artificial manner” with the use of available, friendly materials in localities.