Often in Saigon we hear about old buildings being completely torn down for new high-rise projects, but not enough about them being given them new uses. This recent office in District 1 is a bright example of the latter phenomenon; the city’s young architects consciously sought to transform an old building into a contemporary space while retaining most of its original structure.
According to Kienviet, the project in question is the new downtown office for Nhat Viet JSC, a real estate firm that also designed and executed the plan from the beginning. Their office, spanning 160 square meters on Tran Hung Dao Street and Bui Vien is based on a colonial building.
The corner of Tran Hung Dao and De Tham streets in District 1.
Although the block comprises many old buildings, they don’t qualify to be preserved as heritage sites. They’re also not dilapidated enough to warrant a complete demolition. Enter the architect team, who gave the interior a contemporary makeover, transforming it into a comfy and modern office space with a minimalist style that’s the trend all over town.
The space during the construction process.
The office occupies two floors of the building: the first-floor house rows of desks and a typical meeting area. The second floor has a more laidback vibe with armchairs and modular furniture to accommodate any type of event from an exhibition to a key presentation to even birthday celebrations.
With the exception of toilets, the office space doesn’t make use of walls and instead opted for an open floor plan that facilitates ventilation and allows for ample natural light.
Have a tour of Nhat Viet’s D1 office through the photos below:
The front facade of the building.
[Photos by Quang Tran via ArchDaily]
