vo trong nghia stacks terracotta brick façade for panasonic showroom

vietnamese firm vo trong nghia architects, working alongsid takashi niwa, has shared its design of a gallery and showroom for nanoco a vietnamese authorized distributor of japanese electronics company panasonic. the vertical site, located in hanoi’s dong da district, features a seamless envelope constructed entirely from terracotta bricks displaying a floral pattern.

images © hiroyuki oki / trieu chien

the gallery space is placed on the top floor overlooking the streetscape. currently, architectural models of vo trong nghia architects’ projects are being displayed, but this space can be reconfigured to offer designers and architects an opportunity to present their own work. meanwhile, the other programs are organized around a central void and staircase. this encourages visitors to have a constant visual connection with the product being exhibited — from the circulation route via the glass walls on each level.

the top floor is utilized as a gallery space

in addition to the decorative element of terracotta bricks, the material is common in vietnamese architecture as it allows air to flow naturally. the blocks are designed for tropical climates to promote passive ventilation and shade from harsh sunlight, while, at night, the building acts as a lantern with internal illumination transmitted through the perforations.

the small inner-city site measures just 72 square meters

‘the existing site proposed interesting design challenges, such as the typically small inner-city site at 72 sqm, adjacent tree and busy streetscape. the foliage overshadows the site, making it difficult for pedestrians to recognise the building from the main road. however, this scenario presented a unique opportunity to consider the existing tree and distracting context whilst maximizing the usable space.’ – vo trong nghia architects

the central staircase allows a constant view of the internal showrooms

upon entering the building, visitors are greeted with a large void

 the gallery and lighting showroom uses a perforated façade to create a significant impact

natural light is transmitted through gaps in the bricks

the blocks are both functional and inexpensive at £0.42 each, amounting to £2,350 for the 5,625 blocks used

 the bespoke fixing system allowed for a quick and simple assembly during construction

terracotta is a common material used in vietnam

the scheme is located in the dong da district, hanoi, vietnam

project info:

status: completed 2016
program: gallery, showroom
location: 83 duong lang, dong da district, hanoi, vietnam
site area: 72 sqm
gfa: 383 sqm
client: fortune-nano electrical company (nanoco)
office credit: vo trong nghia architects + takashi niwa
principal architects: vo trong nghia + takashi niwa
design team: nguyen thi thoa, koji yamamoto, dao sy dung
contractor: dai dung jsc
interior contractor: t.s.i. vietnam co. ltd.
photography: hiroyuki oki, trieu chien

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