circular and square columns frame views in vietnamese multifunctional space by 324praxis

324PRAXIS presents multifunctional space in Ho Chi Minh City

In the heart of Thao Dien, a residential district in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 324praxis architecture studio unveils A Collage of Outcasts, a transformation of an abandoned house into a multifunctional space. The 810-square-meter project combines a café and office while challenging conventional notions of privacy, context, and the boundaries between architecture and community.

324praxis’s approach redefines the concept of thresholds, exploring how elements like windows, doors, and balconies mediate the relationship between public and private spaces. In this space, thresholds are also symbolic, apart from functional, shaping coexistence and redefining the ways people interact with their environment. Circular columns at the boundary of the building act as picture frames, inviting visitors and passersby to view the world through a curated lens. Square columns, deeply recessed and emphasized by shadow, assert a more autonomous presence, balancing the interplay of visibility and invisibility.

all images by 324praxis

turning an abandoned house into the Collage of Outcasts

Ho Chi Minh City-based 324praxis’s project is set against a backdrop of architectural detachment in Thao Dien, where tall perimeter walls—often exceeding the legal height of 2.6 meters—define the urban fabric. This exclusivity reflects a desire for privacy but isolates buildings from the larger context. The house, abandoned for five years before its reinvention, was originally elevated 1100mm above street level to mitigate frequent tidal flooding. This unique feature became a key element in the design of A Collage of Outcasts, offering an elevated perspective of the neighborhood and a fresh way to integrate the surroundings into the core experience of the space.

a transformation of an abandoned house into a multifunctional space

curated views lead a sequence of experiences

The ground floor is a symphony of curated views that respond to the landscape and light conditions of the site. The design team, led by Dat Dinh and supported by Nguyen Cao Hoai Nam, developed the space as a sequence of experiences, encouraging visitors to engage with their surroundings one perspective at a time. As one moves through the pathways connecting the premises to the building, scenes emerge and transform continuously. 

Imagination plays a pivotal role in A Collage of Outcasts. For 324praxis, it represents a comprehensive vision that transcends documentation and control. The project actively engages the senses, inviting visitors to perceive space as a living entity. 

this 810-square-meter project combines a café and office

challenging conventional notions of privacy, context, and the boundaries between architecture and community

324praxis’s approach redefines the concept of thresholds

exploring how windows, doors, and balconies mediate the relationship between public and private spaces

shaping coexistence and redefining the ways people interact with their environment

circular columns at the boundary of the building act as picture frames

square columns assert a more autonomous presence

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324PRAXIS’s project is set against a backdrop of architectural detachment in Thao Dien

tall perimeter walls—often exceeding the legal height of 2.6 meters—define the urban fabric

exclusivity reflects a desire for privacy

the house was originally elevated 1100mm above street level

offering an elevated perspective of the neighborhood

a fresh way to integrate the surroundings into the core experience of the space

the ground floor is a symphony of curated views

responding to the landscape and light conditions of the site

the space was abandoned for five years before its reinvention

the design team developed the space as a sequence of experiences

encouraging visitors to engage with their surroundings one perspective at a time

scenes emerge and transform continuously

pathways connect the premises to the building

imagination plays a pivotal role in A Collage of Outcasts

a comprehensive vision that transcends documentation and control

the project actively engages the senses

site plan

ground floor plan

1st floor plan

2nd floor plan

project info:

name: A Collage of Outcasts

architect: 324praxis | @324praxis.architects

location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

area: 810 square meters

lead architect: Dat Dinh

design team: Nguyen Cao Hoai Nam

photographer: 324praxis