farming studio employs urban agriculture model within a koi fish inspired cafe in vietnam

farming studio, a vietnamese architecture practice, has completed the ‘koi cafe‘ within a three-story house in hanoi, vietnam. the design concept centers around urban agriculture through the use of an aquaponics system and koi fish aquarium.

a flowing waterfall creates healthy oxygen for the fish while facilitating the ‘closed cycle’ system
all images by nguyen thai thach 

farming studio’s design facilitates a renewable resource cycle within the cafe, as the waste from the koi fish aquarium is pumped into the soil supporting the cafe’s lush green roof. after nutrients from the waste are absorbed by the vegetation, the byproduct of purified water is returned to the aquarium. the ‘closed cycle’ eliminates waste and conserves energy while also avoiding the need to use chemical stimulants to support the plant life.

the koi fish is known as the national fish of japan 

the architects used a steel frame to modify the original spatial qualities of the building. the interiors and furnishings were built using recycled wood from the original site, further contributing to the sustainability of the design. through the aquaponics systems, fresh vegetables and produce can also be grown within the cafe to ensure a continuous system of renewable resources. 

the aquarium contributes to a serene environment within the cafe 

the green roof created by vegetation provides shade to the cafe guests

the designer employed local materials throughout the interiors

all wood within the cafe was recycled from the old building 

the ‘urban agriculture’ model employed eliminates waste and conserves energy

the waste from the koi aquarium provides rich nutrients to the vegetation above the cafe 

the exterior sees a scalloped facade lead into an open courtyard

the facade was inspired by the ‘batrang’ double traditional tile method

the new design language creates a bold statement within the neighborhood

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name of project: koi cafe
location: 646- lang street, dong da, hanoi, vietnam
architects: an viet dung, an thanh nhan, pham ngoc linh, andrea scalc
firm: farming studio
type of project: renovation
area: 88 square meters (5.5 meters x 16 meters)
completed: 2017
photography: nguyen thai thach