foliage façade keeps yên architecture's bonte café cool in vietnam

yên architecture BRINGS NATURE TO bonte café

yên architecture prioritizes connection to nature for this three storey coffee shop in hoi an, vietnam. called ‘bonte café’, the new coffee spot occupies a corner plot on the outskirts of the city, 2 km northwest of the ancient center.

the design concept was to bring nature into the café, close enough so people can touch the leaves and smell the flowers. the architects explain,‘vietnam is a developing country, urbanization is happening rapidly and it is driving people away from nature. the buildings around us are becoming more concrete based and negatively affecting our living environments. we used these cues and hope that through this project, people will be able to reconnect to nature.’

images courtesy of yên architecture

A SYSTEM OF FOLDING

partitions

OPEN UP THE SPACE

the street-facing elevations are shrouded by a curtain of vegetation made up of trees, shrubs, flowers, and vines. with these layers of greenery, the problem of heat and humidity is solved. the trees provide both moisture and oxygen in the air, making the environment cooler and cleaner. during the rainy season, rainwater is returned to the soil through the garden, ensuring the cycle of water and carbon remains in nature.

folding partitions serve two functions: they create large shaded overhangs while blurring the line between inside and out. they also promote a flow of natural light and ventilation. in the midst of this large open space, a cup of coffee acts as a catalyst to bring people closer together.

bonte café is covered in layers of vegetation

the first and second floors of bonte café are visually connected by a D-shaped atrium that punctures the ceiling. these levels are planned as lively café spaces while the third floor is a quieter level where people can come to work and study. ‘we’ve arranged a number of tables for group seating, and a few english learning groups have recently chosen this space as a study place,’ says yên architecture.

the architects specified a select number of materials and employed the skills of local craftsmen to build the café. the concrete, timber, and steel are all left in their natural color, creating an overall raw, natural aesthetic.

folding partitions extend the indoor space outside