curved red facade defines compact café by 72/8 Architects
72/8 Architects completes tạ coffee, a compact café inserted into a dense residential neighborhood in Saigon, Vietnam. The project uses its narrow footprint to establish a distinct architectural identity within the surrounding concrete row houses.
The facade introduces a curved red volume that departs from the rigid orthogonal geometry typical of adjacent buildings. Shaped as a continuous, soft-edged hand-like form, it creates a clear visual contrast while framing views between the street and interior. A large circular opening functions as both entrance and display window, allowing pedestrians to observe activity inside the café.
all images by Kien Tran
Saturated Red Cement Render Shapes coffee shop’s facade
For studio 72/8 architects, the use of a saturated red finish is central to the design. Applied as exposed colored cement render, the surface references traditional Southern Vietnamese materials such as lacquer and yin-yang tiles, reinterpreted through a contemporary construction technique. The color establishes an immediate street presence and defines the spatial atmosphere of the interior.
Through its form and material expression, tạ coffee introduces a small-scale architectural intervention that explores how surface treatment, geometry, and color can reshape the experience of a compact urban site.
tạ coffee occupies a compact site in Saigon’s dense residential fabric
the café introduces a distinct architectural identity among concrete row houses
the soft-edged form contrasts with the orthogonal geometry of neighboring buildings
a curved red volume defines the building’s facade
the saturated red finish is applied as exposed colored cement render
a large hand-shaped opening serves as both entrance and display window
the curved form frames views between street and interior
traditional materials are reinterpreted using contemporary construction techniques
curved elements introduce visual dynamism into the interior
red features echo the facade’s distinct color
form and color guide visitors’ attention and circulation
72/8 architects introduces playful bespoke elements and furniture
project info:
name: tạ coffee
architects: 72/8 architects
lead designer: Nghĩa Lê
location: Saigon, Vietnam
photographer: Kien Tran
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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom
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