Vietnamese architecture studio, Tropical Space, was commissioned to design a rental office building located on a quiet street northwest of the center of Ho Chi Ming City, the capital of Vietnam.

The project creates a building that maximizes the performance of natural lighting without being affected by the negative impact of direct sunlight, thanks to an envelope of brick walls with a concrete structure. Functional areas are divided by a continuous vertical void in the center, helping natural light and airflow to flow throughout the building.
Tropical Space, programmatically organized the floor plan of the building, placing the offices on one side of the central void with two permeable façades that open to capture sunlight and wind. On the other side are the toilets, storage areas, the elevator, and the stairs. The connection between the two zones is made by walkways whose use allows the vertical activation of the central space.

Since the offices are considered as a second home where most of the day is spent, the project tries to create an interesting space full of natural light and ventilation, thanks to the double layer generated by the “brick curtain”.

The perforated brick wall structure rotates at a 45-degree angle to create a "buffer layer" in which vegetation is placed which contributes to purifying the air and helps to reduce the impact of direct sunlight on the working space.


Premier Office by Tropical Space. Photograph by Trieu Chien.

Project description by Tropical Space

Tropical Space unveils Premier Office, an office building for rent located on a quiet street in Ho Chi Minh City where several other rental offices have been built. The design team aspired to create a building that can maximize the performance of natural lighting without being affected by the negative impact of direct sunlight. The door and window system can be opened when the weather is good.

The building is covered by brick walls with a concrete structure. The functional areas are divided by a continuous vertical void in the centre, which helps natural light and airflow going throughout the building.


Premier Office by Tropical Space. Photograph by Trieu Chien.

One side of the central void is the office space, with two facades opening to catch the sunlight and wind. The other side accommodates the restroom, storage, elevator, and stairs. These two blocks are connected by corridors spanning the void. By connecting the void between the corridors and empty spaces, both vertically and horizontally, the building can create moving light areas and space displacement during the day.

Many consider the office as a second home where they spend most of their time during the day. To inspire people working there, the architect endeavored to design an interesting space filled with natural light and ventilation by having a double-layer with a unique “brick curtain” outside, and aluminum sliding glass doors inside.

The perforated brick wall structure rotates at a 45-degree angle to create a buffer layer that reduces the impact of sunlight and creates moving shadows. The buffer layer, with trees interweaving, contributes to purifying the air and stopping direct sunlight from entering the workspace.

Premier Office by Tropical Space. Photograph by Trieu Chien.

The Premier Office has two opening facades that allow it to make use of natural light and ventilation in order to reduce energy consumption for lighting and cooling the space.

Meanwhile, empty spaces, trees, light, brick, and even rain can create an openness, stimulate creativity, and regenerate the energy of those working there.

With the perforated brick shell, the rotated wall, and the gaps, the Premier Office does not have the feeling of invading the urban space. Bringing an old material like a brick into the project makes the newly-built building blend into the neighborhood itself.

More information

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Architects
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Collaborators
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Structural Engineer.- Bach Ngoc Hoang.
MEP Engineer.- QCONS.
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Builder
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Starcon company.
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Area
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Site area.- 200 sqm.
Building area.- 300 sqm.
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Dates
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Design.- 2018.
Completion.- 2022.
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Location
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11A Nguyen Van Mai street, Tan Binh district, Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam.
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Photography
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Trieu Chien.
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Tropical Space is an architecture firm based in Ho Chi Minh city, founded by architect Nguyen Hai Long and Tran Thi Ngu Ngon. We are specialised in designing and planning from master planning, urban design, architecture, landscape and interior design.

With a deep understanding in VIetnam’s culture and climate, Tropical Space is committed to encouraging the clients toward the use of environmentally friendly, building practices and sustainable material selection.
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Published on: June 14, 2023
Cite: "A light-filled office building thanks to the use of brick. Premier Office by Tropical Space" METALOCUS. Accessed
<https://www.metalocus.es/en/news/a-light-filled-office-building-thanks-use-brick-premier-office-tropical-space> ISSN 1139-6415
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