Office of Urban Agriculture,
design: VTN Architects
Vietnamese firm VTN Architects, known worldwide for its harmonious blending of architecture and nature, has unveiled a new headquarters in Ho Chi Minh that is an innovative example of sustainable design. The building, with a concrete structure, has been covered with a "vertical farm" of fruits and vegetables, giving it a unique character.
Vietnam Urban Agriculture Office - the open space around the central atrium fosters communication and cooperation among employees
Photo by Hiroyuki Oki © VTN Architects (Vo Trong Nghia Architects)
Urbanization of Vietnam
and its impact on the environment
This project was inspired by Vietnam's rapid urbanization, which is moving cities away from their tropical roots, leading to a number of environmental problems such as air pollution, flooding and the urban heat island effect. The transformation resulting from industrial development is having a negative impact on the environment, causing droughts and soil salinization, which threatens the country's food security. In addition, new generations growing up in such an environment lose contact with nature, and this affects their health and environmental awareness.
Vietnam Urban Agriculture Office - an outdoor structure with pots attracts the attention of passersby and encourages close contact with nature
photo by Hiroyuki Oki © VTN Architects (Vo Trong Nghia Architects)
green façade with a vertical farm
The new office building, located on the corner of one of the Thu Duc district's streets, was designed as a response to these challenges. VTN Architects is restoring greenery to the city while promoting healthy, local food production. The building is distinctive in its form - only the walls, hidden behind dense vegetation, subtly reveal that it is an office building. The facade of the building is densely planted with local plants, grown in special boxes placed on the facades.
Vietnam Urban Agriculture Office - sliding glass doors lead to balconies where plants can be tended and harvested
Photo: Hiroyuki Oki © VTN Architects (Vo Trong Nghia Architects)
With the right exposure to light, plants thrive in optimal conditions, making the building not only aesthetically pleasing to its surroundings, but also an example of vertical agriculture that can be implemented in cities. Fruits and vegetables grow in vertical layers, making the space more efficient than traditional farming methods.
Vietnam Urban Agriculture Office - projection of the sixth floor - this floor includes a parking lot, teachers' room, kitchen, toilets and a conference room
© VTN Architects (Vo Trong Nghia Architects)
Minimalist interior and roof garden
The building's interior was designed using concrete and glass to create a harmonious combination of austerity and lightness. Office spaces are organized around a central atrium, and sliding glass doors provide access to balconies where plants can be nurtured. The building's rooftop has an additional growing space that acts as a garden where crops can be harvested.
Vietnam Urban Agriculture Office - large windows and open spaces bring natural light into the interior, creating a pleasant atmosphere
photo by Hiroyuki Oki © VTN Architects (Vo Trong Nghia Architects)
Energy saving with plant walls
and ventilation
The building's environmentally friendly solutions, such as the plant wall that covers the south facade, filter light and air, preventing interior overheating and creating a pleasant microclimate. Rainwater is used for irrigation, further reducing water consumption, and the north wall, with its air insulation, provides efficient ventilation.
Vietnam Municipal Agriculture Office - raw concrete and glass combine in an elegant office space to create a welcoming workplace
Photo by Hiroyuki Oki © VTN Architects (Vo Trong Nghia Architects)
innovative approach to cultivation
With simple but thoughtful construction methods, such as a concrete frame and a steel structure supporting the pots, the design offers flexibility, allowing plants to be rearranged as they grow. Combined with the rooftop garden and landscaped areas around the building, this system can provide as much as 1.1 tons of annual harvest of local fruits and vegetables.
VTN Architects, whose motto is "Greening the City," in their design not only emphasizes the importance of integrating nature with architecture, but also demonstrates how sustainable, energy-efficient buildings can be created that improve the quality of life for urban residents and support local biodiversity.
Elaborated: Anastazja Dżupina
Illustrations provided courtesy of VTN Architects.
