Hanoi studio Le House has designed An Garden Cafe in the Vietnamese capital as a relaxing space featuring greenery, trees and a pond. It is in the newly redeveloped Van Quan urban area, part of Hanoi’s densely populated Ha Dong district. The building features a structural framework and angular concrete shell that encloses a large glazed facade facing the street. The windows are interspersed with steel frames that resemble spreading tree branches. These shapes provide the first hint of the
e cafe’s natural theme, which is intended to soften the otherwise robust and industrial aesthetic of the architecture, reports Dezeen.
“While a steel frame may sound dry and heavy, An Garden’s hanging plant pots conjure up a vision of a dreamlike hanging garden,” says Le House.
A low concrete wall separates the building from the pavement, and planters built into the walls create a welcoming entrance. Inside the cafe, a pared-back palette of concrete, wood, black metal and patterned tiles creates a neutral backdrop for a variety of green plants.
There are several levels, with the ground floor providing the greatest amount of space for open seating. Tables and chairs are arranged around a pond filled with aquatic plants, which is next to a staircase. A tree reaches up from a planter toward the upper levels.
A pair of mezzanine floors provide extra seating overlooking the pond, while the top floor offers a view of the sky through a feature window and glazed roof partly covered by timber louvres to protect the interior from direct sunlight.
This level features a covered terrace lined with bamboo-filled planters.
See more photos and read more on Dezeen.
