Ngoi Space: Turning a traditional Vietnamese roof on its side – literally!

On a bustling corner-site in a residential area outside Hanoi, Vietnam, H&P Architects craft an eye-catching and sustainable community hub with walls of traditional Vietnamese roof tiles.

Conceptualised around two primitive shelters, the Tree – multiple spatial layers intertwined like branches, and the Cave – an open communal space, this multi-purpose building commands attention with its characteristic facade.

A stunning curtain of roof tiles drapes the five-storey structural concrete-and-steel frame and primary glass facade to create an extraordinary space, incorporating existing trees with punctures in the floor slabs.

The porous second skin spotlights 20,000 Viglacera Dong Anh tiles stacked in a triangular pattern, generating a shaded void that contributes dramatically to the micro-climate.

The sustainable design sets an inspiring example by employing ‘memory-filled tiles’ grounded in the Vietnamese context, considered construction waste from extended or demolished houses.

Strikingly different from its context with a distinct earthen facade juxtaposed against glass shutters, the featured tiles gently part to mark an inviting entrance.

Unlike traditional building elevations with imposing orthogonal edges, the rounded facade gently curves away from the street sectionally, making the arresting design approachable.

Exposed structural concrete dominates the raw industrial aesthetic, replete with terracotta browns, textured concrete, and black fixtures. The ground floor reveals hints of upper levels through staggered floor plates.

Large open spaces forego internal walls entirely and afford volumetric play to maintain visual connections, allowing the expansive glass facade to bathe the spaces in filtered natural light.

A minimally furnished multi-functional hall advances the pared-back visual grammar and takes advantage of the plan’s curved geometry to offer sweeping views of the city.

Tiles orchestrate captivating shadows and punctures create visual breaks in the elevation.  The shaded void between two facades houses multiple staggered decks creating informal social spaces wrapped around the building.

A stunning example of tile-work architecture by H&P Architects, Ngói Space rediscovers core values of the past and translates them seamlessly into a sustainable beacon for the future.

Fact File:
Architect: H&P Architects
Team: Doan Thanh Ha, Tran Ngoc Phuong, Luong Thi Ngoc Lan, Tran Van Duong, Nguyen Hai Hue, Ho Manh Cuong, Nguyen Van Thinh, Trinh Thi Thanh Huyen
Main materials: Tile Viglacera Dong Anh (20.000 pieces), concrete, steel, glass
Land area: 197 sq. m.
Total floor area: 510 sq. m.
Location: Hanoi, Vietnam
Photography Credits: Le Minh Hoang