Situated on the outskirts of Buon Ma Thuot city, in the Cư Ebur commune, a long-established community known for its strong social cohesion, is currently grappling with the challenges of rapid urbanization.
In Cư Ebur, many houses still preserve the characteristics of rural architecture, featuring solid main houses with expanded spaces that surround them, constructed using lightweight structures to accommodate daily activities, host guests, serve as barns, or house agricultural vehicles. This provided inspiration for the architectural proposal of Cà phê Xã, as the location of the construction site was once an old deer stable, vegetable garden, and communal outdoor living space for the entire family.
When entrusted with the design of a café in this location, our objective was to create an architectural structure capable of inheriting the essence of the site and maintaining harmony between modern architecture and the existing community lifestyle. In order to maximize cost-efficiency and align with local construction resources, the café’s architecture was modularized and focused on utilizing available materials to facilitate a smooth and efficient construction process.
Vũ Tiến An / Tad Atelier
The concept of an open design was also influenced by our observation that the majority of local residents preferred the ambiance of open-air coffee stalls, which seamlessly blend with the outdoors. The “enclosed” sections of the project were compactly arranged in suitable locations, primarily serving private purposes such as the counter and support facilities. The major portion of the central space was open to nature.
Our focus was on creating a “flexible” structure to maintain continuity and richness in the coffee experience. Considerations of ground elevation, dimensions, height, and landscaping were taken into account to ensure that the café space could accommodate various target groups at the same time, whether for workshops, reading, group meetings, or family gatherings. All these spaces were interconnected under a gently sloping and continuous roof.
Vũ Tiến An / Tad Atelier
With the entire space revolving around a large central courtyard, seating clusters were arranged at various heights, gradually descending towards the central “valley.” Our aim was to foster an atmosphere that felt warm, communal, friendly, and open, in keeping with the café’s name, “Xã” (meaning “community”).
The project aspired to create a sense of harmony while preserving the diversity and unique character of each individual space.
Photo
Tad Atelier
