Red5studio in collaboration with Ben Decor have completed a cafe that is wrapped by curved steel stripes to look like a bird's nest in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. 

Named September Cafe, the 260-square-metre cafe is located between two historic buildings on a narrow site. 

Designed for a cafe brand September, the company commissioned Red5studio to design their second coffee shop in Vietnam.

For this coffee shop, the studio created a story of "The Wind and the Nest" to continue the story "Autumn and Fall Leaves" from the previous store.

Considering the current status of two adjacent houses, off-floor dams connected, the architects intended to create a nest with many nooks and crannies throughout the two houses. 

"With the advantage of width and height, the façade repeats the bird's nest's image with a different perspective and uses many surrounding steel systems," said Red5studio.

While a series of curved stripes become part of the structure, the architects hanged these circles from the façade and they will move as the wind blows like a symbolic image of birds on a branch. 

"To create the familiar and characteristic feeling of September, we use gentle neutral tones such as white, beige, rose-orange, natural wood colors," added the studio.

Inside, the studio also added a plenty of green infills that can create a sharp contrast with neutral tones of the interior color palette, with fixtures and furnitures. Bringing the nature inside is already characteristic of Vietnamese architecture. 

In addition, several small holes act like a windows that provides vistas to other rooms, while creating a visual complementary element.

"Besides, the circular image and the curve reminded through the glass holes of the entrance, stairs, on the wall or even just the tiny details on the furniture, the wind's image is led by curves in space, through the ceiling, walls, and floor, creating a light feeling like a breeze spreading into each corner," continued the firm.

As the studio highlights, on the ground floor they aimed to create the spirit of bringing the garden into the house. It creates an "indoor but outdoor" feeling suitable for guests to sit fast or sit around the bar looking at mixing. The second and third floors are arranged for those who want to sit longer or go in groups.

The rooftop of the cafe has also an aerial garden, the lamp section is like a branch supporting the nest, and this is also the highlight of the space for those who love to check in and is the smoking area. 

For all furnitures and spaces, the studio is inspired by bird's nests, curves, branches, birds on branches or simply a tiny dot circle, all creating a bird's nest in the heart of the city.

Red5studio previously completed a cafe evoking a retro spirit in Vietnam, as well as Libe Flagship Store featuring colorful and vivid interiors in Vietnam.

Project facts

Project name: September Cafe

Architects: Ben Decor, Red5studio

Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. 

Year: 2020

Area: 260m2

All images © Phú Đào

All drawings © Red5studio

> via Red5studio