Vietnamese architecture studio Red5studio has built a cafe that evokes a retro spirit by using different hues of red colors and lights in Vietnam.

Located in 110 Xuan Thuy District 02, Saigon, the project, named Okkio Caffe, presents a colorful and movie-like interiors with its cozy and warm atmosphere, the architects gave a strong identity to cafe with its bold red color. 

For design, Vuong Gia Ve is an influential and inspiring director for the Okkio Caffe, as the design team explained, the design story was inspired by the movie "2046" - Vuong Gia Ve's (known as Wong Kar-wai) famous film is about the return train from 2046.

Okkio Caffe is a chain of coffee shops that has two branches in the market. Considering the soul of this coffee shop, the studio tried to create a difference in design but still they want to keep the spirit of youth. 

"Our design team has chosen red for the building - the color will not only identify the brand but also bring out the retro-spirit that the construction is aimed at," said Red5studio.

Inspired by the movie of 2046, the architects reinterpreted the building’s façade as the train’s windows by using the iron bars to mark the building. Additionally, the ceiling inside is built up with the curved shape as the train’s one. 

Following the idea of “frame in frame”, the concept has been applied to get the natural light from these windows, the ceilings, etc. straight to the floor. 

"Our design team wants to emphasize the prominent points here, which are the counter and the ceilings’ system of the building," added the studio.

On the other hand, the interior effects were the key part of design to be able to give the same feeling like in the movie. For this reason, the architects, by considering the brand’s traditional materials, used suitable materials for the interiors such as old bricks and coppers, which bring a friendly and warm environment like usual. 

"We want to introduce other materials which are more modern like the paint gradient effect, and the poly ceiling style," the firm continued. 

"Besides the retro style like Vuong Gia Tue’s movie, we also use the red color from the grinding wheel surface… If Okkio is a train, the timeline will be the colors changing effects and."

The studio's design team focused on the Led HUE light system which is put at the bar corner. According to the architects, "the light color is going to change differently at different times of the day." 

"The light system is also an emphasis of Okkio Xuan Thuy. In the morning, it will be delighted as the natural light which is runs along the side of the ceiling’s hole," the firm added.

At night, the caffee takes another dress, in fact, customers or passersby can feel the movie-like building from afar. 

Okkio appears warm, romantic and private enough for the customers which the light will mainly focus on the bar corner instead. 

"If people have a chance to observe Okkio in the lively sunset, you will be definitely impressed by the peaceful red building with tons of light moving like a movie from the future that comes back to the past."

Loose Furniture Diagram

Plants diagram

Project facts

Project name: Okkio Caffe

Architects: Red5studio 

Location: Vietnam 

Size: 70m2 

Date: 2020 

All images © Đỗ Sỹ

All drawings © Red5studio 

> via Red5studio