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As one enters the The scalloped facade of Koi Cafe has been achieved by laying The little holes in the facade create a sense of intrigue, prompting one to wonder what
cafe, one spots the red Bat Trang tiles on its surface. It alludes to the koi fish pond lies inside. The same tiles have been used to create the wall of the pond, ensuring
fish pond on the right that lies indoors. continuity of the design.
surrounded by a stone
pathway and a cosy
cafe setting at the
front that has been
created using old
oak pallets.
Urban
ParadiseWith a thriving, self-sustaining ecosystem complete with an
aquaponic garden, the tranquil Koi Cafe in Hanoi, Vietnam,
designed by Farming Architects, is an oasis that offers its guests
welcomed respite from the cacophony of urban life.
Text: Alifiya Mehamdabadwala; Photographs: Nguyen Thai Thach,
courtesY Farming Architects
I
Natural light trickles n their small way, Vietnamese three-storey house with a front yard, he
through the Bat Trang architect An Viet Dung and his team at wanted the space to have a strong connect
tiles-covered facade Farming Architects have, through with nature. “The owner wanted Koi Cafe to
of Koi Cafe, quietly their work, set an example for all to not just be a place of business but also an
illuminating the stone follow. The team of young architects emotional space. He thinks that modern life is
pathway around the pond. identify themselves as farmers and slowly stealing one’s love for nature,” says
strive to create environmentally sustainable the architect. That was not all. The client also
living spaces, which one would agree are the put forth a rather unusual wish — he wanted
need of the hour. “We not only cultivate the architect to create a habitat for the koi
green ideas but also treat each project in fish as he greatly admired this colourful,
isolation and execute it with utmost care. pretty and low maintenance species. Another
This journey has helped us to deeply analyze challenge came in the form of the structure
and understand many things — nature, — as it was a rental space, the homeowners
geography, people, climate...” explains did not want any changes to be made to the
An Viet Dung. building and the layout. Any modifications
that were carried out needed to be easy to
Their most recent project, Koi Cafe at Hanoi dismantle once the rental period ran out.
in Vietnam, was executed based on the
principle of sustainable living with a design The architects therefore decided to
centred around an aquaponics system. For transform the space by adding design
the uninitiated, this method combines elements that were both environmentally
conventional aquaculture (raising aquatic friendly and efficient. An Viet Dung chose to The sister’s room exudes a light-
animals such as fish or prawns in tanks) with create a smashing impression right at the hearted, ebullient feel, with no
hydroponics (cultivating plants in water) in a outset, the result of which is the captivating trace of a ‘formal’ bedroom. The
architect symbiotic environment. facade. Made up of red Yin-Yang tiles — artwork of the enduring style
sourced from the pottery village of Bat Trang and glamour icon breathes into
An Viet Dung When the client approached the firm to — and supported by a steel frame, the the largely white space.
design the cafe, which was situated in an old facade is faintly reminiscent of fish scales
Materials
Tendrils of plants hang down into the aquarium. Produce grown here is
through the mesh roof structure on used in the dishes served at the cafe.
both floors, with natural daylight
filtering through the double-height Staying true to the architects’ eco-friendly
atrium. The waste produced by design ethos, all the surfaces — from the
the koi provides nutrients to the ceiling to the furniture — have been created
plants and vegetables grown here,
using discarded oak pallets that have been
which are then used in the dishes
spruced up and varnished. The result is a
prepared in-house.
stunning and environmentally-conscious
cafe where one is ensconced in tranquillity.
Not only did the team successfully conquer
the client’s brief but also bagged the third
prize under the Rehabilitation and
Reconstruction category at the Baku
International Architecture Awards 2017 for
the project. With such a unique and inspiring
approach to design, Farming Architects
have a promising future.
8 2 BETTER INTERIORS J a n u a ry 2 0 1 8