Alejandro Felix | 39 Hai Ba Trung

39 Hai Ba Trung street

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

2020 - 2021

As project leader for David Chipperfield Architects

(Concept Design, Schematic Design, Design Development / Technical coordination)

Restored modernist façade in Ho Chi Minh City featuring a new metal pergola enhancing shade and public use.

This project presented the opportunity to protect and strengthen the value of historic buildings and the important role they play in the urban fabric of modern cities. It is an opportunity to revive the qualities of a modernist design from the early sixties that is an essential part of Ho Chi Minh City’s rich architectural heritage. The project also has the potential to become exemplary in the way an existing building can be transformed and upgraded to accommodate a new function through small changes that can have a significant impact in a sustainable way.

Current view of the modernist building at Hai Ba Trung intersection, in the urban core of Ho Chi Minh City.

Historical image of the building during the Vietnam War, showing U.S. Army tanks nearby.

White architectural model showing the building’s original volume and urban footprint.

Visualization of the restored façade with active ground-floor commercial space and usable terraces.

The façade and interiors will be repaired and refurbished but also upgraded to present day standards. The introduction of new elements is born of the re-interpretation of the existing design elements and materials. The outer layer of the façade will be repaired and reverted to its original design with a subtle differentiation of colours while the inner façade layer will be redesigned to introduce a rational system of larger windows suitable for the new office use.

The existing roof will be rebuilt as an open pergola that can provide shading for the terrace and façade of the 8th floor. This pergola will have a distinct presence on the building’s façade, indicating the public function of the upper floors. The structure and proportions of the pergola establish a strong dialogue with the building’s structure and façade composition, while its metallic materiality will express the modernity of the intervention.

Upper-level terrace with outdoor dining and urban views, designed as a communal and social gathering space.

View of the inner courtyard with central reflecting pool, green ceramic wall cladding, and visual access to the street.

Frontal view of the elevator lobby accessed from the main corridor, with spot lighting and minimalist decor.

Elevator lobby seen from the inner courtyard, featuring recessed ceiling lights and light-toned finishes.

Ground floor

First floor

Typical floor

Eighth floor

Ninth floor

View of the building’s inner courtyard with perimeter walkways, green tiled walls, and overhead natural light.

While the building was originally designed as a residential building, the main floors will be transformed into offices and the ground floor and the top floors will house bars and restaurants. The central lightwell will become the public heart of the building, providing the main access and circulation for the offices and the F&B spaces. The backdrop for this space will be clad in green ceramic tiles and the projecting elements such as balconies and the elevator volume will have a white plaster finish, creating a clear contrast and reflecting light down to the lower levels. The interior design aims to create a relationship with the building’s history through materiality and design elements, in order to achieve coherence and consistency throughout the entire project.

Multipurpose room with central meeting table, kitchen in the background, bookshelves and people working.

Public restroom with double sink, rectangular mirrors, urinals, and light beige ceramic wall tiles.

Modern office with shared desks, a lounge area with green armchairs, and open city views through large windows.

Selected projects