#Industry News
vo trong nghia stacks terracotta brick façade for panasonic showroom
vietnamese firm vo trong nghia architects + takashi niwa has shared its design of a gallery and showroom for nanoco a vietnamese authorized distributor of japanese electronics company panasonic.
the vertical site, located in hanoi’s dong da district, features a seamless envelope constructed entirely from terracotta bricks displaying a floral pattern.
the gallery space is placed on the top floor overlooking the streetscape. currently, architectural models of vo trong nghia architects’ projects are being displayed, but this space can be reconfigured to offer designers and architects an opportunity to present their own work. meanwhile, the other programs are organized around a central void and staircase. this encourages visitors to have a constant visual connection with the product being exhibited — from the circulation route via the glass walls on each level.
in addition to the decorative element of terracotta bricks, the material is common in vietnamese architecture as it allows air to flow naturally. the blocks are designed for tropical climates to promote passive ventilation and shade from harsh sunlight, while, at night, the building acts as a lantern with internal illumination transmitted through the perforations.
‘the existing site proposed interesting design challenges, such as the typically small inner-city site at 72 sqm, adjacent tree and busy streetscape. the foliage overshadows the site, making it difficult for pedestrians to recognise the building from the main road. however, this scenario presented a unique opportunity to consider the existing tree and distracting context whilst maximizing the usable space.’ – vo trong nghia architects
