We are thrilled to share our recent publication in ArchitectureLab, where we show case one of our most exciting sustainable projects —The Cocoa Project Café. Designed by Kanopea Architecture Studio & T3 Architects in Saigon, this project showcases our commitment to recycling, bioclimatic architecture and heritage preservation.

The Cocoa Project Café is a transformation of a 1950s modernist villa into a vibrant, open space that promotes sustainably sourced cacao trace chocolate. Our goal with this project was to reconnect Vietnamese people with their cocoa heritage, specifically from the Mekong Delta, while repurposing a historical structure in an environmentally conscious way.

When we first began, the villa was hidden behind industrial materials that masked its original beauty. By removing these elements and opening up sections of the roof and slabs, we introduced natural light and created a tropical garden inspired by southern Vietnam’s plantations. This bioclimatic approach allowed us to bring nature into the space, enhancing both aesthetics and sustainability.

We also prioritized preserving original architectural features like the terrazzo staircases and vertical louvers, which play a crucial role in insulating the café from street noise. Our design retained the modernist tropical villa’s core structure, minimizing the need for new materials and focusing on locally sourced items, such as local cement tiles, solid wood, and lime paint. Additionally, we used recycled materials like tetra packs to create custom fixtures, reflecting our frugal and creative approach to heritage-driven restoration.

To learn more about our true sustainable design philosophy and how we transformed this historical space, check out the full article on ArchitectureLab.

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