With this project, Vietnamese studio Ho Khue Architects wanted to revive childhood memories blending them into a modern lifestyle. In Asia, many workers were born and raised in the countryside often with no modern comforts and little money.

They are now city dwellers living in futuristic environments, but their childhood memories always accompany them. Although they already got used to living in high-tech buildings where air conditioning is ubiquitous, those villages made of bamboo, brick walls, and cement roofs are like a Proust’s madeleine to them.

Out of nostalgia for those landscapes from their childhood, those workers are seeking  “real” things to put emotions back to their place. Through this project called “The Modern Village Office”, Ho Khue Architects worked in this direction, creating a sustainable building that looks like the houses in the villages in the past.

Originally the lot contained some old houses surrounded by green and plants. Architects managed to keep this combination, creating a peaceful, natural and green workplace. Banana trees, yellow bushes, and native plants are located on the first floor of the office.  The rooftop is densely covered with plants to cool the lower floors housing the executive office, meeting room and a big open-sided dining area with a well-equipped kitchen.

Aiming at recreating a natural environment, the studio used some of the original bricks. The flooring is made of concrete tiles; the cement roofs look like scaffolding exactly as they were usually built in the countryside. Of course, it is a modern space, but at the same time, it seems to be kind of old. The plants create shadow, movement, and peace, while natural ventilation creates optimal working conditions.

Working in this office is like going to the seaside to take a breath of fresh air and accidentally bumping into childhood memories. Vietnamese younger generations perhaps did not have the chance to build their countryside memories like their elders, but this office definitely brings a touch of tradition in an urban workspace. That’s how to combine business with pleasure!