A Day in Saigon: Anh Coffee Roastery's Architectural Oasis
A coffee haven inspired by the Central Highlands of Vietnam
In the bustling city center of Saigon, Vietnam stands a 4,000 square foot oasis – it’s Anh Coffee Roastery, a coffee haven inspired by the red basalt lands of Vietnam’s Central Highlands.
Completed in 2021, Red5Studios’s Anh Coffee Roastery was designed to capture the essence of the coffee-growing lands, home to nearly 2 million hectares of fertile basalt more than 1,500 feet above sea level; the oxidation from the year-round humidity turns the stone red.
The exterior and interior of Anh Coffee Roastery is characterized by the bold combination of red terracotta bricks and gentle curves of the white mesh system. Contrasting the airy atmosphere are the brand's signature navy blue and natural wood elements, adding depth without being overly distracting.
What I love about this project is how the space immerses you in the environment of the highlands. The terracotta nods to the red basalt and the cloud-like iron grid system feel otherworldly juxtaposed against the dense urbanism of Saigon.
At the center of Anh is a large communal table running the length of the first floor – the table accommodates the building's original structure, a rigid glass building with expansive columns which posed a challenge in creating an open fluid space.
Upstairs, the team designed a pathway leading to a small outdoor garden and a plant-filled atrium connecting the spaces allowing light to filter through to the ground floor.
For a brand not yet defined by a particular style, I’m impressed with Red5Studio’s ability to imagine a magical-feeling destination, a “fluffy sanctuary” that captures so much of Anh’s ethos around what makes their coffee great.
You can learn more about Anh Coffee Roastery and Red5Studio’s other projects on their website. For more expertly curated architecture and design, follow Linear Magazine on Twitter and subscribe to the newsletter below.
—Ahn Coffee Roastery (2021)
—Saigon, Vietnam
—Designed by Red5Studio
—Photos by Do Sy for Red5Studio
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