Green Office Renovation in Vietnam: Atelier tho.A Transforms a Shrimp Facility into a Verdant Workspace

A New Vision for Office Architecture in Ho Chi Minh City

In Ho Chi Minh City, Atelier tho.A has redefined the potential of adaptive reuse with their bold green office renovation in Vietnam. The project, occupying 500 m², is not merely a facelift of an old industrial building but a reinvention of what an office can be in a tropical urban context. What was once a shrimp farming facility, built in 2015, has now been transformed into a dynamic and nature-filled creative hub—one that blurs the boundaries between work, nature, and community.

This design doesn’t demolish the past; it builds upon it. Retaining the steel frame and corrugated roofing system of the original structure, the architects grafted a new spatial order inside the industrial skeleton. By doing so, the project preserved material and structural integrity while minimizing environmental waste, making sustainability not only a strategy but a core design philosophy.

A Hidden Oasis: Architecture in Dialogue with Nature

The office unfolds as a spatial dialogue between architecture and landscape. Trees grow from within the structure, nurtured by expanded skylights and roof openings that invite sunlight and rain. Greenery envelops the building, forming tranquil outdoor rooms that support not just professional tasks but informal moments of gathering, play, and rest.

These in-between spaces—used for dining, parking, sports, and events—break down conventional zoning and encourage flexible, community-based usage. As a result, the office becomes a garden, a social hub, and a creative incubator all at once. The blend of old structure and new life creates an architectural oasis rarely seen in dense urban environments.

Climate-Responsive Design Through Passive Cooling

One of the standout features of this renovation is the passive climate strategy. Atelier tho.A introduced a gap between the two roof systems—old and new—allowing natural ventilation to flow across the interior spaces. This air buffer reduces internal temperatures significantly during the hottest hours of the day, eliminating the need for excessive mechanical cooling.

Sunlight enters through strategically placed perforations in the corrugated roof. The upper metal sheeting diffuses harsh tropical light into soft, glowing ambiance throughout the day. These sectional and plan-based interventions reflect a deep understanding of Vietnam’s humid climate and a commitment to architectural sustainability.

Material Honesty and Local Craftsmanship

Though the material palette is composed mostly of low-cost, readily available resources, the outcome feels refined and unexpected. Terrazzo-style polished broken bricks form the flooring—a reinterpretation of discarded materials into something elegant. Louvered plaster walls are crafted by hand, casting shadows and reflections as the sun moves. These interventions show how attention to craftsmanship can elevate even the humblest material.

Every design element—custom cabinetry, furniture, door handles—has been carefully designed and crafted, not only to fit the spatial conditions but to reflect the atelier’s ethos: architecture as a lived and poetic experience. This careful attention extends from structural strategy to the smallest tactile details.

An Office Reimagined as a Living System

The result is a working environment that prioritizes well-being, sensory richness, and creative openness. The project exemplifies how a green office renovation in Vietnam can address both environmental and psychological needs. It is not just an office; it’s a spatial system that breathes with the rhythms of climate, light, and human activity.

Atelier tho.A has redefined what it means to create architecture in dialogue with context—both in terms of structure and spirit. This is a renovation not of utility alone, but of experience, giving rise to a new kind of working environment that is immersive, inspiring, and regenerative.

All the photographs are works of Quang Dam & Tiến