CHUK Heritage Café by 6717 Studio

A Celebration of Vietnamese Heritage in Modern Form

Located at the bustling intersection of Street 38 and Xuan Thuy in Thao Dien, Ho Chi Minh City, CHUK Heritage Café by 6717 Studio is a cultural and architectural landmark that bridges past and present. Designed as an integrated cultural and culinary destination, the project unites two iconic Vietnamese brands — CHUK TEA & COFFEE and BÁNH MÌ ƠI — within a single cohesive space.

More than just a café, CHUK Heritage redefines the café typology as a living cultural hub where architecture, nature, and community converge. It reflects the client’s vision of preserving Vietnamese identity while embracing contemporary design and sustainable urban living.

Architectural Vision: Tradition Meets Modernity

The renovation retains the existing structural framework, yet transforms it with sensitivity and boldness. The most defining gesture is the expansive curved roof, inspired by traditional Vietnamese architecture. This sweeping roof form gracefully extends outward at the street corner, inviting both visual attention and social interaction.

Acting as both shelter and symbol, the roof softens the building’s geometry, bridging indoor and outdoor spaces while echoing the familiar silhouettes of rural pagodas and ancestral houses. On the upper level, it transitions into a breezy veranda, offering guests shaded seating and panoramic views — a reinterpretation of the traditional Vietnamese veranda where people gather, rest, and observe daily life.

Cultural Expression Through Materiality

CHUK Heritage Café’s material palette celebrates local craftsmanship and natural textures. The use of wood, terrazzo, clay tiles, and exposed concrete fosters a sense of warmth, authenticity, and timelessness. These elements are balanced with contemporary materials such as glass and mirrors, which expand visual depth and reflect the vibrant surroundings of Thao Dien.

Every design decision — from low seating arrangements reminiscent of traditional tea houses to reflective water surfaces that create calm atmospheres — is intentional, enhancing both emotional connection and sensory experience.

Spatial Flow and Interior Experience

The café’s three-level spatial composition transitions smoothly from lively communal areas to tranquil private zones.

• Ground Floor: A vibrant, open café area connects directly with the street, dissolving boundaries between interior and exterior.
• Second Floor: The veranda extends the social experience upward, offering a shaded terrace where guests can sip tea amid urban greenery.
• Third Floor: Designed as a serene co-working and relaxation space, this level features vaulted ceilings and expansive glass openings, filling the interiors with natural light while maintaining a calm, contemplative atmosphere.

Sustainability and Urban Identity

In a rapidly urbanizing city like Ho Chi Minh, CHUK Heritage Café stands as an example of adaptive reuse and sustainable architecture. By preserving the original building frame and integrating passive cooling strategies, the project reduces environmental impact while enhancing thermal comfort. The open design and use of natural ventilation minimize the need for mechanical cooling — a modern interpretation of vernacular climatic design principles.

At its core, CHUK Heritage is an architectural narrative of continuity — respecting the rhythms of Vietnamese life while adapting to the evolving urban context.

A Space of Connection and Cultural Continuity

More than an aesthetic landmark, CHUK Heritage Café cultivates a multi-sensory journey — from the scent of tea and freshly baked banh mi to the tactile feel of raw materials and the sound of street life beyond its veranda. It becomes a microcosm of Vietnamese identity, where architecture, gastronomy, and community intertwine.

All the Photographs are works of Hiroyuki Oki