CoCo Cha Taiwan Tea & Coffee by PT Arch Studio: A Classic Castle-Inspired Café in Modern Vietnam

Located in Phan Rang, Tháp Chàm, Vietnam, CoCo Cha Taiwan Tea & Coffee is a distinctive café designed by PT Arch Studio. Completed in 2023, the 320-square-meter coffee shop reimagines a narrow urban site by blending classical architectural inspiration with contemporary materials and spatial strategies.

The project introduces a striking concept: a classic castle-inspired atmosphere placed within a modern Vietnamese cityscape. This deliberate contrast forms the heart of the design narrative. Through careful spatial planning, controlled natural lighting, and thoughtful material selection, the architects transformed a challenging site into a comfortable and memorable social environment.

Design Concept: Classical Inspiration in a Contemporary City

The main architectural idea behind CoCo Cha Taiwan Tea & Coffee was to create a timeless spatial experience that contrasts historic elegance with modern urban design. The architects envisioned a café that visually resembles a miniature castle, yet functions efficiently as a modern hospitality venue.

This concept reflects a design philosophy where two architectural languages coexist:

• Classic architectural elements such as moldings and ornamental detailing
• Modern materials and finishes like aluminum panels and terrazzo tiles

The juxtaposition of these elements produces a dramatic visual identity. Visitors encounter a space that feels both nostalgic and contemporary, creating a unique atmosphere that distinguishes the café from typical commercial interiors.

Addressing the Challenge of a Narrow Urban Site

The site presented a significant spatial challenge. The plot is extremely narrow in width but unusually deep in length, a common condition in dense Vietnamese urban developments. Without careful design intervention, such spaces often feel cramped and disconnected.

To overcome this limitation, PT Arch Studio organized the building into four sequential functional zones along its length.

Functional Spatial Organization

The layout divides the building into four primary sections:

1. Counter Area – The first space visitors encounter, designed for ordering and service.
2. Staircase Zone – Positioned strategically to provide convenient access to upper levels.
3. Main Coffee Seating Area – The heart of the café where guests relax and socialize.
4. Storage and Restroom Area – Located at the rear for operational efficiency.

These zones are carefully connected through visual and spatial continuity, ensuring that movement through the café feels natural rather than elongated or tiring.

Atriums, Skylights, and Natural Light

Natural light plays a central role in the architectural strategy. Because of the deep floor plan, the architects introduced skylights and atrium spaces to bring daylight into the center of the building.

These vertical openings perform multiple functions:

• Deliver natural light to interior spaces
• Improve air circulation and ventilation
• Create visual breaks that reduce the perception of depth

The result is an interior that feels open, breathable, and visually dynamic, even within a compact footprint.

Interior Design: Comfort Through Greenery and Spatial Balance

Inside the café, the design prioritizes comfort and relaxation. The seating areas are arranged carefully to maintain circulation while offering cozy gathering spaces.

Several strategies enhance the user experience:

• Indoor greenery introduces freshness and natural textures.
• Fixed furniture layouts simplify operations and maintain spatial consistency.
• Atrium views visually connect multiple floors.

This approach ensures that visitors never feel confined despite the building’s narrow proportions.

The interior ambiance balances warm hospitality design with architectural clarity, creating a space equally suited for casual meetings, tea culture, and social gatherings.

Material Selection: Affordable Yet Aesthetic

Budget considerations played a crucial role in shaping the project. Instead of relying on expensive finishes, the architects selected materials that are durable, easy to maintain, and visually impactful.

Key materials include:

• Terrazzo tiles for their durability and dynamic patterns
• Aluminum panels to add modern textures and contrast
• Glass tiles to enhance light diffusion and façade performance

This combination creates a layered material palette that reflects both classic detailing and contemporary architecture.

Climate-Responsive Facade Design

The café is located in a region known for strong sunlight and persistent winds throughout the year. This climatic condition required a carefully designed façade system.

The façade performs several critical environmental functions:

• Blocks intense sunlight to prevent overheating
• Allows filtered daylight into the interior
• Maintains natural ventilation across the building

Glass tiles were selected as a primary façade material because they provide light diffusion while maintaining privacy and protection. The façade therefore becomes both a climatic solution and a strong architectural statement.

Architectural Identity Through Contrast

One of the most compelling aspects of the project is the intentional contrast between classical and modern design languages. Rather than blending these styles subtly, the architects emphasize the tension between them.

Classic decorative elements are paired with:

• Sleek metal finishes
• Minimalist structural forms
• Contemporary lighting design

This approach produces a visually layered environment where historical references and modern architecture coexist harmoniously.

A Contemporary Café with Timeless Character

CoCo Cha Taiwan Tea & Coffee demonstrates how creative architectural thinking can transform spatial constraints into design opportunities. Through strategic zoning, daylight integration, and climate-responsive materials, the project delivers a memorable hospitality environment.

More than just a café, the building acts as a small urban landmark, attracting visitors with its distinctive castle-inspired aesthetic while offering a comfortable interior atmosphere.

The project highlights how adaptive reuse strategies, careful material choices, and spatial efficiency can create a powerful architectural identity even on limited budgets and narrow sites.

All photographs are works of  Nguyen Duy Hoach