Dragonfly Retreat & Cafe: A Tranquil Sanctuary of Recycled Materials Architecture in Coastal Vietnam

Reclaiming a Forgotten Structure Through Recycled Architecture

In the heart of coastal Vietnam, the Dragonfly Retreat & Cafe emerges from the bones of an abandoned mushroom-growing warehouse. This revitalized structure, designed by Ngô Lê Nguyễn of Country House. Architecture, exemplifies the poetic potential of recycled materials architecture. The 1,000-square-meter site faces a serene hillside and an expansive sea, creating a sublime natural frame for a retreat rooted in memory, sustainability, and rural nostalgia.

The initial desolation of the warehouse—rusted steel, weathered corrugated iron, and worn wooden elements—became the foundation for an architectural rebirth. Rather than stripping away the past, the design embraced it. Recycled materials were not used out of necessity, but as a deliberate statement of continuity and respect for both place and time.

Crafting Character Through Reuse and Narrative

A core philosophy behind the project was to retain as much of the original material as possible. The structure’s facade was reimagined using a mix of unfired bricks, reclaimed steel, and fibro panels, achieving a rhythm that was both tactile and expressive. Reused wooden pallets and rusted corrugated iron roofs from the former warehouse were given new meaning, not masked but celebrated.

One of the retreat’s most poetic features lies in the use of old silkworm cocoons, purchased from local farmers, now transformed into delicate sunshades that soften the southern exposure. Every element—from humble bricks to weathered steel—carries a sense of history and narrative, reinforcing the structure’s identity as a vessel for memory and ecological consciousness.

A Childhood Memory Etched in Design

The name Dragonfly Retreat is not metaphorical—it is autobiographical. The architect drew deeply from his own memories of chasing dragonflies through the fields during his rural Vietnamese childhood. This imagery of freedom, sunlight, and innocence shaped the atmosphere of the space. The retreat feels like a love letter to the simplicity and wonder of a bygone era.

Wide openings toward the sea and hill allow light and breeze to flow through, while carefully shaded porches and timber interiors foster a warm, organic atmosphere. Natural ventilation and passive design strategies suit the semi-desert climate of the region, where sun dominates and rainfall is scarce.

Cultural Echoes and Landscape Integration

Once part of the ancient Champa kingdom, the region is known for its terracotta towers and red earth—a legacy subtly echoed in the palette of materials chosen for the retreat. The use of baked earth bricks, red-toned textures, and organic forms create a tactile connection to both the site’s natural environment and its historical narrative.

Interior spaces are simple yet soulful, defined by natural wood, handcrafted furniture, and filtered light. Bedrooms are designed for rest and reflection, and shared spaces like the café blur the boundary between indoors and out. The architecture does not shout—it whispers, inviting guests to slow down and listen.

A Place of Return—To Land, Memory, and Stillness

Above all, Dragonfly Retreat & Cafe is a place of return: to childhood, to land, and to a simpler, quieter existence. By weaving together personal memory, local culture, and recycled materials architecture, this project offers more than shelter—it offers restoration.

Each morning begins with the sight of a quiet fishing village nestled by the sea and ends with the golden silence of a semi-desert dusk. It is here, amid reclaimed wood and sun-dappled porches, that peace becomes architecture.

All Photographs are works of  Quang Dam