Green architecture with the spirit of "community"
Amidst the wave of urbanization that is creeping into every corner of Cu Ebur commune - where the residents of Dao hamlet still preserve the traditional community life - a coffee shop has been formed with the goal of going beyond the role of a pure business. "Coffee Commune" is not only a place to sell coffee, but also a practical answer to the question: How can architecture serve the community, instead of destroying what the community has?
The project aims at an open space - where people connect with each other through everyday interactions: chatting, working, relaxing, and immersing themselves in nature. It is a place where memories, culture and landscape are harmonized in a carefully calculated spatial organization but still maintains familiarity and closeness.
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| Xa Coffee (Coffee Commune) was designed not just for business, but to celebrate the local identity through architecture. |
Design solutions from indigenous life
The light, porous structure is a solution inherited from the traditional living model in Cu Ebur: the main house is solidly connected to the auxiliary spaces serving the needs of living and production. This approach allows the building to "breathe", easily adapt to climate conditions and preserve the spirit of indigenous architecture.
Local materials such as wood, soil, bamboo are prioritized to reduce costs, reduce emissions and create a close connection between architecture and the local land.
Architecture - landscape - microclimate is a triangle that is calculated synchronously. The building is designed to regulate the natural climate: high, airy roof, many open spaces interspersed with trees, optimal use of wind direction and natural light. Thanks to that, the space becomes cool, energy-saving but still friendly and pleasant.
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| Xa Coffee is a place to meet and exchange, thereby enhancing cohesion and social interaction among community members. |
A coffee space for the community
Xa Coffee develops according to an open model, where the boundary between inside and outside is almost erased – in line with the habits of local people who are used to gathering in “sidewalk coffee shops”, semi-open, semi-closed. Yards, porches, quiet sitting corners or lively conversation areas are all intentionally arranged, creating a sense of familiarity for anyone who stops by.
A representative of Xa Coffee shares: “We don’t just want to open a coffee shop, but want to create a common space – where anyone can come, sit, chat and connect. Green architecture and local materials help us save costs, but more importantly, it makes the shop closer to the people here. Everything is designed to serve the community, not disrupting their inherent rhythm of life.”
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| Xa Coffee represents a gathering place, the spaces are connected and used in a variety of ways. |
Xa Coffee is a testament to how architecture can be a catalyst for sustainable development. When a commercial building can enrich the spiritual life of residents, preserve cultural values and expand the concept of public space, it is also when architecture reaches a deeper social role.
Winning the Gold Prize of the National Architecture Award 2024-2025 is a worthy recognition for a simple yet profound work - where people, space and community memories coexist and support each other.
Bích Bông
