The Lantern / VTN Architects

Architects: VTN Architects: Vo Trong Nghia Architects + Takashi Niwa
Area: 383 m²
Year: 2016
Photographs: Hiroyuki Oki, Trieu Chien
Contractor: Dai Dung JSC
Interior Contractor: T.S.I. Vietnam Co. Ltd.
Client: Fortune-Nano Electrical Company (Nanoco)
Architects: Vo Trong Nghia Architects + Takashi Niwa
Design Team: Nguyen Thi Thoa, Koji Yamamoto, Dao Sy Dung
City: Hanoi
Country: Vietnam

The Lantern, a gallery and lighting showroom designed by VTN Architects in Dong Da, Hanoi, features a perforated terracotta façade that brings a distinct presence to its surroundings. Located on a compact 72 sqm site, the building is designed to accommodate Vietnam’s tropical climate, using traditional terracotta blocks for natural ventilation and sun shading. The top-floor gallery overlooks a large tree and includes a roof garden accessible through skylights, creating an engaging space for architects and designers. Inside, a central void organizes the showroom around a staircase, allowing visitors to view products from multiple angles. The building’s façade responds to its setting, with shadows cast during the day and interior lighting transforming it into a glowing lantern at night.

Situated in Hanoi’s Dong Da district, the newly built gallery and lighting showroom features a perforated terracotta façade that makes a subtle yet impactful statement within the surrounding landscape.

The gallery occupies the top floor, overlooking a large neighboring tree, with slit skylights that reveal the roof garden. This area provides a space for architects and design professionals to connect.

As visitors enter the building, they are met with a large central void. The showroom is thoughtfully arranged around this space, allowing products to be viewed at a glance from the central staircase.

Traditionally used in Vietnam before air-conditioning, the terracotta blocks are ideal for tropical climates, providing passive ventilation and shading from intense sunlight. Functional and cost-effective at £0.42 each, the 5,625 blocks used totaled £2,350. Furthermore, a custom fixing system enabled quick and straightforward assembly.

The existing site presented unique design challenges, including its compact 72 sqm footprint, an adjacent tree, and a busy streetscape. The tree’s foliage partly obscures the building from the main road, making it less noticeable to pedestrians. However, this setting provided an opportunity to thoughtfully integrate the tree and surrounding context while maximizing usable space.

The building serves as a delicate backdrop to the ever-changing tree, with shadows cast across its clean façade during the day, bringing it to life. In the evening, interior lighting transforms the building into a glowing lantern within the city.