Architects: NU Architecture and Design
Area: 300 m²
Year: 2023
Photography: Hiroyuki Oki
Manufacturers: Nora Design Italiano
Lead Architects: Jonathan Ng Cheong Tin, Yumie Le
Structure Engineers: SaigonIC
Landscape & Lighting Designers: NU Architecture and Design
Design Team: Joshua Wilson, Le Nguyen Hai Duong
Interior Designers: Phan Sy Quang, Le Thi Thanh Truc
MEP and HVAC Consultants: KN C&T CO., LTD
City: Ho Chi Minh City
Country: Vietnam
Bosgaurus Coffee Roasters – The Opera House, designed by NU Architecture and Design in Ho Chi Minh City, reimagines the café typology through a spatial concept inspired by performance. Completed in 2023, the design preserves an Art Deco façade and draws influence from the neighboring Saigon Opera House, using architecture to express the craft of coffee making. A central bar and cantilevered fly bar shape the user experience, while frameless glazing, sustainable materials, and passive cooling strategies create a transparent, climate-responsive space rooted in local culture and global intent.
Bosgaurus Coffee Roasters – The Opera House is the flagship café of the Vietnamese specialty coffee brand, located on Nguyen Sieu Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Completed in 2023 by NU Architecture and Design, the 300 square meter project applies a minimalist design language while responding to local heritage and context. The original Art Deco façade of the site was carefully preserved and repainted in neutral tones, aligning with the color palette of the nearby Saigon Opera House. That cultural landmark became both visual and conceptual inspiration for the design, grounding the space in its urban setting while introducing the idea of performance as a spatial framework.
The architects developed the layout around the idea of the barista as a performer and the preparation of coffee as a staged act. According to the team, the goal was to “elevate the art of coffee making and baristas as performers showcasing their art.” This intention led to the creation of a central service bar paired with the brand’s signature fly bar. The fly bar appears to float in space, cantilevered from a single support embedded into a two-ton concrete base. Together, the two bar elements form a central stage, with different floor levels allowing guests to engage from various viewpoints, whether eye level or elevated, reinforcing the performative dynamic between user and space.
Transparency, a core value of the Bosgaurus brand, is fully integrated into the architecture. Frameless full-height glazing dissolves the barriers between interior, semi-outdoor, and outdoor zones, allowing uninterrupted visual flow throughout the space. Custom loose furniture in stainless steel was designed to appear light and thin, contrasting with the bar’s structural mass while maintaining a sense of spatial openness.
Material selection and environmental strategy were guided by sustainability. Flooring and bar surfaces were finished with water-based, ecological products from Nora Design Italiano. Passive cooling plays a central role, with open-air and semi-outdoor seating reducing reliance on air conditioning. A large skylight void located in the semi-outdoor area functions as a solar chimney, expelling hot air and introducing daylight into adjacent interior zones. This system minimizes the need for artificial lighting and reduces energy consumption throughout the day.
The lighting design reinforces the concept of performance. Directional spotlights highlight the sculptural quality of the fly bar, while diffused wall lighting softens the surrounding environment. A 4000K lighting temperature ensures a clean, cool tone during daylight hours, which gradually shifts into a warmer ambiance in the evening, supporting the transition from café to night bar.
Bosgaurus Coffee Roasters The Opera House goes beyond the function of a typical café. It operates as a public venue where architecture, community, and the craftsmanship of Vietnamese coffee converge. Through the precise articulation of spatial form, material honesty, and environmental awareness, the project positions coffee as both a ritual and a cultural expression, advancing the identity of Vietnamese coffee on a global stage.
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Project Location
Address: 12 Nguyen Sieu Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
