Cybercore Gaming HP / Maison CL.ou Architecture

Architects: Maison CL.ou Architecture
Lead Architect: Vu Manh Cuong
Design Team: Vu Manh Cuong
Area: 245 m²
Year: 2023
Photography: Hiep Le
Construction: Prefabricated Steel Frame and Concrete Block Brick
City: Hai Phong City
Country: Vietnam

Cybercore Gaming HP gaming center, designed by Maison CL.ou Architecture in Hai Phong City, has challenged material norms and environmental standards in e-sports architecture by integrating a raw concrete block brick façade with passive climate control systems and concealed wiring infrastructure. Completed in 2023, the project elevates gaming culture through spatial clarity, requiring user identification to ensure a healthier digital environment. The use of a double-layer brick wall, prefabricated steel frame, and light wells enhances thermal comfort, natural ventilation, and construction efficiency while drawing formal references to gaming interfaces through architectural detailing.

Cybercore gaming hp / maison cl. Ou architecture

Cybercore Gaming HP is a gaming center in Hai Phong designed by Maison CL.ou Architecture in collaboration with CyberCore, a gaming network based in Ho Chi Minh City. The project was conceived to provide a controlled and smoke-free environment for younger users, where identification is required to create accounts. This approach supports healthier user behavior and aims to improve the cultural perception of e-sports facilities.

CyberCore Gaming HP is anchored in aggregate concrete block entirely, chosen for its durability and local availability. The exterior is clad with these blocks, supported by a prefabricated steel frame that is not only structurally robust but also reusable.

This material aligned perfectly with the project’s core design strategy, allowing for modular, visually stimulating surfaces at a fraction of the cost of traditional masonry. Its visual character matures beautifully over time, lending the façade a richness that only improves with age.
Interview with Vũ Mạnh Cường of Maison CL.ou

The architectural response focused on establishing a strong identity through material and form. The team selected sustainable, locally available, monochromatic materials to reflect the aesthetic of gaming hardware. Concrete block brick became the core building material, chosen for its environmental benefits, affordability, and durability. The brick surface was intentionally left rough and untreated, allowing it to reflect light and shadow variations throughout the seasons. On the second floor, horizontal brick courses were arranged to subtly recall the form of a keyboard, referencing a familiar element in gaming culture.

Concrete block bricks offered key performance advantages. These blocks release no pollutants, generate minimal dust, and do not require coal or oil in the production process. The material improves in strength over time and provides better acoustic insulation compared to traditional fired bricks, reaching above 35 decibels versus 28 decibels typically achieved by conventional bricks.

To counter the material’s vulnerability to water absorption, the architects introduced a double-wall system. Two layers of 110 millimeter-thick brick are separated by an air gap that prevents moisture from reaching the interior structure. This void also accommodates electrical and data cabling, avoiding surface-mounted systems and maintaining the continuity of the exposed masonry surface. The cavity functions further as thermal insulation, limiting external heat transfer.

Natural ventilation and lighting are achieved through two vertical openings. One light well is positioned in an interior garden, while the other is placed at the stairwell leading to the upper floor. These voids support passive airflow and daylight penetration. The structural framework consists of prefabricated steel paired with the concrete block infill, allowing the construction process to remain lightweight, time-efficient, and environmentally conscious.

Despite its integration with the surrounding context, the building communicates a direct architectural intention. As the architects stated, “Rustic does not mean lacking in technical refinement.” This principle defines the project’s commitment to material authenticity, environmental performance, and spatial relevance within the evolving language of gaming architecture.