Jonathan Ng Cheong Tin is the Mauritius-born co‑founder and lead architect of NU architecture & design, a cross‑cultural studio operating between Vietnam, Australia, Mauritius, and the US. The firm’s name—“NU”—means “us” in Mauritian Creole and embodies its mission to reveal each client’s unique identity through architecture.
Jonathan earned recognition when Bosgaurus Coffee Roasters, a flagship project in Ho Chi Minh City, was shortlisted for the ArchDaily Building of the Year 2024 and received a VMARK Vietnam Award for Best F&B Design in 2023. Completed in 2023 and inspired by the nearby Saigon Opera House, the project balances minimalism and drama, preserving the site’s Art Deco façade and elevating the coffee-making process into a performative “stage.”
Having worked across Mauritius, Australia, and Vietnam, Jonathan has developed a cross-continental design language shaped by diverse climates, materials, and client cultures. His architectural sensibility merges aesthetic range with environmental awareness, and he is widely regarded for his ability to engage stakeholders in complex, collaborative processes.
NU architecture & design’s portfolio—spanning hospitality, residential, and commercial typologies—reflects this ethos, grounding contemporary design in context, craft, and storytelling. Jonathan’s global practice underscores a belief that architecture should serve clients and express who they are through spaces that resonate materially, culturally, and emotionally.
What inspires you?
Our clients.
What inspired you to become an architect?
My uncle, who is an architect, gave me the opportunity for my first internship at a young age, and it was during this formative experience that I developed a deep passion for the profession.
How would you describe your design philosophy?
Our design philosophy is deeply rooted in the essence of our studio’s name, NU, meaning “us” in Mauritian Creole—a tribute to my heritage. This represents our belief that design is a collaborative journey: when clients partner with us, they inherently become part of the creative process, driving and shaping the project’s vision together.
What is your favorite project?
My current favourite project from NU is the TDX Ice Factory, a 4,000 m² adaptive reuse project in an old industrial compound in Ho Chi Minh City.
What is your favorite architectural detail?
This roof detail from the outdoor event space at the TDX Ice Factory is one of my favorites, not only for its visual and structural composition but for the layered stories it holds.
- Recycled timber beams form the primary structure, salvaged from our client’s original factory built 15 years ago—carrying forward their legacy into this new chapter.
- A steel frame provides the structural backbone, seamlessly tying the new roof into the existing fabric of the historic site.
- A bamboo drape ceiling completes the composition, expressing the client’s brand identity through a contemporary reinterpretation of Vietnamese craft.
Each material was chosen not just for performance, but for meaning, creating a detail that bridges past, present, and future in one poetic gesture.
Do you have a favorite material?
I wouldn’t say I have a favorite material—what matters most is how the material serves the narrative of the project, for example, in the BOS. Nexus project, we created a custom material using our client’s coffee waste to craft their furniture. It was a meaningful way to embody our ethos, ‘we are the design,’ by allowing the client’s identity to shape the outcome.
What is your process for starting a new project?
Our process always begins with listening—truly understanding our clients, their needs, and their story. This allows us to create designs that are not only unique but deeply personal and meaningful to them.
How do you fuel your creativity?
Travel plays a big role in fueling my creativity. With projects across Australia, Vietnam, Mauritius, Dubai, and the US, I’m constantly exposed to different cultures, materials, and design approaches. I make a point to observe, learn, and integrate these diverse influences into our work.
What inspired Bosgaurus?
Bosgaurus BOS.Nexus was imagined as a satellite—modular, mobile, and ready to exist anywhere in the world. This ambition led us to design 99% of the components as prefabricated elements, allowing for efficient deployment and adaptability. To reflect this fluid identity, we used highly reflective materials that mirror their surroundings, enabling the structure to belong wherever it lands. Even the lighting and signage were treated as floating elements—deliberately weightless, like satellites in orbit.
How did materiality shape Bosgaurus?
In BOS.Nexus, materiality isn’t just aesthetic—it’s conceptual. Inspired by the idea of a satellite, we selected lightweight, mobile components that allow the café to move freely while maintaining structural clarity. Reflective finishes blur the line between object and environment, embodying our belief that design should adapt, respond, and belong—wherever it lands.
How did the public embrace L’Usine Lê Lợi?
L’Usine Lê Lợi has been warmly embraced by our client’s community, marking a major milestone as their 15‑year anniversary flagship. The design reflects their rebranding vision of ‘Modern Saigon’—a curated blend of historical Vietnamese elements reimagined for today’s urban culture. It feels like a suitcase of memories, unpacked and reshaped into something contemporary, layered, and distinctly local.
What advice would you give to young architects?
Be more curious about the world. Be agile and resilient. Go outside your comfort zone, and keep pushing design.
Bravo bravo architect Jonathan Ng C Tin for your inspired multifacetted conceptual approach to architecture . Keep the traveling going . Keep catching the winds in your sails .