TDX Ice Factory / NU Architecture

Architect: NU Architecture & Design
Area: 4,000 m²
Year: 2024
Photography: Do Sy, District Eight, Elle Decoration Vietnam
Lead Architect: Jonathan Ng Cheong Tin
Design Team: Nguyen Trung Thong, Le Thi Thanh Truc
Client: District Eight
City: Ho Chi Minh City
Country: Vietnam

TDX Ice Factory, designed by NU Architecture & Design in Ho Chi Minh City, transforms a 4,000 m² former ice factory into a showroom, office, and event compound for District Eight. Completed in 2024, the project employs adaptive reuse, retaining the original concrete structure while integrating reclaimed timber salvaged from District Eight’s previous factory and locally sourced materials such as bamboo, burlap, and natural stone. A dark charcoal façade ties the compound together, while a courtyard-inspired event space encourages natural ventilation and openness. The design reduces environmental impact through material reuse and structural preservation, reflecting District Eight’s values of craftsmanship, cultural heritage, and precision.

The 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. Each material was chosen not just for performance, but for meaning, creating a detail that bridges past, present, and future in one poetic gesture.
Interview with Jonathan Ng Cheong Tin of NU architecture & design

TDX Ice Factory introduces a layered spatial journey that begins in a narrow hẻm, characteristic of Ho Chi Minh City’s urban fabric, and opens into a unified compound for collaboration, cultural programming, and creative engagement. NU Architecture & Design focused on crafting a sequence of interconnected spaces, using a darkened exterior finish to visually link the buildings while maintaining their industrial memory. The plan takes inspiration from traditional Vietnamese courtyards, creating a balance between enclosed and open areas and encouraging interaction between interior functions and the exterior event space. This outdoor area serves as a flexible venue for gatherings, reflecting the project’s adaptability and cultural intent.

Inside, the intervention emphasizes material authenticity and structural honesty. Timber salvaged from District Eight’s former factory, stored for over 15 years, was repurposed into beams, wall panels, and lighting elements. These reclaimed components are complemented by bamboo, burlap, and natural stone, materials chosen for their tactile qualities, cultural resonance, and durability. Together, they ground the project in its Vietnamese context while reinforcing District Eight’s brand identity built on craft and precision.

The design approach prioritizes sustainability by extending the life of the existing structure and minimizing new construction. Every material and architectural gesture serves a functional purpose, avoiding superfluous decoration. This approach mirrors the quiet discipline of District Eight’s furniture design, where care, clarity, and endurance guide the creative process.

In a city defined by rapid transformation and polished new developments, TDX Ice Factory offers an alternative narrative. It repositions an industrial relic as a space for work, cultural exchange, and craftsmanship, showing how architecture can bridge the past and present. Through the integration of reclaimed materials, preserved structure, and contemporary spatial strategies, the project creates a meaningful and enduring urban destination rooted in heritage and purpose.