Vo Trong Nghia Architects used bamboo to create spiralling structures that flow from the ceiling to the floors and conceal concrete pillars at this rooftop cafe in the Vietnamese city of Vinh.
The Nocenco cafe occupies the top floor and rooftop of a seven-storey tower in the centre of Vinh. Its location commands an excellent view over the city's low-rise housing towards the river, forest and historical buildings.

The typical mid-rise building has colonial-style facades, which became a common feature in cities during the process of restoration that occurred following the Vietnam War.
Nghia's studio, which has offices in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, was tasked with transforming the spaces on the building's upper levels without disrupting the existing facades or structure.
"The challenge was to create an impact on the building by inserting a new structure with unique and local material," said the studio, which was shortlisted in the Rebirth project category of the 2018 Dezeen Awards for the project.
After evaluating the merits of various local construction materials, the firm settled on bamboo as the most appropriate solution to meet the project's budget and timeline.

Vo Trong Nghia Architects has used bamboo many times in its previous projects, including a community centre comprising a series of domed pavilions with bamboo structures and thatched roofs, as well as a beachside restaurant and bar featuring a trio of bamboo buildings.
Its founder has previously desc...