Located at the center of Hanoi, Vietnam, Cheering Restaurant by local practice H&P Architects pays tribute to surrounding street life. The life on sidewalk, where many daily activities of Hanoi people, especially cuisine happen from daytime to nighttime, inspired the designers to create a space that recalls ancient trees – a familiar image in streets of this thousand-year-old city.
On the three-dimensional network divided by 4, the “timbers” stacked perpendicularly to each other and gradually spreading upwards in order to create “tree roots” for separating spaces and make children playground. The “tree roots” continue growing alternately to make a stable frame which helps reducing heat and creating various shadows from the polycarbonate roof. In the middle of the roof is an air layer which is cooled and cleaned automatically by water spraying system linked to the rainwater collection tank.
The proposal does not divide structure and covering, ceiling and wall, but rather blurs the boundary between inside and outside, utilizing the view on the landscape. It creates special experiences for the users and brings people closer to nature by a space which contains the essence of Hanoi cuisine culture on sidewalk.
The restaurant is a solution to the dialogue between contemporary architecture and the context full of historical and cultural values, while still contributes to reshape the urban and architectural picture in Hanoi central area – where every square meter costs billions of đồng.
all images © NGUYEN TIEN THANH