Vietnamese architecture firm Farming Studio has transformed a three-storey house into the new Koi Café in Hanoi, Vietnam. The design concept centers around urban agriculture through the use of an aquaponics system and koi fish aquarium.
A steel frame has been added to the existing building in the Vietnamese capital, transforming it into a green oasis for café customers with an integrated aquaponics farm.
Koi Café makes an initial impression by using the Batrang double traditional tile for the facade of the building. The roof is like a layer of film that covers the entire facade, creating an impression and attracting attention by the difference with the surrounding buildings.
The center also is the position that creates the highlight of the space inside the building, that is the waterfall system and the water flowing from the second floor down. The Asia legend “Carp Leaping Over Dragon’s Gate” is cleverly explained in the language of architecture. Besides the architectural aesthetic design, waterfall also has the effect of creating oxygen for more healthy fish.
Following the direction “urban agriculture” of Farming Architects, once again, the Aquaponics system is applied to cover the entire roof with green leaves. Koi fish waste is pumped into the plantation tanks containing baked clay soils to convert them into nutrients for the trees. Thanks to the osmosis through the roots, water is purified to return to the aquarium.
This is a closed cycle and completely organic by not using any chemical stimulant for the plant. With the application of Aquaponics to Koi Lake, the shop’s staffs can also harvest some green vegetables for their lunch from the system. The Aquaponics urban agricultural model combining with Japanese Koi fish is fully replicable to meet the Koi fish farming interest of citizens as well as can add little green vegetables for daily meals.
all images © Nguyen Thai Thach