PROJECT INFORMATION
Project Name: Cyber Core Gaming HP
Location: 29 Doan Chuan Street, Dong Hai Ward, Hai An District, Hai Phong City
Design Firm: Maison CL.ou Architecture
Lead Architect: Vu Manh Cuong
Design Team: Vu Manh Cuong
Area: 245m²
Completion Year: 2023
Photography: Hiep Le, Vu Manh Cuong
Cyber Core Gaming HP is a gaming center designed for the youth in the heart of Hai Phong. This project was a collaboration between Maison CL.ou Architecture and CyberCore, a chain of gaming centers based in Ho Chi Minh City. The goal was to create a smoke-free gaming space where users must present valid identification to create an account, promoting a healthier environment and elevating the public perception of e-sports.
CBCGHP (Cyber Core Gaming HP) is a gaming center that Maison CL.ou had the opportunity to design and build. The challenge was to create a distinctive facade using sustainable, locally available, monochromatic materials that evoke associations with gaming equipment. Could brick be the chosen material?
The design draws inspiration from the application of brick to the building’s fade. The surface is intentionally left unpolished, rough, and raw, yet this does not detract from the level of detail. By leveraging the form and size of the bricks, we were able to create varying patterns and depths, resulting in a visually and tactilely textured façade—particularly with the interplay of light across different seasons. Additionally, the arrangement of brick strips along the second floor recalls the image of a “keyboard,” a familiar element for gamers.
The material used in CBCGHP is concrete block brick, an eco-friendly option that emits no pollutants, produces minimal dust, and does not require the use of coal or fuel oil. Furthermore, its durability increases over time, and it is more cost-effective and environmentally sustainable than traditional fired clay bricks. This type of brick also provides better sound insulation than conventional bricks (concrete block >35dB, traditional brick 28dB).
Of course, the material has its drawbacks, notably its susceptibility to water absorption. So how can we use this material without causing water infiltration issues? The solution lies in a double-wall system. The outer shell consists of two 110mm brick walls separated by a gap, allowing rainwater to seep only into the outermost layer, while the inner wall remains unaffected. This gap also serves as a conduit for electrical and network cables, eliminating the need for surface-mounted wiring or cutting into the walls, preserving the raw aesthetic of the brickwork. Additionally, this system helps reduce heat absorption from outside.
The project incorporates two light wells, one in the interior garden and another in the stairwell leading to the second floor, ensuring ample natural ventilation and lighting throughout the building.
The structure of the house is a combination of prefabricated steel framing and concrete block bricks, making the building lightweight, speeding up construction, and allowing for easy reuse and eco-friendliness. Lighting and ventilation are also key elements, ensuring comfort within space.
Although the bricks and other elements blend seamlessly into the project’s context, this design still delivers a fresh and bold statement: “Rustic does not mean lacking in technical refinement.”
