Located at 38A Nguyễn Thị Diệu Street in Ho Chi Minh City, EVERY HALF occupies an existing building with its own architectural character and traces of time. Rather than erasing the existing conditions to create an entirely new identity, Hoohoo studioo chooses to preserve the elements of value, treating them as the foundation for a new layer of intervention.

This approach brings two distinct layers of time into dialogue. The existing architecture retains the memory of the building, while new details, materials, lighting, and furniture accommodate the needs of a contemporary café. Rather than seeking to reconcile the old and the new into a unified expression, the design embraces their differences as a means of establishing its own identity.

This transformation is most evident in the double-height space. Behind the counter, a series of vertical members establishes a continuous rhythm, while slender green elements with integrated points of light are suspended at varying heights, extending in both vertical and horizontal directions. Viewed up close, each element appears as a simple geometric component. From a distance, however, their repetition and branching evoke the form of bamboo stems and nodes, translating a familiar natural reference into an architectural language.

EVERY HALF Nguyễn Thị Diệu emerges from the intersection of inherited architectural values and contemporary ways of living. Here, the existing architecture remains as a layer of memory, the image of bamboo is reinterpreted through a contemporary formal language, and everyday activities bring the space to life. Together, these elements shape an environment that feels familiar and warm while remaining open and vibrant. Each visit becomes more than a moment to enjoy coffee; it is an opportunity to experience space, encounter people, and form new connections.

Lead architects: Hồ Gia Bảo
Concept design: Trần Sơn Lâm
MEP design: Lê Đặng Minh Phô
Technical design: Bùi Quang Tiến
Visual image: Lý Gia Hân
Photographer: Quang Trần