L’Usine Lê Lợi is a modern take on the historic Trạm Mậu Dịch (The Trading Posts) concept of old Saigon, blending café culture with commerce and connection. Designed by NU Architecture & Design, this flagship store celebrates L’Usine’s 15th anniversary and marks its return to one of the city’s most iconic locations, between the Saigon Opera House and Ben Thanh Market. The design reinterprets the historical trading post—a place for exchanging goods, stories, and ideas—for today’s urban life, expressed through a blend of café, retail area, and cultural space.
From the start, the brief posed a clear challenge: how to create a space that reflects L’Usine’s identity while adapting to the rhythms of modern city life. It needed to support dining, shopping, and gathering—all within a narrow, elongated tubehouse with minimal natural light. NU Architecture & Design approached the constraints as a creative framework. Each design decision had to solve a functional issue while contributing meaning to the experience.
To address Saigon’s heat, the entrance façade was designed to minimize energy use. By recessing the frontage and incorporating greenery, the design helps lower internal temperatures. These passive strategies naturally reduce heat, minimizing reliance on energy-intensive systems and offering a quiet, efficient solution.
Upon entering, visitors encounter many sculptural stainless steel frames inspired by the frames on vintage Indochina postcards. This historical reference is reinterpreted as a spatial threshold, marking a shift from the fast pace of the street to a slower, richer experience. It creates a smooth transition from the vibrancy of modern Saigon into a space that subtly echoes the city’s past.
The materials chosen bring together Vietnam’s traditions with a modern touch. The terrazzo floor, widely used in homes and public areas across Vietnam, brings a familiar and grounded feel. Walls and ceilings are wrapped in locally sourced ash wood, reimagining colonial-style shutters with clean, contemporary lines. A spiral staircase, made from steel mesh and painted in colonial green. These elements combine to create a tactile, layered interior that feels both grounded and forward-looking.
Beyond the café, the space effortlessly transitions into a refined retail zone, where L’Usine’s signature products are displayed alongside handcrafted pieces by local artisans. Vintage furniture elements are thoughtfully placed throughout, adding texture and character while softly linking the café and retail areas. The layout remains clear and efficient, maintaining a natural spatial flow and inviting visitors to explore at their own pace.
The back bar needed to be both practical and visually striking, while still fitting into the space’s cultural context. The solution: a full-height ash wood wall that recalls colonial shutters in a modern language. This textured backdrop brings warmth and depth, while vintage bar stools introduce a subtle historical layer. The overall composition feels both composed and approachable.
L’Usine Lê Lợi is more than just a café—it’s a hybrid hub where local culture and global influences meet. Set between the Opera House and Ben Thanh Market, its location is symbolic: a meeting point between local heritage and international exchange. Just like the past traders, today’s guests move between culture and commerce in a space designed for both.
NU Architecture & Design brought a dual perspective to the project—one that balances local identity with a global outlook. Every decision, from passive cooling strategies to material palette and spatial transitions, was made with L'usine's identity and mission in mind. L’Usine Lê Lợi is a dynamic space that welcomes everyone, where Saigon’s vibrant culture merges with global ideas to create an inclusive environment for all.
