Standing out amidst a uniform cityscape, it is Gensler’s first headquarters office building designed and completed in Vietnam.
July 12th, 2021
Viettel has a new home in Hanoi and it has taken the opportunity to create a progressive, sensitive and sustainable working environment. The headquarters of Vietnam’s largest telecommunications provider is presented as a sloping disc-like building that gently rises from the ground.
More than an exploration in form, the Viettel building pushes forward ideals of open and collaborative working and environmental responsibility. The building was designed from the inside-out through a rigorous process that paid attention to the user experience. Open floor plates over eight floors are interconnected via a network of lifts, stairs and escalators that encourage chance meetings and spontaneous interactions among colleagues.
The open floor plates were also tuned to an ideal depth to allow natural daylight into all working areas. Overhead, skylights in the green roof draw natural light into shared spaces located in the ‘wings’ of the building. These all help to reduce the use of artificial lighting indoors. But where there is light, there is also glare and heat. Protecting the interior from the unwanted side-effects of harnessing natural light are horizontal louvres on the façade. Here, the tightly packed striations lend themselves well to the reading of the monolithic building.
The headquarter’s distinctive green roof is an extension of the adjacent park and lake, and brings to life a multi-prong approach to environmental sustainability. Beyond lowering the cooling load and affecting the building’s micro-climate positively, the roof also features a rainwater harvesting system. In its soft landscape replacement strategy, Gensler approached the matter sensitively by incorporating native plants in the landscaping to create a more resilient eco-system.
As a corporate home to its employees, the Viettel building makes a strong statement about its commitment to collaboration and employee well-being. As a building in the city, it is an example of sustainability and urban biodiversity done well.
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Channelling the enchanting ambience of the Caffè Greco in Rome, Budapest’s historic Gerbeaud, and Grossi Florentino in Melbourne, Ross Didier’s new collection evokes the designer’s affinity for café experience, while delivering refined seating for contemporary hospitality interiors.
As well as considering the materials and processes used to manufacture furniture solutions, companies like Workspace are shifting their focus to the entire lifespan of products.
Sub-Zero and Wolf’s prestigious Kitchen Design Contest (KDC) has celebrated the very best in kitchen innovation and aesthetics for three decades now. Recognising premier kitchen design professionals from around the globe, the KDC facilitates innovation, style and functionality that pushes boundaries.
In what is a growing workplace precinct, Fieldwork has wrapped a distinctive skin of operable screens around this office block.
The multidisciplinary design practice recently announced a nine-day fortnight working policy. We find out more in this Q&A.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
An exciting new collaboration involving Autex Acoustics, Willie Weston and Lisa Waup colourfully brings First Nations design to high-performance acoustics.
Hamish Dounan, Director of Sydney-based landscape architecture studio, CONTEXT, shares his insights on the possibilities of outdoor learning in education design.