Under rapid urbanization, cities in Vietnam have diverged far from their origins as sprawling tropical forests. The lack of green causes various social problems such as air pollution due to over-abundance of motorbikes, air pollution, and the flood and heat island effect. In this context, new generations in urban areas are losing their connection with nature. Moreover, the country is facing changes as it moves to a manufacturing based economy, taking its toll on the environment. Increased droughts, floods and salinization jeopardize food supplies.

“Urban Farming Office” is an effort to change this situation. The aim of the project is to return green space to the city and promote safe food production. Located in a newly developed area in Ho Chi Minh City, the office project demonstrates the possibility of vertical urban farming. Its façade consists of hanged planter boxes with various local vegetations, allowing them to obtain sufficient sunlight. This green approach will provide safe food and comfortable environment with minimum energy consumption, contributing thus to the sustainable future of city.

Environmental strategies
The “vertical farm” creates comfortable microclimate throughout the building. Combined with glazing, the vegetation filters direct sunlight and purifies air. It is irrigated with stored rainwater, whose evaporation cools the air. Conversely the northern wall is relatively solid for future extension, with small openings to enhance cross ventilation. It is made of double-layered brick wall with air layer inside for better insulation property. All of these contributes to reduce the use of air conditioner.

Farming system
The “vertical farm” is designed for vegetation with a simple construction method: it consists of concrete structure, steel supporting and modularized planter boxes hanged there. Planter boxes are replaceable, therefore they can be flexibly arranged in accordance with height and growing condition of plants, providing sufficient sunlight. Together with the roof garden and the ground, the system provides up to 190% of green ratio to the site area, which is equivalent to 1.1 tons of harvest. Various local edible plants, such as vegetables, herb, and fruit trees, are selected, contributing thus to biodiversity of the region. They are maintained with organic treatment method.

Category:Green ArchitectureYear:2025Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Viet NamArchitects:Vo Trong Nghia Co., Ltd.General Contractor: Wind and Water House Joint Stock CompanyDesign Team:Nobuhiro Inudo, Tran Vo Kien, Le Viet Minh Quoc, Nguyen Tat DatClient:PrivatePhotographers:Hiroyuki Oki