“面纱”丨越南胡志明市丨me+ architect & tho.A atelier

“面纱”位于胡志明市北部入口，坐落在最具吸引力的市内大道，其设计旨在成为都市背景下醒目的白色艺术品。它也是一个多用途国际会议中心。

“The Veil” is located in Ho Chi Minh City’s northern entryway, on the most attractive inner-city boulevard, and is designed to be a white masterpiece that stands out in the metropolitan context. It is also a multi-purpose international conference center.

▼鸟瞰，aerial view© Quangdam

设计灵感来自婚礼中新娘的头纱。从外部看，“面纱”有许多片段，富有情感的层次包围步行道，并为结构提供质感。从内部看，它不仅创造了一个可爱的空间，还最大限度地扩大了接待区。因此，人们会更频繁地进入到活动前的准备空间中。因为现在的人们十分关注类似建筑中的仪式和重要活动。

The concept was inspired by the bride’s veil in her wedding. From the outside, The Veil has numerous segmental, emotive layers that embrace the pathways and provide textures for the structure. From there, it not only creates a lovely space inside, but it also maximizes the reception area. As a result, people engage more frequently in the pre-event space. Because people nowadays mainly worry about the rituals and key events in similar buildings.

▼立面，facade© Quangdam

▼”面纱”丰富的层次，numerous layers of the “veils”© Quangdam

▼宴会厅立面，ballroom facade© Quangdam

这一概念背后的主要驱动力主要是来自投资者自行做出的大部分决定，而且在我们来到这里之前，结构框架已经完成。me+建筑事务所和 ThoA 公司受邀担任为期 11 个月的装潢设计，给建筑披上了华丽的外衣，这只是工业化链条的一个阶段，但建筑师的提案是一种设计，而非室内装修。当时，该项目包括一个建成的框架，带有一个活动室和一个接待厅，封闭空间的比例比开放空间要大三倍。因此，建筑师没有用武之地来改善空间；相反，当前的任务是改善业已存在的缓冲空间，为人们在白色宫殿宴会厅参加主要活动之前提供互动的可能性，同时确保不影响投资方提出的要求。

The main driving force behind this concept comes from the fact that the operator of the investor made most of the decisions on their own and that the structural frame had been completed prior to our arrival. me+ Architects and ThoA are invited with an 11-month budget as a decorator, giving the building a splendid cover, which is just a stage of an industrialized chain, but architects proposed a design rather than a interor covering. Back then, the project consisted of a built framework with an event room and reception hall ratio that was three times larger in closed area than open space. Therefore, there is no room for architects to improve the spatial experience; instead, the task at hand was to improve the buffer space that is already present and provide possibilities for people to interact prior to taking part in main event at the White Palace ballroom while still ensuring not to affect the requirements raised by the investor.

▼一号宴会厅室内，ballroom 01 interior © Quangdam

▼细部，details© Quangdam

▼二号宴会厅室内，ballroom 02 interior© Quangdam

▼二号宴会厅天花，ballroom 02 ceilings© Quangdam

首先，我们在垂直方向上拓展了空间。该建筑有两个接待大厅，每个大厅宽度和高度均为 10 米，沿两个建筑体块的边上布置。我们面临的挑战是设计一个温暖、通风良好、视觉醒目的区域，鼓励客人在此逗留更长时间，享受会面寒暄的体验。

我们实验性地选择了可以扭曲空间感知的材料，因为要扩大可用空间本身是不可能的，所以我们决定使用可以欺骗空间感知的材料。吊顶由抛光铝板组成，可以捕捉、反射整个空间和其中的活动。这样，空间的高度就增加了一倍，客人不仅可以通过镜面悄悄地“观察”其他活动，还可以观察自己。

为了进一步传达空间感，宴会厅立面墙壁呈波浪形。粗糙的工业建筑现在与波浪起伏的精细木板形成了鲜明对比。

First, we expanded the space vertically. The building has two reception halls, each measuring 10 by 10 meters in width and height, spaced along the length of two blocks. The challenge was to design a warm, airy, and visually stimulating area that would encourage guests to stay longer and enjoy the meet-and-greet experience. We chose to experiment with materials that can distort perceptions of space, since it is inherently impossible to expand the available space, we decided to experiment with materials that can deceive the perception of space. The drop ceiling is made of polished aluminum panels that capture and reflect the entire space and activities underneath. Thus, the space is twice as high, and guests can discreetly “observe” not only other activities but also themselves through this reflection. In order to further convey a sense of space, the wall in front of the banquet hall is wavy. The harsh industrial architecture now contrasts with the waved finely made wood paneling.

▼接待大厅，reception hall© Quangdam

▼接待大厅的波浪形立面，wavy wall of the hall© Quangdam

▼扭曲空间感知的材料，materials that can deceive the perception of space© Quangdam

▼接待大厅一角，a corner of the reception hall© Quangdam

▼休息室，leisure room© Quangdam

▼通风良好、视觉醒目的区域，airy, and visually stimulating area© Quangdam

▼面纱细部，detail of “the veil”© Quangdam

▼交通空间，circulation space© Quangdam

▼洗手间，restroom© Quangdam

在另一侧，也就是水平方向上，白色漆的穿孔卷状钢材呈现出“半透明”的外观，再次“欺骗”了实际感知。限制空间的不再是物理尺寸，而是材料给人的视觉刺激。会议不仅可以在大厅中举行，也可以在室外的庭院举行。“面纱”的薄绸般的面料提供了一个私密空间，将内部活动与喧闹的街道隔开，同时它也足够模糊，足以引起外面的人的兴趣。这样的设计意图使得通往大厅的旅程变得更加迷人且精致。

On the opposite side, horizontally, the white painted perforated steel rolls give off a “semi-translucent” look on the outside, once again “deceiving” the actual size. Space is no longer restricted by its physical dimensions, but by the stimulating impression of the material. Meetings are accepted not just in the halls, but also outside in the courtyard. The chiffon fabric, of the veil, provides a privacy space and separates the event activities from the noisy background of the boulevard, but it is also blurry enough to pique the interest of those on the exterior. This intention makes the journey to the lobby much more attractive and delicate.

▼步道入口，walkway entrance© Quangdam

▼白色穿孔卷状钢材，white painted perforated steel rolls© Quangdam

▼白色穿孔卷状钢材，white painted perforated steel rolls© Quangdam

▼绿意盎然的室外空间，greenery outdoor space© Quangdam

▼步道，walkway© Quangdam

▼接待厅入口，entry to the reception hall© Quangdam

▼接待大厅内部，inside the reception hall© Quangdam

▼望向宴会厅，view towards the ballroom© Quangdam

▼宴会厅开窗，openings of the ballroom© Quangdam

▼面纱提供了私密场所，the veil provides a privacy space© Quangdam

▼材料细部，material detail© Quangdam

▼仰视，upwards view© Quangdam

▼夜览，night view© Quangdam

▼俯瞰，top view© Quangdam

▼平面图，plan© me+ architec

Project Name: The Veil

Office Name: me+ architect & tho.A atelier

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Firm Location: 16 Song Thuong, Ward 2, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnan

Completion Year: 2019

Gross Built Area (m2/ ft2): 20.000 m2

Project Location: Pham Van Dong Street, Ho Chi Minh City

Program / Use / Building Function: Convention Center

Lead Architects: Nghiem Dinh Toan & Pham Nhan Tho

Photo Credits: Quangdam

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