interlinked peaks shape bistro’s rhythmic canopy echoing mountain ridge in vietnam

MA.DE BISTRO reInterprets Traditional Vietnamese Architecture

MA.DE Bistro is a contemporary complex by AN NAM Design and Build located within the pine forest of Mang Den in Vietnam’s Central Highlands. The restaurant design incorporates regional cultural references, drawing from the traditional Rông house to establish its architectural identity. A roof composed of three interlinked peaks forms the primary visual element, creating a rhythmic profile that echoes the surrounding mountain landscape.

The 1,000-sqm site is bordered on three sides by forest, influencing the project’s spatial arrangement and environmental response. Instead of replicating vernacular structures, the design adapts their principles. The roof acts as a unifying canopy, while the internal walls remain independent from it, creating intentional gaps that allow daylight and ventilation to enter the interior. Functional areas are distributed beneath this large spanning structure, maintaining cohesion through consistent material and spatial transitions. The main circulation route passes through an open-air circular courtyard, establishing a threshold before leading into interior spaces that gradually step down toward the forest. These subtle level changes guide movement and frame controlled views, producing alternating zones of openness and enclosure.

all images by Trieu Chien

AN NAM employs Local Materials and Construction Traditions

Material choices reference the site and local construction traditions. Masonry walls finished in a deep red plaster recall the basalt-rich soil of the region. Concrete ceilings retain the texture of pinewood formwork used during construction. Flooring materials vary according to program: terracotta tiles define the central hall, terrazzo marks transitional paths, and irregular natural stone is applied in secondary areas. Each surface contributes to a layered sensory environment. The roof structure consists of a primary steel frame lined with timber on the underside for visual warmth. Externally, lightweight bitumen shingles in neutral tones provide durability suited to the highland climate. Steel elements were prefabricated off-site and assembled on location to ensure accuracy and streamline the building process.

For MA.DE Bistro, Studio AN NAM Design and Build employs spatial configuration, construction techniques, and a defined material palette to create an environment that reflects local cultural characteristics while responding to the surrounding landscape.

three peaked roofs form MA.DE Bistro’s defining architectural profile

a circular open-air courtyard forms the project’s main entry threshold

alternating zones of openness and enclosure shape movement through the interior

forest edges on three sides guide the project’s spatial layout

a steel frame supports the roof and provides structural clarity

neutral-toned bitumen shingles on the exterior roof respond to the regional climate

the design references the traditional Rông house through form and proportion

the complex sits within the pine forest of Mang Den in Vietnam’s Central Highlands

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deep red plaster walls reference the region’s basalt-rich soil

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

project info:

name: MA.DE Bistro
architect: AN NAM Design and Build | @annam.designandbuild

location: Mang Đen, Kon Tum, Vietnam

lead architects: AN NAM Architect, Vo Quang

design team: Phan Thanh Nam, Tran Dinh Hung, Le Hong Phong, Nguyen Quang Hau