Phan Ke Binh Mixed-Use Building – Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
In the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, a distinctive building emerges, not through scale or noise, but through light. Subtle and refined, its quiet radiance sets it apart in the urban landscape, offering a sense of calm and grace amidst the city’s rhythm.
This mixed-use development embraces a hybrid approach, where wellness, flexibility, and design integrity guide every decision. kobi lighting studio has shaped light as a medium of expression, creating a dynamic interaction between architecture and atmosphere. The result is a thoughtful lighting strategy that responds to movement, time, and emotion, turning functionality into poetry.
The building’s identity is luminous and welcoming, defined by soft curves flowing seamlessly across vertical and horizontal planes. From the entrance to the inner spaces, form and light work in harmony. Translucent polycarbonate partitions filter natural sunlight during the day, allowing it to enter softly while managing heat and glare. As night falls, these same partitions cast a gentle glow, giving the building a refined presence without overwhelming its surroundings. On typical floors, 50 percent of the façade opens to promote natural airflow, reinforcing the connection to light, air, and the environment.
This is a space designed to adapt. Its kinetic design follows the natural rhythm of life, offering flexible configurations that support a range of uses. Whether for work, leisure, gathering, or retreat, the architecture accommodates evolving needs with elegance. It is a living structure that reflects the essence of a truly modern mixed-use building.
With the intention of certification under EDGE and of implementing some strategies WELL standards features, the project meets international benchmarks for sustainability, energy efficiency, and user well-being. Yet its technical excellence never overshadows the sensory experience. Every detail, from surface texture to the quality of light, is crafted to elevate everyday moments.
The staircase features innovative lighting with a Controllable lamp, moveable rail tracks, anti-glare features, and a unique projection of floor numbers for functionality. Southeast Asia’s longest vertical tube lamp, a 20-meter landmark designed by CORRETTO Atelier of Lights, climbs in the sky and attracts people to go inside. Combining expertise from architects, and craftsmen 𝗕𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗞𝗦𝗠𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡, the design incorporates a folding facade with precision lighting and polycarbonate materials to maximize sunlight and create dynamic effects. The result is a sustainable & emotionally engaging lighting solution that elevates architectural design and connects people with spaces by lights.
Throughout the building, lighting techniques inspired by museum design introduce a sense of curation. Here, light is more than illumination. It guides, frames, and tells a story. It invites people to see, to feel, and to connect. In doing so, it redefines what it means to design with light in a city that never stands still.
Interior Designer & Architect: Tran Duy Tran
Collaboration: CORRETTO Atelier of Lights, BLACKSMITH AND DESIGN
Lighting designer & consultant: kobi lighting studio
Scope of lighting design: Lighting Concept Design | Lighting Design Development | Lighting Authorship Supervision