THE RUNNING BEAN HANOI

Frozen the Heritage “Frozen the Heritage” for The Running Bean tackles the challenge of bringing a contemporary layer into a heritage house in central Hanoi. The building, narrow, dim, and deteriorated, still holds Gothic traces and ideal height. Red5 chose to “freeze” the legacy—transforming the space into an iceberg-like atmosphere. Design interventions include cubic and slanted forms, glass, and blue-toned glass bricks evoking frozen motion. The façade exposes old brick walls, Gothic motifs wrapped in stainless steel, and a recessed glass entrance resembling a transparent ice block. At the core, a glass-brick coffee counter with a blue glass block above emphasizes the frozen theme, while mirrors and beveled glass amplify height and light. Warm yellow light is paired with blue illumination for an icy feel. Compact seating, open ceilings, and a skylight provide brightness; glass stairs with blue LEDs create the sense of walking inside an iceberg. Upper floors layer multi-material box forms (glass, mirror, plaster) alongside old brick and whitewashed walls. By night, blue LEDs immerse the space. The structure was expanded to three floors plus mezzanines, with higher ceilings for natural light. Interiors resonate with the concept—stainless steel, industrial leather, terrazzo, old wood, and preserved brick.