The Veil Convention Centre in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is a striking architectural feat conceived to foster interaction within a large space and inspired by the beauty of a bridal veil
The Veil, or the White Palace of Pham Van Dong, is a striking, multi-purpose international conference centre prominently situated on the most attractive inner-city boulevard at the northern entrance to Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnamese capital. A distinctive white landmark on the city’s skyline, the Veil is unique for being a pre-existing structure when architects Me+Architecs and ThoA Athelier were tasked with its transformation. Commissioned by PQC Group, this ambitious project was completed in just one year between 2019 and 2020, resulting in a 20,000-square-metre venue.
Inspired by the ethereal beauty of a bride’s veil on her wedding day, the design features multiple layered facades that envelop the building and create a sense of depth, giving the illusion of a chiffon veil. The interior is designed to be both inviting and functional, with a spacious reception area that encourages interaction among visitors before an event.
Lead architect Nghiem Dinh Toan (from Me+Architecs) explained the design challenge, ‘The original proportions of the structure were imbalanced, with enclosed spaces that were three times the size of the open spaces. Therefore, our goal was to enhance the transition areas. As physically expanding the building was impossible, we experimented with materials capable of creating the illusion of space.’
‘First, we expanded the space vertically. The building has two reception halls, each measuring 10 by 10 metres in width and height, spaced along the length of two blocks. The drop ceiling is made of polished aluminium panels that capture and reflect the entire space and activities taking place below and visually doubling the height of the space.’
‘On the opposite side, horizontally, perforated white-painted steel screens create a semi-transparent façade, once again visually ‘deceiving’ the actual size of the building. In this way, the space is no longer limited by its physical size. Instead, it takes on another dimension thanks to the effect of the chiffon fabric of a veil. Similarly, like a delicate veil, the screens not only offer privacy for those inside and separate them from the noisy background of the bustling boulevard, but they are also blurry enough to pique the interest of passersby on the outside, giving a sense of intrigue and inviting them to explore further,’ he concludes.
