Exe Corp, a growing IT firm based in Ho Chi Minh City, is moving into a brand-new workplace after six years of operation. According to the young vice director, the space must accommodate an expansion to 25 staff members, reflect the company’s vibrant and energetic culture, and maintain a refined yet simplistic aesthetic.

The new office is located on the fourth floor of an old building in Tan Binh District. The space is a rectangular, unpartitioned area lined with small windows along the boundary brick wall— a common feature in older Vietnamese office buildings.

With a compact 90-square-meter area and the need for dedicated spaces such as a meeting room and pantry, the architect opted for a single enclosed room within the open workspace to serve both internal and external meetings. The two existing columns in the middle of the office, initially a constraint, were transformed into a feature open bar, doubling as a dining table and collaborative space. Office storage and pantry appliances, including a microwave and mini fridge, were neatly tucked into the U-shaped space behind the bar.

Since all work desks were repurposed, their wood-laminated tops and grey powder-coated legs guided the color scheme. The design integrates different themed areas within a clean white backdrop. The wood-tone desks are complemented by a matching vinyl floor in the open workspace, creating the dominant visual element. Contrasting this warm base, the pantry embraces an industrial concrete aesthetic, while the meeting room is entirely blue. Select walls in the open area are clad in recycled wood and painted green to highlight specific functions, such as the backdrop opposite the main entrance and the graphic design team’s work zone.