From Sài Gòn Heritage to Contemporary Design

In the heart of Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1, tucked down a narrow “hẻm” or alley on Trần Đinh Xu St., a former 4,000 m² ice factory has been re-imagined for District Eight’s showroom and office.   
For Darren Chew, founder of District Eight, the transformation meant more just creating a new space. It became physical embodiment of his belief in craftsmanship as something that lives with memory and time.  

District-Eight-TDX-Ice-Factory-02 — Pre-construction at TĐX Ice Factory. Photo by District Eight team.

A respect for what already exists 
The transformation of District Eight TĐX Ice Factory follows one guiding principle: to preserve the special mark of time of the place. Rather than erase the building’s past, District Eight chose to extend it.

Working with NU Architecture & Design, the façade’s architecture retains much of the original structure - raw concrete frames, exposed trusses, and spatial rhythm - complemented by repurposed timber, bamboo accents, and tactile finishes. Each element chosen for their natural honesty and quiet beauty.  The result is a place that feels both familiar and new: softened Industrial and functional atmosphere. 

A space shaped by experience 
TĐX Ice Factory is designed as an unfolding experience - where each interact is a dialogue.  Light translated by layers of wood and fabric, guiding visitors from openness to intimacy. Surfaces invite touch; transitions feel unhurried and thoughtful.

The journey mirrors District Eight’s approach to design. 

From industrial shell to design platform 
District Eight TĐX Ice Factory serves as both a retail space and a creative hub - celebrates the brand’s belief that good design is built on the intersection between culture, structure, material, and the human.  Seasonal narratives are introduced through evolving displays, while workshops, exhibitions, and collaborative installations invite visitors to District Eight’s vision for design exchange. 