SAIGON SOUTH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL (SSIS) – UPPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

BOHO continues the partnership with Saigon South International School (SSIS) in Phase 3, serving as the design and build contractor for the renovation of the Upper Elementary School.

With extensive experience in delivering educational projects, BOHO approached the project from the perspectives of both the school and its students. Based on this understanding, the design solution balances the school’s operational requirements with students’ daily learning experiences, creating spaces that encourage them to observe, interact, and explore independently.

Design learning spaces for a transitional stage

The upper elementary years mark an important stage in a child’s development. Students begin to strengthen their observation, critical thinking, and communication skills. Learning becomes less about receiving information and more about asking questions, connecting ideas, taking part in discussions, and expressing individual perspectives.

This is also a stage when students become more self-aware, develop closer friendships, and take on more active roles in group activities. An effective learning environment should therefore help them feel confident, connected, and empowered to explore new knowledge.

Translating this understanding into practice, BOHO developed flexible interior design and construction solutions that support various learning formats, from independent study and group work to discussions and hands-on activities.

• Classrooms were designed to adapt to different learning activities.
• Movable furniture was selected to suit students’ physical proportions, habits, and ways of learning.
• Materials were chosen for safety, durability, and ease of maintenance within a school environment.
• Lighting, color, and acoustic performance were carefully considered to create comfortable and inviting spaces that support concentration

Specialized classrooms for different modes of learning

Beyond the main classrooms, BOHO designed specialized Art, Music, and Drama classrooms based on the nature of each subject and how students engage with the space.

• In the Art classroom, the layout encourages observation and experimentation. Materials are kept within easy reach, while the flexible arrangement allows students to work with color, explore different techniques, and develop ideas through hands-on creation.
• The Music and Drama classrooms are organized around rehearsal, expression, and performance. The layouts, materials, and acoustic features were carefully developed to support concentration, interaction, and students’ confidence in expressing themselves.

Preserving the building’s history

The Red-Tiled Roof

Originally constructed in 1997, the Upper Elementary Building has served generations of SSIS students and teachers. In renovating the building, BOHO retained the red-tiled roof as a familiar feature of the original architecture.

This design decision preserves a connection to the building’s history while giving the learning environment a distinctive identity.

Existing Concrete Surfaces

Within the MakerSpace and Spark Lab, the design team retained several existing features, including the roof structure, concrete surfaces, and parts of the exposed technical systems.

Silver-clad air ducts, exposed pipes, and industrial lighting give the spaces an open, practical, and experimental character that reflects the spirit of STEAM education. Rather than being treated merely as technical components, these elements become part of the learning experience. They turn the surrounding environment into a source of curiosity, encouraging students to consider how spaces are constructed and how the systems within them operate.

Creating an environment that nurtures curiosity

For BOHO, a successful learning environment goes beyond visual appeal and functionality. It should give students the confidence to participate, the comfort to concentrate, and the freedom to explore. When a space responds to the ways children learn and develop, curiosity can become part of every school day.

Explore more: Interior Construction and Design for Saigon South International School – Middle School

• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• YouTube