Vo Trong Nghia Architects' new perforated private house filled with mini-gardens addresses to Vietnam's low density tropical green spaces in response to the rapid urbanisation of many Vietnamese cities. 

The house was specifically developed as a prototypical housing design - designed as "a house for trees" - and it provides alternative solution to green space within high density neighborhood of Vietnam.

Named Binh house - encompassing a total of 233 square meters - the porous residence creates spaces which allow its residents interact and communicate despite their differences. The house consists of vertically-arranged stacking boxes and each of them features its own garden, protruding on the facade of the house.

"This strategy not only improves the microclimate by using natural ventilation and daylight in every room, but the alternately stacking openings also increase visibility and interaction between the family members," said Vo Trong Nghia Architects.

The major functions in the house including living, dining, bedrooms, study room are continuously arranged and opened throughout the house. Users can see each other from one room to another through the gardens.

"Service areas such as the kitchen, bathrooms, stairs and corridors are located in the west to limit heat radiation exposure towards frequently occupied areas. The vertical variation of spaces creates a lopsided pressure difference," added the studio.

"Thus, when the surrounding houses are built, natural ventilation is maintained. Thanks to these passive strategies, the house always stays cool in the tropical climate. Air conditioning system is rarely used."

The house's roof gardens features large trees for shading and they help to reduce indoor temperature. The inhabitants are also able to plant vegetables to serve its resident's daily needs. This vertical farming solution is suitable for high-density housing whilst also contributing to Vietnamese way of life.

The studio uses sustainable materials such as natural stone, wood, exposed concrete combined with the microclimate, this house reduces greatly operational and maintenance cost. Up to date, residents have never used furnished AC. 

"The architecture is not only to meet the functional and aesthetic concerns, but also as a means to connect people to people and people to nature," concluded the studio.

Plan level 1

Plan level 2

Plan level 3

Roof plan

Initial sketch of the house

Project facts

Architects: VTN Architects

Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Principal Architect: Vo Trong NghiaDesign 

Team: Masaaki Iwamoto, Chiang Hsing-O, Nguyen Tat Dat, Nguyen Duy Phuoc, Takahito Yamada 

Area: 233 m2

Project Year: 2016

All images © Hiroyuki Oki

> via Vo Trong Nghia Architects