Mud house attracts curiosity seekers in Da Lat

By Ha Thanh October 26, 2020 | 12:55 am PT

A house made of red basaltic soil in the Central Highlands town of Da Lat has attracted many a curious visitor with its quirky charm.

The house is located near Tuyen Lam Lake, about 10 km to the south of Da Lat’s center. It’s considered a unique architecture work in Vietnam. On the rooftop there is a map of Vietnam.

The unique house is located near Tuyen Lam Lake, about 10 km to the south of Da Lat, and features a map of Vietnam on its roof.

Trinh Ba Dung, an artist, is the creator of this house. What makes it unique is that most of the house is made from the basaltic red soil, a symbol of the Central Highlands. Through many times of experimenting, Dung and his partners have found the ultimate formula to make the material of the house without putting the red soil into the kiln, by using some additives. The new red basaltic clay has high durability and can withstand the impact of nature like rain or sun.

Artist Trinh Ba Dung built the house from red basaltic soil, a symbol of the Central Highlands. The unbaked red clay can withstand the impacts of both sun and rain.

The house has two main chambers that is connected by a smaller room, heading toward the Tuyen Lam Lake, with water surrounding. Looking from outside, the house has a balanced design, with the only entrance being a small bridge.

The house, consisting of two main sections surrounded by water, is reached via a small bridge.

One chamber is used as a bedroom, with its walls decorated with Central Highland themes.

One chamber is used as a bedroom, with its walls decorated with Central Highlands themes.

The middle space is used as the dining room, with the center piece is a large set of table and chairs that are also made of clay.

The center piece of the dining room is a large table with giant chairs, also made of red basaltic soil.

There are also a heater and a bathroom, all made of clay.

Both heating system and bathroom are also kitted out in soil.

This bed stradles a pond.

The frame of the roof is made of wood but the rest is made of clay.

Only the roof frame is made of wood.

The house has been recognized by Vietnam’s record books as "the most unique and first unbaked red basaltic soil house" and "largest unbaked red basaltic soil house with Vietnam’s map on the roof."