Birdhouse inspired home mitigates flooding risk in central Vietnam

By Trang Vy   September 30, 2022 | 06:00 pm PT
The house in Hoa Vang District, a flood-prone area in Da Nang City, is fashioned like a birdhouse with the lowest floor vacant to avoid getting submerged in floodwater.
Birdhouse inspired home mitigates flooding risk in central Vietnam

The home of a young couple has a floor area of 70 square meters with three stories and an attic. The property is in a quiet area with fields and bamboo trees all around it, creating a stunning backdrop for homeowners to view both the sunset and sunrise from inside.

However, because it is next to the rice field and is far from the city center, the ground where the house is built is weak. So, builders had to drill and install bored piles, which are cylindrical concrete structures, in the ground to strengthen the rigidity of the foundation.

Birdhouse inspired home mitigates flooding risk in central Vietnam

Another disadvantage of the project is that it is located in an area prone to flooding with high water levels of 1.2-1.5 meters.

Building a house with a lot of function rooms was a big problem for the design team. The approach was to leave the ground floor empty and move the most important functions to the floors above.

Birdhouse inspired home mitigates flooding risk in central Vietnam

The first level, according to this design, primarily serves as a parking space and place for the owners to sip coffee and tea in the morning and afternoon.

The second floor is 3.6 meters higher than the ground floor. This height is appropriate for furniture and function rooms not getting flooded during the raining season. Not only does leaving the ground floor empty prevent water from entering the house, but also makes the rooms on the upper floors feel bigger.

Birdhouse inspired home mitigates flooding risk in central Vietnam

To complement the house's lovely surroundings, architects created an interior with rustic and romantic elements.

Outside, the architect used concrete gray as the main color, which gives the building a rough, simple, but sturdy look. Red-fired bricks are used both inside and outside to help the structure stand out among its quiet and peaceful surroundings.

Birdhouse inspired home mitigates flooding risk in central Vietnam

Because there are so many big windows, every little corner of the house looks out onto the rice fields. From the inside, each of these doors looks like a colorful landscape painting.

The dome on the windows in the living room and kitchen adds a unique character to the building.

Birdhouse inspired home mitigates flooding risk in central Vietnam

The size, shape, and placement of the windows are all carefully thought out in order to provide diverse views of nature outside.

Birdhouse inspired home mitigates flooding risk in central Vietnam

The kitchen looks clean and organized, accentuated by its white theme.
The architect says that the functional areas are all simple and take up little space to match the aesthetics of the natural surroundings.

Birdhouse inspired home mitigates flooding risk in central Vietnam

Quiet and private spaces like bedrooms face the north, which is the best direction for seeing the whole field and enjoying the cool breeze.

Kitchen and restroom facilities are located to the east and southeast. This is the direction to look for the sunrise and also to glance down at the chicken farm below. Meanwhile, the living room faces the southwest direction.

Birdhouse inspired home mitigates flooding risk in central Vietnam

From the family bedroom, homeowners can see rice fields and mountains in the distance.

To serve such views, the architect constructed the space with transparent glass. Brown curtains are hung on the walls and glass doors to help filter light, cut down on harsh sunlight, and make the room feel more private.

Birdhouse inspired home mitigates flooding risk in central Vietnam

The goal of the common area is to give owners a space for relaxation where they can see their surroundings from a higher vantage point.

Birdhouse inspired home mitigates flooding risk in central Vietnam

The house took a year to complete due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The construction costs were not disclosed by the owners.

Photos by Quang Tran

 
 
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