The 185-square-meter house for a family of four is located in a crowded residential area in District 11, HCMC. The facade of the building faces west and southwest, so it’s hit by direct heat from the sun in the afternoon.
The owner wanted a cool living space with lots of trees to reduce the heat in the summer. Besides the main function rooms, the owner set up a gym, a studio, a guest bedroom and a vegetable and bird garden.
The architect arranged at least one garden on each floor, combined with multi-sized doorways so that the house is surrounded by diverse vegetation.
The highlight of the five-story house is the facade using 25,000 alternating bricks to create a series of ventilation holes to improve air circulation, prevent sunlight and get more air inside. This design helps the house stand out in the neighborhood while still carrying a rustic vibe.
A small fish pond is located in the front, surrounded by green plants to help improve microclimate, prevent dust and reduce the temperature when the hot wind blows inside. From the living room, homeowners can watch the fish pond and green trees to relax.
According to the architect, many Vietnamese people often don’t pay attention to the roof and terrace when building houses because these are the areas that receive the most heat radiation. Therefore, the architect advised the owner to set up a tropical garden and grow vegetables on the terrace to have a more relaxing space and stay close to nature while reducing heat on the roof.
This garden has an area of 45 square meters, using a double-layer floor with geotextile for waterproofing, then adding a layer of 15 cm of soil for planting.
The plants used in the house are easy to grow and take care of, including Indian chrysanthemums, sesame buds, longan, bougainvillea and ylang-ylang.
Besides the relaxation area, the terrace also has an additional green vegetable area with an automatic watering system. The mesh dome creates a cool open space, blocking sunlight and rain for the vegetation below.
Two skylights are arranged with the stairs and elevator area, bringing natural light inside the house and improving air circulation.
All bedrooms have spacious balconies with plants to help block dust and noise. The space inside and outside is separated by sliding glass doors to create an open space that connects with nature.
The gym area is located on the fourth floor. Glass doors and windows are arranged around the room to increase ventilation and light.
The owner likes a minimalist, rustic but luxurious style, so the architect chose brown and beige as the primary colors for the entire interior along with the main materials of wood, glass and concrete.
The first floor is the family's common living space, including a living room, relaxation area and kitchen. To divide the space between these rooms, glass walls are used instead of brick.
