If many Vietnamese families often opt to reserve one room in their house plan for ancestor worship, this household in Hanoi decided to dedicate an entire backyard to their family altar.

Designed by AICC Architecture, Phú Lương House was built in 2021 in a cacophonous alley amid a suburban Hanoi village. The owners presented a challenge for the architects to reconcile many different living functions in one house: a commercial area for the family business, a tranquil quarter for spirituality, and living and interacting space for every household member.

The front of the house is reseved for business activities.

The resulting design divided the lot into two blocks with rather contrasting architectural styles. The front-facing block has clean contemporary features and a monochromatic palette while the back block is built in a traditional wooden style often seen in heritage homesteads or temples completed in past centuries.

A calming courtyard on the second floor

The ground floor is reserved for commercial activities and parking, in addition to a small dining area, a bedroom, and two bathrooms — one reserved for the business. The second story hosts the family’s communal space, with the main dining room connecting to a back courtyard, a small pond, and the altar room. The use of red terracotta tiles evokes a vintage air often seen in traditional homes.

Traditional furniture in the altar house.

If the contemporary block is quite simply furnished and designed with straight lines, white walls, and perpendicularity, the altar house is on the other end of the spectrum. Intricately carved columns, reliefs and animist motifs in bamboo and wood make up the majority of the architectural features.

Have a closer look at this interesting contrast via the photos below:

[Photos by Hoang Le via ArchDaily]

Who says a single person can't nest?

Leave it to a world-weary poet to take inspiration from a bird when constructing a riverside dwelling in the delta town of Cao Lãnh. After living in the busy city, the single man returned to his hometown in Đồng Tháp to be closer to relatives and asked Tad.atelier architects to build him a home that allowed him to commune with nature and himself. 

The poet proposed the concept of home channeling a bird's nest. In the same way a bird creates a cozy roost out of available scraps and bits of trash, fabrics and organic matter, the architects relied on repurposed building materials. The wooden structure, for example, was reused from the frame of an old house in the area while much of the furniture is second-hand. And once the building was complete, spare wood was used to assemble a small hut beside the river. 

Because of a recently completed road, Tân Thuận Tây Village is being transformed into a residential area. This poet, however, wanted his home to retain the area's rustic charm. Thus, the new dwelling was constructed according to a slope design typical to the area and used construction techniques familiar to the traditional workmanship of the Delta. The resulting structure's wood and earthen materials feel as if they've stood along the meandering river for quite some time.

Because the home has only one occupant, its 50 square meters could be creatively used. The large communal space that opens up to the plant-filled veranda occupies the majority of the property. Dividers are used to partition off the home's more private areas while retaining the atmosphere of a humble shack to foster creativity.

Have a look at more of the design plan and photos below:

[Photos via arch.daily]

In the middle of nowhere Bảo Lộc, perched on the side of an alternative national road is the wooden carapace of Nguyen Coffee, a veritable “Noah’s ark” welcoming travelers in for a short break to enjoy its drinks and spectacular view of the Đá Bàn Stream below. 

Designed by Bảo Lộc-based The Bloom Architects, this cafe has a location not unlike other nature coffee shops in Đà Lạt and the surrounding environs — right on the side of a hill. Nguyen Coffee’s emphasis on rustic materials, however, is a stylistic choice that helps it stand out, thanks to a towering wooden roof made of woven wooden strips.

The roof structure is made of three layers: a transparent corrugated iron layer to temper sunlight intensity while allowing some natural light in, another iron layer that protects patrons from the elements, and a ceiling made of natural wood that helps reduce the noises, provides insulation, and creates interesting lighting patterns.

Have a look at the Bảo Lộc coffee stop below:

[Photos by Hiroyuki Oki via ArchDaily]

A humble production hut built with recycled bottles, local timber, thatched roof and simple granito concrete floors is used as a bottling facility for drinking water.

The traditional structure invites guests to observe the process and learn more about the simple steps that can be taken to more responsibly consume water and reduce plastic waste and its associated production costs. 

Designed by architects Chi.Arch, the bright building stands in a forested area of the luxury Ninh Vân Bay resort underscoring the facility's role in preserving nature. In addition to providing a hygienic space to produce clean water in glass bottles, it features large glass windows and a seating area for visitors to observe the production line and machines and learn more about the efforts.

The simple, natural wood aesthetic blends into the surrounding landscape filled with trees that form a natural buffer against erosion into the nearby ocean. Located directly next to the resort's tennis court, it aims to draw the attention of curious guests. Microscopes, television screens and other teaching equipment offer more information on the bottling process and its importance to more holistic sustainability efforts.

[Photos by Thanh Pham via ArchDaily]

Cement, air, water, sand, and gravel: concrete is a simple material. Same for glass, that spread of super-heated quartz sand. 

But these basic building blocks rest at the center, if not also the core, of this coffee shop in Gò Vấp district. Sawadeesign Studio said it wanted the bare concrete to support an industrialist design that doesn't promote "flashy and glossy" beauty.

The building makes a bright impression on the busy street corner. 

The Katinat location found at 196 Lê Văn Thọ Street doesn't let its minimalist vibe interfere with function, however. The glass facade provides for a complete view of the world outside and the large, uncluttered open space allows for ventilation. Glass and steel overhangs further help to block out onerous sun rays. 

During the day, the Katinat appears much simpler, perhaps even resembling an unfinished building. 

While the cafe might not quite compel patrons to travel across the city, it is another entry into the seemingly stalemate war between industrial coffee shops, vintage coffee shops, plant-filled garden cafes, and innocuous chains occupy the middle-ground while niche entries like pet cafes, cottegecore outposts and Victorian teahouse throwbacks watch from the sidelines.

A spartan interior prime for hours of solitude. 

Separate rooms and natural divides should make it easy to isolate loquacious parties from quieter guests.

The concrete sidewalk notably transitions smoothly to the coffee shop's walls. 

Metallic chairs with leather cushions.

The industrial, rough-hewn exterior mimics the vibes found inside. 

Anyone passing will notice the conventional ordering area and signboards. 

[Photos by HLrStudio via ArchDaily]

Are hills simply mountains that lack ambition?

We'd say no, it's a matter of preference — the same way some people prefer hot cocoa and others eel soup. Besides, when it comes to views, one often takes what they are given, and in the case of this home on the western side of Huế, that is a hill. 

Huế-based Cote Architects sought to design a simple home on the side of this slope to draw attention to the beauty of the surrounding landscape. "Our goal is to establish an indefinite boundary so that people can be exposed to nature and that nature impacts humans in the most balanced way. The house, at its core, serves as a hub for reinforcing human-nature interaction," the architects shared.

The two-story home, consisting of stacked boxes, features large glass windows that allow views of the grounds' gardens and hillside in the distance while interwoven solid voids assist in ventilation. A vine-covered facade camouflages the glass, steel and stone structure in the natural landscape while helping control heat. 

Because of its position on a gradual incline, a basement cut into the earth allows the family to park their vehicles under the structure. The difference in altitude between the basement and the first floor also allows for a mezzanine. 

Walkways through landscaped gardens encourage the home's occupants to feel at one with the outdoors while the inside balances open space for collective appreciation of nature with needs for privacy and essential care. A central void that keeps the home cool is surrounded by stairs, corridors, and terraces.

Have a look at more images of the 352-square-meter home below:

[Photos by Hoang Le via ArchDaily]

CH House, a multi-generational abode that fosters harmonious family connectivity amidst Hanoi's discordant din, recently won the Dedalo Minosse International Prize for clients commissioning a house in the under-40 category.

ODDO architects embarked on the project with the aim of facilitating familial closeness, serenity and traditional lifestyles within the increasingly modernizing capital city. Their task was made more challenging by the confines of the 42-by-35 plot allocated for conventional tube homes in Vietnam. But through creative use of levels and open space, they could achieve their goals in the five-story home.

Cross-section of CH House including historical photos of individuals underscoring traditional lifestyle.

Above the first two floors, which are designed for unspecified commercial use, rest the family's areas which include the kitchen, living room, dining room and library.

Staircases are set against the walls to create large open spaces several floors high that invite in natural light and increase ease of communication between floors. The grandparents' and parents' bedrooms are nestled in the center of the structure to maximize peace and quiet while the two children's bedrooms open onto a void space encouraging easy interaction with the house's inhabitants. Folding partitions and screen walls supply versatile privacy.

A perforated cement block layer outside of a steel frame and a glass inner layer creates a facade that shields against the sun and city pollution while promoting natural ventilation. 

The Hanoi architects stressed that in addition to encouraging connection between family members, they wanted to house to bring people into closer proximity to nature and thus placed trees throughout the house and planned for rooftop gardens, base of the building is recessed. 

To further the oasis-like experience offered by the home, the base of the building is recessed to create some space between it and the busy Hanoi street. Despite the cramped area cluttered with buildings, traffic and people, the design maximizes peace and quiet within the walls. 

CH House was honored last month with Dedalo Minosse International Prize for commissioning a building for an architect under the age of 40. Representatives for ODDO architects traveled to Teatro Olimpico, Vicenza, Italy to accept the honor in person. The award is unique for focusing on the client's role in a building project and giving "special attention to people who determine the success of the work: the architect and the client, supported by the project executors (the building firms) and the public administrations."

Have a peak at the home's serene areas in the video below:

Video via Cinnamon Studio.

[Photos and video courtesy of ODDO architects]

If your dwelling is temporary, how much care do you pay to your surroundings?

To be a nomad is to wander, to restlessly uproot, and to abandon abodes. It's a fitting name for a cafe that purposely chose a short five-year rental agreement and constructed a design accommodating transience.

Corrugated steel, glass and iron structures were added to Nomad Cafe's core concrete and steel with the expectation that they will have to be disassembled and moved at some point. A+H architect also sought to give the coffee shop in Biên Hòa City the vibes of austere chapels that populate the area and value light and open space. 

Exemplifying its aims to dissuade attachment, the walls are primarily bare. 

Rugged cement, raw metal and the occasional plant are the only items likely to distract patrons from gazing out the window and pondering about their day.

The building allows for intermittent wandering via indoor and outdoor spaces with a balcony separated by void space. The sidewalk's proximity to customers' tables seems to call out to one's desire to keep moving, wherever the road may lead.

[Photos by Trần Nhật Quang via ArchDaily]

It's a flower's imperfections that make it beautiful.

Like hill slopes and mountain peaks, a petal's asymmetrical angles and a leaf's off-kilter stretching attracts one's eyes. With these natural elements serving as design inspiration, Nà Khoang Primary School reflects and provides for a community's discordant rhythms.

Hanoi-based 1+1>2 Architects sought to design not just a home for young learners, but a gathering place for the Thái ethnic minority group in Sơn La Province. The large courtyard that the buildings circle can host cultural events, meetings, sports and events outside of school hours.

The terraced fields in the distance enjamb the angular roofs that cover the cluster of classrooms and tile-floor corridors. The multi-colored metal roofs juxtaposed by the brick walls and cleared ground surrounding the primary and kindergarten areas call to mind a patch of wildflowers sprouting naturally in a field. 

The mountainous village is warm in the summer and cold in the winter, necessitating the school be able to keep students both cool and warm, depending on the season. Ventilation spaces in the corridors and walls invite cooling breezes while the thick, heat-absorbing bricks help keep the rooms cozy when the temperatures drop.

Soil from the foundation was used to create the unburnt terracotta bricks on-site. Community members collected pebbles and gravel from a nearby stream to assist in the construction. Such a process not only improved the project's overall sustainability, but helped keep building costs reasonable.

Children should not view learning as an activity that starts and stops at the school walls in the same way a flower does not grow independent of the natural world around it. Nà Khoang school embraces this concept with a design and construction involving the entire community and an aesthetic that blends in with the surrounding fields and forests.

[Photos by Trieu Chien and Son Vu via ArchDaily]

If somehow your relationship manages to survive illnesses, conflicts, and external temptations to endure until both of you are in your sunset years, how would you spend the rest of your life?

Labri is a special architecture project both in execution and purpose. Designed by Huế-based Nguyen Khai Architects & Associates, the small abode is wedged at the end of an alley on a 100-square-meter lot surrounded by neighbors on one side and a lush pond on the other.

“We hope to build a home where the two of us could spend the rest of our lives together happily and peacefully,” the homeowners explained to the architects their aspirations for the future home. They are a middle-aged couple in their 50s with a small plot of land within the citadel of Huế right next to one of the neighborhood’s nine ponds.

Not much is elaborated regarding the client’s characteristics or life pursuits, but if Labri is indicative of their personality, they must love nature so much to decide to let it envelop their living quarters so thoroughly.

The “house,” if you can call it that, is made up of four blocks, all covered in glass windows and connected by sun-drenched corridors. Each fulfills a basic function: bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, and living and dining area.

The walls have three layers: the innermost concrete, then green vines, and glass. Above, instead of tiles or more concrete, the roofs are four big “plant beds” where frangipani trees (sứ đại) bloom their elegant white-and-yellow blossoms.

Only 55 square meters of the plot were used for construction, while the rest retains room for a checkerboard grass and stone path and a small garden. The roof gardens are accessible via vertical ladders.

Have a closer look at Labri via more photos below:

[Photos by Hiroyuki Oki via ArchDaily]

In many up-and-coming urban areas in Vietnam, empty plots of land are sectioned off and sold as narrow puzzle pieces that will eventually become towering tube houses facing the chaos of arterial streets. Wouldn’t it be a welcome change to wake up and face the calm of your own garden instead of traffic?

P.O.M House is a project executed by local architecture firm NNA+ in hilly Sơn La Province. “We started the project with the remaining memories of a friend's house on this land,” the architects write.

“It’s a small house of [sic] a village on the hillside.” In this memory, the land was sparsely populated and houses were few and far between, wedged between heritage trees and perched on the mountainous topography of the land.

As the community developed, houses became engulfed by surrounding projects and quickly lost access to natural light and nature.

Instead of falling prey to obfuscation from all sides, P.O.M leans into it by retreating into itself, forming a “protective barrier” around the courtyard.

The patio roof protects the inner yard from the impacts of nearby construction. Instead of simply curving down, the roof features two layers; one follows a V-shape, and one is conventional.

Both sides of the house are divided by a strip of glass windows to catch natural light, especially in the late afternoon when the sun is not as intense.

Shaded by trees and orchid trellises, the inner courtyard serves as an oasis shielding inhabitants from the outside world.

[Photos by Triệu Chiến via ArchDaily]

In recent years, the Central Highlands has slowly become one of the most sought-after regions in Vietnam for young people to travel and live in.

Designed by local firms K.A Studio and AD9 Architects, this dreamy abode in Buôn Ma Thuột epitomizes that cottagecore aspiration perfectly.

It’s based in an up-and-coming new residential enclave north of Đắk Lắk's capital city and is the home of a young couple.

According to the architects’ note, the clients grew up in a similarly rural area “surrounded by a lush green garden, of the poetic and mesmerizing sound of the birds chirping harmonizing with the rushing stream in the front yard.”

It was their long-time wish to have a home in adulthood that can evoke the same feeling of peace and harmony with nature.

As a result, the design team crafted a two-story home around a lush main garden as the heart of the construction. The ground floor fits a living room and kitchen connected by a pathway above a small stream.

Apart from a guest bedroom and bathroom that are sectioned off, the entire floor flows continuously between the rooms, and even opens into the pond and garden.

The indoors and outdoors are separated by two sets of glass accordion windows, letting natural light and a breeze enter the house with a simple unfurling.

On the upper floor, there are two other bedrooms and a shared area for working or hobby activities.

The bedrooms have glass windows facing the garden below. Most of the house employs warm earth tones and wood accents for a homey ambiance.

“We want to convey, through this project, the calling to protect and extend the traditional architecture spirit amidst the hustling and bustling rhythm of urban life, and how each architectural project can be formed to shelter and nurture the beauty within one’s soul,” the architects note of their design philosophy.

[Photos by Hiroyuki Oki via ArchDaily]

Võ Trọng Nghĩa, founder of the prolific namesake architecture firm, VTN Architects, has racked up several awards this year, including the Asia's Most Influential Designer Award at the 2021 Designer of the year Awards (DOTY).

At the award ceremony held in Kuala Lumpur at the end of April, Võ Trọng Nghĩa was given the trophy for Asia's Most Influential Designer. The honor was bestowed by ACG Media, a Malaysian publishing house with numerous magazines devoted to promoting home-related design.

Castaway Island Resort. Photos via ArchDaily.

VTN Architects also nabbed two BLT (Build Design Awards) in 2021. The firm was recognized as the Jury's Favorite in the "Architectural Design - Hospitality" category for its secluded Castaway Island Resort on Cát Bà Island and the "Architectural Design - Residential" category for the Stepping Park House in Saigon. The awards factor in criteria such as creativity, ethical behavior, social responsibility, innovation and boldness.

Stepping Park House. Photos via Built Design Awards.

This is far from the first time that the 16-year-old architecture firm has been recognized with a global design distinction. The two above projects were previously awarded at the Architizer A + Awards, the LOOP Design Awards, DFA Design for Asia Awards, National Architecture Awards, ARCASIA Awards and the Dezeen Awards. Earlier this year, VTN notched victories for architectural Firm of the Year and Best Commercial Architecture for their Nanoco Head Office in Thủ Đức. 

Nanoco Head Office. Photo via VTN Architects.

The prolific architecture firm works on commercial and residential projects across the country. Recent Saigoneer favorites include a compact, tree-filled home in the suburbs, and a scintillating bamboo restaurant beside Cúc Phương National Park.

[Top image via ASHUI]

Looks like we'll be working remote today.

The Cocoa Project is a new cafe on Nguyễn Đình Chiểu Street designed by T3 Architects. The design intention of the project was to give new life to a 1950s modernist villa while creating a place for Vietnamese to reconnect with the city's architectural heritage.

Another goal is to highlight the high-quality cocoa produced in the Mekong Delta and used in goods sold at the cafe.

According to T3, the villa was practically invisible at the start thanks to layers of industrial finishing that covered the walls and facade, turning it into a dark, unwelcoming space. To open up the building, the team removed part of the roof and some walls, creating a tropical garden in the front while also allowing ample natural light to flood in. 

Modernist architectural flourishes have also been exposed, with T3 describing their work on the building more as an "archeological" mission than an interior design mission. The end result is a bright space featuring all the usual modern creature comforts that also highlights Saigon's past. Take a look at this beautiful new spot below.

[Photos by Hiroyuki Oki, via T3 Architects.]

Family gatherings might be a touchy subject for many of us who don’t connect well with some family members, but if one was to design a house with cordial meals and warm banquets in mind, what would it look like?

This new residential project by architecture firm Atelier TAs seeks to respond to that specification in their design of BiBi House, in Đồng Nai Province.

The homeowner is a young software engineer, according to Atelier TAs, and he set out to construct the perfect home for him, his mother and his sister.

For the abode, the client wants to honor the family altar and provide ample space to celebrate Vietnam’s traditional festive occasions, like Tết, engagement parties, đám giỗ, and more.

The resulting residence is a spacious two-story home consisting of one front and one back block, linked by a vast shared space.

On the first story, a wide cement floor flows seamlessly between the living room and dining room, creating sufficient room for gatherings with many family members.

Above the dining room, a floor cut-out brings in natural light from the skylight above, while a balcony on the second floor allows the altar to overlook the living space below.

Two bedrooms on the second story are connected by a steel pathway, instead of a concrete corridor. This was a deliberate choice by the architects to incorporate a different material into the structure while giving the impression of openness.

The design also sought to light up all indoor spaces, including the toilets, with natural light during the day. Thanks to many vertical surfaces covered by bricks, this natural light helps warm up the interior as it bounces off wood tones and brick tiles.

[Photos by Quang Đàm via ArchDaily]

This family home outside Hanoi proves that it is possible to build inside nature without destroying it in the process. 

Who doesn't want to live beside a clean lake beneath fruit-bearing trees nestled in verdant ferns and grasses? But does building a home there destroy the very nature one wants to live amongst?

All too often we've seen construction sites beset with barren tree stumps, rubble-strewn fields and vegetation torn apart to make way for foundations. 1+1>2 Architects' latest project proves it doesn't have to be this way.

With the aim of impacting the surrounding ecosystem as little as possible, the team built the home beside a lake in Cổ Đông Commune, Hanoi. Elevated floors allow for natural surface water drainage, while the thatched roof not only blends in with the surrounding trees, but also helps control temperatures and reduce the building's carbon footprint.

Locally sourced concrete, adobe bricks and steel lessen the negative impacts of transportation, and a five-chamber septic tank and Wetland technology used for wastewater treatment, irrigation and sewage operate on a renewable closed-loop cycle. 

The views of the lake from the main bedroom and living room are likely enhanced by the knowledge that they didn't require the destruction of the environment. Take a look at the project below:

[Photos by Hiroyuki Oki via ArchDaily]

With dedicated spaces for yoga and various exercises, the Red Cave's color and structure stand out amid the tube houses and international-style mansions in Saigon.

ArchDaily has shared a dreamy abode called The Red Cave, designed by 23o5Studio and located in Thảo Điền Ward of Thủ Đức City. The architects aimed to follow traditional architectural forms of a village communal house with a modern update. The multi-level home features exercise facilities on the ground floor, a yoga space on the first floor and a verdant terrace on the top level. 

Plants and trees surround The Red Cave, while a system of pillars on the outer edge create an "ambiguous" barrier between inside and outside. Interior wood and mirrored walls create seemingly vast space that floods with natural light during the day thanks to the sloped roof. A kitchen and tea room overlook the neighborhood, while the house overall is intended to serve as a convergence of architecture and nature.

Take a look at The Red Cave, which we wouldn't mind spending some time in, below:

[Photos by Hiroyuki Oki via ArchDaily.]

Vĩnh Long is a land of rich historical values located in the Mekong Delta. Here, generations of residents from diverse cultural backgrounds have been living, working, and interacting across key milestones of the land’s historical periods.

In recent years, urbanization has significantly impacted the appearance of Vĩnh Long’s architectural heritage. Some iconic structures — long regarded as anchors for memories, venues for cultural exchange for multiple generations, and iconic expressions of the land’s spiritual wealth — are straddling the line between modernity and the bygone days. Hence, to better understand the foundations behind the stories of past Vĩnh Long, let’s explore a few of the province’s totemic landmarks.

A mark of colorful heritage: Miếu Vũ

Hoa residents in Vĩnh Long have been a local mainstay for centuries. Miếu and hội quán (guild halls) mark the heart of any Hoa community, where reunions, feasts, festivals and orations take place. Public structures like temples and guild halls have anchored the community’s collective memories across its transitory and development episodes. Hoa architecture stands out on a tropical background thanks to a bold color palette, courtly decor, and the employment of many craft skills.

An example of this style is Thất Phủ Hội Quán in Ward 5 of Vĩnh Long City. The building worships Guan Yu, an important general in the history and folk spirituality of Chinese communities. Because of the guild hall’s monotheistic nature, the people simply refer to it as “Chùa Ông,” loosely translated as “a pagoda for Him.” The venue is also where Hoa inhabitants organize guild activities. It reflects distinctive elements of Fujian architecture: curvaceous roof ends, colorful ceramic mosaics, and glorious shades of crimson.

Miếu Thất Phủ, Vĩnh Long. 

Miếu Thiên Hậu sits opposite of Thất Phủ Hội Quán across the river. It’s a public place of worship for Thiên Hậu Thánh Mẫu (Tianhou) and other deities. In contrast with the reverent and multi-layered roof structure of Thất Phủ Hội Quán, Miếu Thiên Hậu exudes simplicity.

Miếu Thiên Hậu, Vĩnh Long.

The top portion is embellished by a nê họa — a relief made of mortar and painted over — and a series of ceramic sculptures depicting folk stories from southern China. Next to the shrine is a Chinese-language training school where generations of young Hoa Vietnamese can get in touch with their ethnic heritage.

A closeup of the roof of miếu Thiên Hậu, Vĩnh Long.

Beside these standout buildings, there’s also the Minh Hương Pagoda, a construction that’s less elaborate in design, but holds an important role as an archive for many ancient texts in Sino-Vietnamese script. It’s an indispensable trove of southern history and culture.

The inner courtyard of Chùa Minh Hương, a rare green space in the middle of buildings. 

The last remnant of southern academic excellence: Văn Thánh Miếu.

After Văn Miếu Trấn Biên in Đồng Nai Province and Văn Miếu Gia Định in Saigon were obliterated, Vĩnh Long’s Văn Thánh Miếu became the only remaining paragon of Confucianism in the south. The venue heralds intellectualism and imperial court examinations, though the context surrounding its birth is already enough to cement its status as a nationalist monument. The complex was constructed in 1864–1866 amidst the French administration’s iron rule. Thus, Văn Thánh Miếu epitomizes the effort to preserve past academic traditions and unite the southern intelligentsia during a period when there was palpable fear that the country might crumble under colonialism. These structures have managed to persist until today as concrete proof of how intellectualism could contribute to a nation’s fate.

A harbinger of a golden era

An ancient home of a Nguyễn family.

The prosperity of a region can be observed via how its urban inhabitants approach architecture as they create their own dwelling. The people’s taste has constantly shifted across decades, each bearing witness to a collection of distinctive ideas regarding beauty that residents incorporate in their living quarters. Taking a stroll on Vĩnh Long's streets, one can marvel at such “layers” of history: traditional wooden houses with reliefs and mosaics, French mansions sporting bright tones, and even abodes enveloped in washed rock and shaped by the dynamic geometry of modernist architecture — all those spaces come together to form an architectural whole that’s eclectic and sequential, all deserving of conservation.

A Lâm family home with both elements of eastern and western architecture.

A modern touch of commerce and timeworn nostalgia

Hưng An Tự is a worship venue of the Tịnh Độ Cư Sĩ Phật Hội sect.

It’s impossible to discuss a metropolis without mentioning its frenetic commercial neighborhoods. While new shops are appearing every day, old shophouses can still find a way to exist. A “shop” is a streetside business venue while a “house” represents a private living space, usually sequestered behind or above the commercial area. The traditional merchant didn’t usually live far from their home; often they ate, slept and traded right under one roof. Here, some shop fronts are relics from French rule, while others were built in the last half of the 20th century, reflecting new, open-minded, resourceful ways of thinking. On store signs, the typographical designs, once modern and novel, are now wistful reminders of a past era. Trends come and go, so the urban area becomes diverse over time thanks to what its residents decide to keep and to change.

This article was published as part of a content collaboration between Saigoneer and Architecture Excursions (Tản Mạn Kiến Trúc), an independent collective focused on Vietnam’s urban heritage, especially of southern Vietnam. To find out more about Tản Mạn Kiến Trúc’s work, visit their Facebook page here.

The mixed-use shophouse/home structure has long been a staple of Vietnam’s urban fabric — allowing residents to generate revenue from lower-floor businesses while making a home on the upper levels.

This Tree-House in Saigon’s Binh Thanh District shared by ArchDaily doubles down on this concept, layering in additional, sunlight, greenery and community - all tied together by a concept inspired by a growing tree.

The property owners enlisted ROOM+ Design & Build architects to erect a structure on an 80 square-meter plot of land that includes a ground floor commercial space, six rental studios and their own two-bedroom abode perched on the building’s highest floors.

Beyond the intertwining of nature throughout its six stories, the building was envisioned to mimic the structure of a tree: the pilings are the roots, the ground floor the trunk, and terraced floors above branches, topped off with a roof garden that mimics a canopy.

The architects ensured that the nature-inspired concept went beyond aesthetics by building out a strong circulation core and rear bike parking, all underpinned by nature-friendly materials that help the building adapt to its frenetic environment. For example, the sand-washed paint on the building’s facade reduces street noise.

Altogether, the building represents a novel elevation of the traditional tube house and one that not only benefits its tenants but the environment as well.

[Photos by Sonmeo Nguyen Art Studio via ArchDaily.]

If only we could all have a garden around our house.

ArchDaily has shared this lovely Binh Duong House, designed by k59 atelier and completed in 2020. The architects aimed to create a version of the area's past, before it became an industrial powerhouse, when many homes had trees and gardens on their spacious plots of land.

The original design of the house located in Thuan An had to be adjusted during the pandemic as the owner faced financial difficulties and sold part of the land; you wouldn't know it based on the bright, airy photos, but the home sits on an area that used to store garbage from a restaurant.

Amid the scraps, however, the plot had good bones, namely in the form of 11 Indian laurel trees, which the architects designed the house around. They pursued five design criteria: reviving a forgotten area, preserving the existing trees, bringing a traditional space into modern life, using long-lasting materials, and using doors and windows as a connecting element between indoors and outdoors. 

The end result is a home filled with natural light, old-school furniture and traditional roofing, all of which combines to create a space that we would very much like to spend time in.

Take a tour of the Binh Duong House below:

[Photos via ArchDaily.]