U house by atelier NgNg references traditional vietnamese garden houses

located in a new development area in the suburb of binh duong, a growing industrial city in the south of vietnam, ‘U house’ references the traditional typology of garden houses found in rural parts of the country. the owner was particularly interested in the ‘hue garden houses’ which blend the calculation of human architecture with the randomness of nature. challenging atelier NgNg to adapt this building type to the new setting, the client requested that the residence be designed around its most important features: the central courtyard.

images courtesy of han deo

whereas in a traditional garden house the courtyard is located in the front, behind the entrance, atelier NgNg have turned this layout on its head. the courtyard is instead positioned at the back and the house and garden ultimately wrap around each other. the lot faces the main road to the east side with the remaining sides blocked by other lots awaiting development.

this formal transformation and spatial organization not only brings nature deep into this suburban dwelling but also solves several challenges’, explains studio explains. ‘first, the garden and fishpond become effective devices in reducing severe sunlight from the west. second, the screen is extended to become a long wall facing the main road, providing shade while blocking dust and noise noise, making the house more private and introverted according to the wish of the owner.‘

another element of the property that doesn’t follow classic examples is the roof. while the traditional garden house uses pitch roofs in additive mode, atelier NgNg creates a continuous U-shaped design that emphasizes the spatial organization of the house. the mono pitch slopes down towards the courtyard with the drainage system designed so that the pond becomes a rainwater collector, keeping the courtyard clean during the rainy season while saving water for the garden. the ho chi minh city-based practice combines traditional materials, using tiles that contrast with modern surfaces such as iron and glass. the glass portion of the roof folda down to become a glass wall, erasing the separation between the main living area and the courtyard, blending interior and exterior spaces.

the house does make use of the effective organization of a tradtional garden house. looking out onto the courtyard, the central area functions as a semi-private area living room space bridging the gap between each wing. extending towards the back yard on either side, four bedrooms and two bathrooms are accessible from the garden, a place where the family can meet and hang out.

the roof is cut above the bathrooms on both sides to create light wells that bring natural light into areas that are often dark. fengshui principles are also employed, with the long wall at the front acting as a shield, blocking both dust and noise whilst the pond in the court yard helps to cool down and neutralize air flow.