geometric pine cabins house environmentally sensitive workspaces in vietnam

ho chi minh city-based firm myan architects has designed a cluster of geometric cabins set in the central highland landscape of vietnam. located in ta nung valley, 18 kilometers west of central dalat, the cabins house workers who help to run the administration system of ta nung homestay.

images courtesy of myan architects

the 5,400-square foot construction offers environmentally sensitive accommodation for up to ten people. elevated on stilts, to reduce the impact on the environment, myan architects uses locally sourced pine, in keeping with the local vernacular. meanwhile, floor-to-ceiling windows frame the surrounding landscape, flooding the interiors with natural light.

‘the views and abundant daylight are celebrated and democratized,’ myan architects explains. ‘bottom-to-top large panels of glass are lined up and combined with such vernacular, rich, textured material like pine wood for the rhythmic-formed roof, diffuse strong southern and northern sunlight while maintaining views and creating indistinguishable boundaries between indoor and outdoor space.’

the site was designed with openness and collaboration in mind, comprising a variety of intimate working areas that surround a large community terrace. the open area functions as a welcoming buffer zone, built around an existing pine tree which was naturally preserved as part of the terrace.

the open space also functions as a bridge which connects the site’s various functions. to the west there is a main suite, featuring a bedroom, living room, and other useful amenities. meanwhile, built at an angle towards the east of the site, an elongated volume contains a main office, two bedrooms, and a second living area where people can meet, work, or socialize.

‘one critical challenge was the ability to keep track of the executive office at night, in the middle of the wild, unelectrified forest of ta nung, without applying too many touches toward nature,’ the studio explains. ‘the solution was to turn the space into a lantern, glowing in the night using multiple low-fractional rating lights with warm color refracted inside out.’