VTN architects drapes 'green veil' over narrow family home in vietnam

VTN architects, led by vo trong nghia, has completed a skinny family house at the heart of ho chi minh city. located on a narrow plot that measures just 3.9 meters wide (13 feet), the dwelling is only accessible via an alleyway within an extremely densely populated neighborhood. the residence, titled ‘breathing house’, has been wrapped with a ‘green veil’ made out of plants that grown on a steel mesh. ‘we aimed to design a house that introduces an external environment while ensuring privacy,’ explain the architects.

all images by hiroyuki oki

to create the natural façade, VTN architects placed planter boxes at each floor slab, with modularized galvanized steel elements attached. ‘this soft layer, as an environmental diffuser, filters direct sunlight and prevents the interior space from overexposure to the outside, without the feeling of isolation,’ the design team continues. ‘this structure provides a green view throughout the house, which also protects the residents from the urban crime.’

inside the veil, the building consists of five tower-like volumes positioned between the two boundary walls. the placement of these volumes creates a series of ‘micro voids’, which ensure natural light and ventilation throughout the property. ‘in the narrow and deep plot shuttered by neighbors on both sides, it is more environmentally effective to promote ventilation for each corner of the house, by multiple ‘micro voids’, rather than having a singular large courtyard,’ VTN explains.

openings on each of the floors present residents with increased sightlines, while the porous composition of the building reduces the use of air conditioning. the roof terrace is also covered by the veil of greenery, resulting in a bucolic setting at the heart of the busy city. ‘we hope the essence of this design would give positive influence to the cities in vietnam, which is losing its green spaces at an alarming rate,’ the architects say.

1/15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

project info:

name: breathing house
status: completed in 2019
location: ho chi minh city, vietnam
site area: 69.5 sqm
GFA: 343 sqm
design firm: VTN architects (vo trong nghia architects)
principal architects: vo trong nghia, kosuke nishijima
project architects: so adachi
contractor: wind and water house JSC
photography: hiroyuki oki