https://www.caandesign.com/binh-house-vo-trong-nghia-architects-exposed-concrete-home-also-house-trees/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ReviveOldPost

Binh House by Vo Trong Nghia Architects, an exposed concrete home that is also a house for trees

Architects: Vo Trong Nghia Architects
Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Year: 2016
Area: 2.885 ft²/ 268 m²
Photo courtesy: Hiroyuki Oki, Quang Dam
Description:

“Binh house is one of the many projects in the “House for trees” series that strives to address Vietnamese cities’ shockingly low green surface area per person.

The Client is a family of three generations. Therefore, the challenge is to create spaces which can connect its residents despite their differences.

Gardens alternate on top of the vertically scattered spaces; bounded by sliding glass doors. This strategy not only improves the microclimate by using natural ventilation and daylight in every room, but also allows the spaces to be perceived larger than it is. This helps to increase interaction between the family members.

Advertisement

Living, dining, bedrooms, study room are continuously opened. From one room, people’s sightlines can reach beyond to the other rooms via the gardens.

Service areas such as the kitchen, bathrooms, stairs and corridors are located in the west to limit heat radiation exposure towards frequently occupied areas. The vertical variation of spaces create a lopsided pressure difference. Thus, when the surrounding houses are built, natural ventilation is maintained. Thanks to these passive strategies, the house always stays cool in the tropical climate. Air conditioning system is rarely used.

The roof gardens hosts large trees for shading, thereby reducing indoor temperature. Vegetables can also be planted to serve its resident’s daily needs. This vertical farming solution is suitable for high-density housing whilst also contributing to the Vietnamese life style.

Using sustainable materials such as natural stone, wood, exposed concrete combined with the microclimate, this house greatly reduces operational and maintenance cost . The architecture is not only to meet the functional and aesthetic concerns, but also as a means to connect people to people and people to nature.”

Thank you for reading this article!