VIETNAM DESIGN

This project is the result of three young architects, each now leading their own studios : Nguyen Huu Duy from AmDesign Office, Nguyen Duy from Time Architects and Bui The Long from Creative Architects.

The garden house sits on a 3,500 square meter plot of land in Can Giuoc, Long An province, just a 45-minute drive from District 7 in Ho Chi Minh City. The owner, a marketing director for a large corporation, resides in an apartment in District 7. Constantly managing stress and pressure at work, he sought a peaceful and joyful retreat where he could escape the worries of the world, find tranquility, cultivate harmony, and recharge his energy.

The building consists of five separate blocks arranged organically beneath a large thatched roof, situated next to a lake. These split blocks offer diverse views from both inside and outside the building, while also providing natural ventilation and daylight to every space.

In the heart of a lush garden, you can relax on the porch while listening to the melodies and sounds of nature. It’s a place where you can feel the green of the leaves and the blue of the sky, where peace of mind and inner calm flourish. Here, nature, home, and humanity are intertwined, becoming one.

The roofing system, made of sheet steel, is topped with a thatched layer, a hallmark of Southwest Vietnamese architecture. This design feature creates an eco-friendly and intimate atmosphere, allowing the building to blend seamlessly with nature. Beneath the steel roof, a wooden ceiling enhances the interior. The roofing system’s three distinct layouts help to reduce heat, keeping the indoor temperature cooler than the outside. The wooden ceiling matches the color of the wood-lined concrete walls, and similarly, the floor is designed to complement this color scheme with handmade wood-grain concrete boards. Instead of traditional tile flooring, we opted for a polished concrete floor, which is cost-effective and comfortable to walk on. The cohesive color and texture of all elements in the house foster a serene and peaceful environment that harmonizes with the surrounding landscape.

Additionally, the roofing system features a slot that allows more daylight into the center of the house. This opening also enables occupants to observe the sun’s movement throughout the day.

The large lake, designed to align with the house’s floor plan, runs along both sides of the structure. This design element not only enhances the landscape but also helps to lower the house’s temperature during hot summer days.

Drawing inspiration from nature, the architects employed a combination of strategies to combat heat, promote natural ventilation, and ensure a cohesive color palette and material sensibility. The Am House has been envisioned as a peaceful, joyful, and liberating space where people can set aside their worries, find tranquility, cultivate harmony, and recharge every weekend.

Text : Mário de Castro
Photographs : Hiroyuki Oki