Binh House|Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam|2015-2016

Architects: Vo Trong Nghia Architects
Client: Withheld
Photographers: Hiroyuki Oki, Quang Dam

The project “House for Trees” is a prototype house developed for tropical cities, and it represents an effort to change the current situation. The aim of the project is to bring green spaces back into the city, accommodating high-density dwellings with big tropical trees.

This lack of greenery generates many problems including: increasing air pollution without purification, the city’s inability to retain rainwater, insufficient amount of space to cool the street, and people become inactive overtime.

“Connect people and people, people to nature” In addition of that, many families in Vietnam are living in a Multi-generation. Therefore, the current challenge is to create spaces which allow them interact and communicate despite their differences.

The gardens located on the top of the vertically stacking spaces; bounded by sliding glass doors.

This strategy improves the microclimate thanks to natural ventilation and daylight in every room, but also the alternately stacking openings increase visibility and interaction between the family members.

Living, dining, bedrooms and study room are continuously opened. In fact, from one room to another, people's sightlines can reach beyond to the other rooms via the gardens.

The 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. Indeed, residents have never used furnished AC.

The roof gardens host 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 costs.

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.