gentle house by V-architecture responds to sun, wind, light, + view

gentle house by V-architecture responds to sun, wind, light, + view
all images courtesy of V-architectre

hanoi, the capital of vietnam, is an ancient city with thousands of years of history formed and developed from its traditional villages. with rapid and complicated urbanization occurring in the area, the original landscape of these communities has become deformed and distorted. it is within this context that ngoc luong le and his firm, V-architecture, have constructed a project called the ‘gentle house’.

elevation 

influenced by the country’s existing dwellings, which are often small in terms of sizes and dimensions but multifunctional and highly flexible, the residence has only two floors. all the existing trees on site are maintained. the geometry of the building is deeply studied to harmonize with the ecological system and all living species. the ground level is for family’s living functions, including a central zone, three bedrooms, a gathering space, and a kitchen. the center is mainly used for worshiping whereas all daily activities happen on the outside front yard. the upper floor is an architectural studio that opens to provide 360-degree views to the surroundings.

interior of the second floor architecture studio

the structure is built by custom terra-cotta brick with plain concrete slab and column finishes, which are shaped by bamboo formwork. the wooden doors and windows are not painted, while the raw wood curtains and ceiling finishes are made by traditional methods. the steel construction of the roof originates in the banana leaf of the garden that operates as overhang with no supporting columns.

opening and closing the façade

the façade consists of 36 sets of timber doors that reference ‘thuong song ha ban’, a gate typology commonly used throughout vietnam. this adjustable door, with two sliding louvers, has the ability open or close based on the need of the clients and the change of the climate. when the entire system is in use, the inside can become a veranda. the curtain wall on upper floor has been shaped as a bamboo blind that lets light penetrate deeply into the house. this detail works alongside the roof, where spraying mechanisms respond to the heat of the summer with grey water, which cools down the enclosing surface and creates a comfortable atmosphere for occupiers.

outdoor walkway

decorative elements were minimized to save money

the house is built by custom terra-cotta brick

lounge area

aerial view of the house

curtain wall construction explaning how comfort is provided by water spraying mechanisms

the steel roof mimics the structure of an overhanging banana leaf

floor plans

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.