room+ design & build has renovated an old and partly damaged house in the heart of ho chi minh city, vietnam, using full size glass-block façades. located on an 18 sqm site in an alleyway, the project consists of a leather fashion shop on the ground level, and a two-bedroom home on the two upper floors. its two old brick façades have been entirely replaced by glass blocks, which let ample natural light inside during daytime, and transform the building into a sparkling lantern at night.

room+ design & build renovates tiny house in vietnam with glass-block façades - 1the translucent glass-block facades let the space receive desirable day-lighting and ventilation without losing its privacy, and also make the building blend with the surroundings during the day

images by room+ design & build / SM studio

 

 

room+ design & build renovated the dilapidated building to accommodate the owners’ start-up leather shop and their living space with two bedrooms. ‘we proposed a creative solution by carefully removing two old brick façades, and then replace them with glass-block façades and integrated windows together with new minimal steel structure,’ notes vinh phuc ta, lead architect of the project. ‘the translucent glass-block facades let the space receive desirable day-lighting and ventilation without losing its privacy, and also make the building blend with the surroundings during the day. at night, when lights on, the house become a magically sparkling lantern in the middle of the neighborhood.’

room+ design & build renovates tiny house in vietnam with glass-block façades - 2at night, when lights on, the house become a magically sparkling lantern in the middle of the neighborhood

 

 

the design of the minimal steel pergola on the top level is based on the square shape of the glass-block. it is considered as the outer skin of the façade, which gives space for plants, enhances privacy, and minimizes heat gain within the interior space. the ground floor accommodates the owners’ leather showroom with some display windows and integrated glass shelving. the kitchen, laundry, staircase and a small toilet are purposely hidden behind sliding glass doors which are only opened when necessary.room+ design & build renovates tiny house in vietnam with glass-block façades - 3
the ground floor accommodates the owners’ leather showroom with some display windows and integrated glass shelving

 

 

the first level consists of a compact bedroom suite with the bathroom and wardrobe seamlessly hidden behind glass partitions. the second level accommodates the cozy master bedroom suite, complete with a landscaped balcony. the bathroom features a minimalist design and a bright, glass-block shower. sunlight is filtered through the plants as well as the translucent glass blocks before entering the interior. at the same time, the façades can be closed off thanks to the full-size roller blinds.room+ design & build renovates tiny house in vietnam with glass-block façades - 4
the kitchen, laundry, staircase and a small toilet are purposely hidden behind sliding glass doors which are only opened when necessary

room+ design & build renovates tiny house in vietnam with glass-block façades - 5
the first level is consisted of a compact bedroom suite with the bathroom and wardrobe seamlessly hidden behind glass partitions

room+ design & build renovates tiny house in vietnam with glass-block façades - 6
this space has merely two colors: the green of the traditional floor tiling and the banana-leaf patterned film applied on glass; and the neutral warm tone of the wooden furniture and soft furnishingroom+ design & build renovates tiny house in vietnam with glass-block façades - 7
the second level accommodates the master suite with a landscaped balcony. the sunlight is filtered by the plantings as well as the translucent glass-block facades before lightening the interior space

room+ design & build renovates tiny house in vietnam with glass-block façades - 8
the glass windows in various sizes are wisely positioned to open the view to the landscape yet avoid direct sight from the neighboring houses to enhance privacy and comfortroom+ design & build renovates tiny house in vietnam with glass-block façades - 9
the furniture is space-saving and carefully designed with natural wood and traditional bamboo sheetsroom+ design & build renovates tiny house in vietnam with glass-block façades - 10
the bathroom is a minimalist design featuring a delightful glass-block shower

room+ design & build renovates tiny house in vietnam with glass-block façades - 11two old brick walls were replaced by glass-block facades and integrated windows together with new minimal steel structure

 

room+ design & build renovates tiny house in vietnam with glass-block façades - 12
renovated floor plans and axonometric diagrams

 

 

 

project info:

 

 

name: glass-block micro house

architect: room+ design & build

location: ho chi minh city, vietnam

land area: 18 square meters

gross floor area: 60 square meters

construction: room+ design & build

lead architect: vinh phuc ta

team: hieu hien trinh, kim quy nguyen

 

 

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.

 

edited by: sofia lekka angelopoulou | designboom