/ Hoa Binh, Vietnam /
/ Story: BRL / English version: Bob Pitakwong /
/ Photographs: Chimnon Studio /
Here’s an ordinary-looking gable house that embraces the calm and the magic of a wild forest-inspired garden. Behind an unassuming façade, the house in Hoa Binh, Vietnam opens to reveal functional and flexible spaces with lots of cozy outdoor seating making it a perfect fit for family lifestyle needs. The simple secret to happiness lies in leaving the existing landscape as it is, plus it’s built of lightweight materials with the minimal impact on the environment.
Nestled in what was once a fruit orchard in the countryside, the humble abode by the pond has been the family home for decades. Soon it came time for a renovation, and the homeowners thought it wise to put in an add-on unit of construction that adapts to changing needs. The result is a piece of gable roof architecture that’s warm and welcoming.
The old house now serves a new purpose as workroom, while the newly built wing seamlessly blends form and function creating an ample interior space that inspires and performs as intended. There’s an open-concept living room at the center of the house plan with a dining room and clever pantry ideas for a kitchen nearby.
The living room has a wide porch in front overlooking a lush, thriving yard with a playground for kids. To protect from the elements, the roofed platform along the outside of the house is enclosed by clear glass paneling that’s an integral part of the building façade. Step inside, and you find a pantry giving access to an outbuilding containing a hot kitchen for cooking traditional meals. Together they form the heart of family life, a sensible way to bring back the taste of home and flavors of simpler times.
The covered shelter projecting in front of the building doubles as a long passage connecting the old house with newly added living spaces. The floor is covered with brick pavers with narrow cuts or depressions in between to allow rainwater to drain. As a protection against flooding, the entire plinth area is raised on columns over the surface of the soil. At the same time, split level design creates an interesting combination of distinct areas within the same building.
By integrating nature into a design concept, the architects at 814lab, Vietnam have succeeded in creating a home that evokes a sense of tranquility and balance. In other words, it treats all the visible features of an area as equally important as the house itself. Like so, every tree on the property is valuable and worth keeping for as long as possible. The house and its landscape remain a familiar sight in the area, plus it’s easy to maintain, requiring little care and making the home more livable.
The property also includes two other buildings: a lodge by the river used exclusively for the accommodation of guests, and an outbuilding with elevated tanks to distribute the water via a piped system. They are located in less-often used areas that allow nature to take its course. Impressive in its austere simplicity, the lodge is stripped down to the bare essentials with only bedrooms and baths. Basically, it’s about creating tranquility and balance in ecosystems and meeting the needs of the present without compromising on the well-being of future generations.
Architect: 814lab
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