Bamboo House In Vietnam Adds Greenery To Urban District

Design by: VTN Architects.

Located: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam | Latitude: 10.77581˚ N

“Bamboo House” in Ho-Chi-Minh City, Vietnam, creates a comfortable living space on a tight, narrow lot. The house uses bamboo to add greenery in a dense urban district. Hence, these bamboo plants create vegetation that is seen both from the street and inside the house.

VTN Architects did the design of the house. It is part of their “House for Trees” series. This series of houses aim to develop prototypical house design solutions that provide green spaces in high-density neighbourhoods.

Site and Context

Rapid urbanization transforms the appearance of a city. Cities in Vietnam went through significant changes because of this urbanization. These areas were once “low-density tropical green spaces”. However, new developments in urban districts are losing their connection with nature.

Bamboo House tries to address this problem.

It is a 217m2 (2,336 sq.ft.) house along a narrow alley. In Vietnam, the name for these tiny alleyways is “hem”. They are several of these alleys in Vietnam and they are typically 2m to 3m wide.

The lots and buildings along both sides of a hem are usually narrow as well.

Photo: Hiroyuki Oki

Because the streets are so narrow, the tall, slender buildings can be imposing to persons moving along the road. These houses tend to have cold facades that do not engage with the alley. Windows facing the street are usually closed to ensure privacy.

Therefore, the streets in these urban districts tend to feel heavy and even more dense than they are.

The site for the Bamboo House is also dense and narrow. Only two sides have access to natural ventilation.

Tropical Design Approach

Despite the limit in physical area, the design for the Bamboo House creates comfortable living spaces.

Only the front and back of this home have access to natural light and ventilation.

The front facade overlooking the alleyway has planter boxes. These planters are in random locations creating a more playful appearance. In addition, they make the street façade more exciting and the entrance more welcoming.

At the back of the house, there is a semi-open staircase. This staircase has creeping plants wrapping around it. The branches and leaves of these plants function as a buffer layer that reduces direct sunlight from entering the home.

In addition, it creates a comfortable separation between the homeowner and the neighbours. This visual separation is most effective with the bedroom that is close to the open bathroom and staircase.

The front and back of the house are mostly open. Behind the bamboo planter boxes on the front façade are large sliding doors. These almost completely open the front of the house. Hence, this area of the house feels like a covered balcony or veranda.

Photo: Hiroyuki Oki

However, the planters and bamboo plants provide privacy from the street and neighbours.

They protect the openings with greenery, which allows cool wind to pass the house. As a result, the homeowner uses considerably less air conditioning.

In addition, these planter boxes that pop out from the front facade form deep eaves. These deep eaves allow the windows to stay open even during the rainy season.

Use Of Bamboo and Green Spaces

“The client’s love for bamboo and its’ high relevance to Asian context resulted in a facade covered with bamboo plantations.”

– VTN Architects

Photo: Hiroyuki Oki

Having green spaces at both the front and back of the house allows the client to connect more with nature.

“I wake up to the sound of birds chirruping every morning, as the plantations attract them. My home feels like a jungle in the middle of a bustling city. The green spaces also keep the house cool at all times, reducing the usage of the air conditioner. The space also feels larger because of the large openings on the two sides.”

– Client

Therefore, this home provides comfortable rooms that are open. In addition, they have a close connection with green areas. Having this connection with nature on a small site in a dense neighbourhood is refreshing.

Hence, the house not only meets the practical needs.  It also connects the family with each other, as well as with nature.

Materials and Finishes

In addition to growing bamboo on the front facade, the concrete formwork also uses bamboo. The use of bamboo here allows for a consistent design language for the plants and planter boxes. It also helps to soften the look of the concrete.

“The bamboo texture also helps to reduce the intense and heavy appearance of conventional concrete wall and thus, improves the overall aesthetic quality of the house.”

– VTN Architects

Photo: Hiroyuki Oki

“The Bamboo House provides a solution to create a comfortable and open living space that is surrounded by green in a highly dense and small site. It not only meets the functional and aesthetic needs but also connects the people with one another and more importantly, with nature.”

– VTN Architects

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Architect: VTN Architects (Facebook)
Photographer: Hiroyuki Oki