A Concrete Home in Vietnam Is Topped With Trees
With greenery dwindling in urban areas, an architecture firm in Ho Chi Minh City designs a home to bring nature back to the city—all with a budget of $155,000.
Located in the densely populated Tan Binh District of Ho Chi Minh City, this tree-topped family home designed by Vo Trong Nghia Architects aims to provide a blueprint for the future of urban housing.
In Ho Chi Minh City, only 0.25 percent of the landscape is covered with greenery.
Hiroyuki Oki
Working within a budget of $155,000, the architecture firm cut costs while building the prototypical home by using locally sourced, untreated materials.
Completed in 2014, the home is made up of five concrete, flower pot-like boxes that surround a central courtyard.
The architecture firm has a history of designing buildings that incorporate plant life into the fabric of their projects.
Hiroyuki Oki
This project sparks a conversation about the future of the relationship between urban development and the preservation of natural areas.
Hiroyuki Oki
The thick soil layers on the roofs function as storm water basins. If the concept is applied to more buildings in the surrounding area, it could reduce the risk of flooding in the city.
Hiroyuki Oki
Every room on the upper level has windows that face into the courtyard, blurring the line between indoor and outdoor spaces.
Hiroyuki Oki
The external walls are made of in-situ concrete with bamboo formwork.
Hiroyuki Oki
The large doors on the ground floor connect the courtyard with the interiors.
Hiroyuki Oki
The open courtyard brings warmth and light into the home.
Hiroyuki Oki
Locally sourced bricks are used for the internal walls.
Hiroyuki Oki
The oasis-like abode stands out amongst the neighboring buildings.
Hiroyuki Oki
The firm hopes that projects like these will encourage the city to switch to accommodating high-density dwellings with big tropical trees.
Hiroyuki Oki
The ground floor houses the common areas such as the dining room and library.
Hiroyuki Oki
The upper floors are connected by a steel bridge.
Hiroyuki Oki
Hiroyuki Oki
Hiroyuki Oki
A bird's-eye view of the site.
VTN Architects
The site elevation.
VTN Architects
VTN Architects
VTN Architects
VTN Architects
Project Credits:
Architecture Firm: VTN Architects
Principal architects: Vo Trong Nghia, Masaaki Iwamoto, Kosuke Nishijima
Architects: Nguyen Tat Dat
Contractor: Wind and WaterHouse JSC
Photography: Hiroyuki Oki
Published
Last Updated