Project: Mini house Bac Cau
Location: Ngoc Thuy, Hanoi, Vietnam
Topos: The riverside edge of the village
Typus: Residential building
Area: 84 qm
BGF: 80 qm
Year: 2019-2020
Commission: LP 1-9
Status: Completed
Cost: KG 300+400 50.000 EUR
Client: Private
Lead Architects: Huong Vu, Dung Nguyen, Giang Vu
Post-production: Duong Le
Credits:
1-3, 7-16 © Hoang Le
4-6, 17-21 © vn-a
Like a stopover by a riverside, the small house Bac Cau, is "inserted" with a filigree steel structure interspersed into already existing ancient flora. The transparency of the house makes it seem to have no clear borders and disappear into the space-time of the riverfront.
The ancient flora of the North on the site is a characteristic factor, but it is also a disadvantage because of the small site (about 80 qm), but the ancient trees occupy almost all three spatial dimensions. Deciding on a filigree steel structure just like inserting into the shape of trees helps the house to live in symbiosis with large trees but still has all the functions such as a porch in the courtyard, front yard, porch next to the bedroom, the way to the terrace. At the same time, it will protect the glass if the tree branch is knocked down during a storm.
Plants here act as skins for the house and reduce solar radiation. Thanks to the river wind and the free sliding wall system, the house always has optimal air circulation. Layers of overlapping spaces make the house dissolve into nature and become part of this symbiosis. People, nature, air, activities, reflections, images create a transparent space-time.
The house is inserted as a resting station in the waterfront and becomes the decoration of the garden. The house presents itself confidently through a system of tight spaces and structure and blends in with the rich soft flora to fully preserve the Genius-loci.