Bao Vinh House

Hue, Vietnam

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Bao Vinh House

Hue, Vietnam

Firm

SAAN studio

Type

Residential › Private House

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2024

SIZE

0 sqft - 1000 sqft

Designed by SAANstudio, Bao Vinh House is tucked deep within a narrow alley of an old residential neighborhood, where poor infrastructure often leads to frequent flooding. Every rainy season, daily life is disrupted as household items must be elevated to prevent water intrusion. Therefore, the design challenge was not only to create a safe dwelling but also to ensure it remained feasible within limited construction costs.

Rooted in the concept that a house is a place of refuge, the façade avoids the typical open, outward-facing approach. Instead, the architects employed solid wall surfaces punctuated by carefully placed openings — just enough to evoke a subtle connection between the interior and exterior. This approach effectively controls dust and noise, while maintaining privacy and tranquility for the living spaces.

A small garden courtyard serves as a transitional buffer, its gently sloping terrain elevating the entire structure above ground level. The usual rigid steps are replaced by soft strips of greenery, creating a natural, welcoming threshold.

The traditional tiled roof is reinterpreted in a contemporary architectural language — retaining its rustic charm as a gentle reminder of heritage. The veranda acts as an intermediary zone, blurring the boundaries between inside and outside, stillness and movement — embodying the harmonious dialogue between humans and nature.

Selective reuse of materials and elements from the former house — such as the old iron gate, timber roof posts, and reclaimed tiles for garden pathways — contributes not only to a warm, rustic aesthetic but also reflects a sustainable mindset and respect for available resources.

The interior design emphasizes simplicity and adaptability, expressing contemporary living while remaining anchored in tradition. Old furniture pieces are preserved not merely for their utility, but as vessels of memory — emotional anchors that recall and honor a bygone time.