Chic Vid House is a west-facing house for a three-generation family located in a crowded urban area of Ho Chi Minh City City where the construction land is increasingly limited. The lack of space has increased the number of skinny tube houses in central Ho Chi Minh City. It is composed of 5 floors on a long, narrow site with a width of 3.9 m and a depth of 19.6m, surrounded by low dwellings. It makes the front very thin, the design will easily fail if tackled in a traditional way. In the beginning, when walking around the area, the design team didn’t expect much from an eye-catching façade. It’s difficult to do in that narrow area, but if successful, this is also about optimizing land use and helping the landlord take full advantage of the expensive land left in town.
Foldable teak facades that can be opened and closed with sun protection, improving the house's ventilation. Translucent teak facades are chosen not only to prevent direct sunlight but also to avoid vision loss. Plants are added to coat the sun's heat with teak shutters. The laterite stone used for the facade is very popular in tropical countries like Vietnam with the function of self-regulating temperature. The shutters are natural teak wood with a dark-brown color also used as an aesthetic way to enhance the rustic appearance and cozy atmosphere while the white interior color is refreshing and cool in this hot all-year-round city. The white walls and the same ceramic flooring throughout the house contribute to giving the impression of more air and room.
The interior space falls also within a minimalist design aesthetic. On the ground floor, a playground is arranged in the front to prevent children from playing outside unsafe vehicles. The main kitchen at the rear combined with the dining room helps adults to observe their children while playing at ease. The interior brightens with a large glass door in the back of the kitchen and opens to a beautiful small garden.
The bedroom for the 2 kids on the back of the 2nd floor is designed with a round window to catch the sunrise. The round window allows plenty of natural light, an important ingredient in a kid’s development, and fresh air to flow into the room. The parent’s bedroom is on the same floor and it’s easier to account for the kids. Most rooms open to the outside world and are provided with as much greenery view and natural light as possible
Some common areas such as the working and living room instead of below are moved to the higher level for a better view and to avoid the sensation of being cramped. The 3rd-floor living room is unusual but the biggest benefit is that takes full advantage of the surrounding neighborhood view and environment. when the landlord spends most of the time in these spaces, the light and electricity consumption will be reduced. A rectangular void on the 3rd balcony floor is made to make space for the freshwater mangrove to grow through.
Those in urban areas often don't have much open space. Then our team takes advantage of the rooftop to create a dining area on the rear open terrace with a dining table, dry kitchen, and a small front garden that will be the extraordinary escape needed. Dining on the roof terrace is an unforgettable experience for the landlord, family, and friends up in the sky.