Location : Hà Nội – Việt Nam
Site area : 35m2
Project year : 2022 – 2023
Photos by : Hoang Le
The site has an area of 35m2 with a frontage of 3.6m for a young family located on Tran Cung Street, which was established in 2005. This street is spread over villages (“Làng”) Hoang 1, Hoang 2, and Hoang 4 of “Xã Cổ Nhuế”, which is now Co Nhue 1 ward, Bac Tu Liem district, Hanoi City.
Hanoi developed from "Làng" with a high population and self-built housing as its characteristic urban expression. Self-built housing is connected by an alley (“Ngõ”). The way people use the small "Ngõ" for each function and activity at each time creates a public atmosphere for the community. Those small spaces, objects, and actions play a role in creating Ha Noi’s spirit of place.
The project challenges the limitations of a small house in a small “Ngõ” by introducing a large continuous circulation vertically along the house. It is where all family functions and activities reside. The design allows users to create their own space while still having the opportunity to interact with family members and the natural environment through open spaces covered in polycarbonate and large windows on the facade. Skylights and wooden louvered floors support ventilation and light direction. The entrance on the ground floor is set back to create more space for the “Ngõ” and connect with neighbors.