Neohouse

Gazing up at the distinctive arches of Neohouse, one might feel transported to a modern Vietnamese cave. Neohouse, nestled in Ho Chi Minh City’s vibrant Tân Bình District, is more than just a building. It’s a testament to innovative architecture that embraces nature amidst a bustling urban landscape. Neohouse is designed for a family with one child. The architects, Sanuki Daisuke Architects, faced a unique challenge. The typical Vietnamese townhouse layout often lacks garden space. The clients desired an open, airy home connected to the outdoors. The solution was ingenious. Instead of a traditional front garden, the architects lifted the private spaces (two bedrooms and a worship room) to the third floor. The lower levels were then transformed into a series of interconnected “Outdoor Rooms”. Three large, arch-shaped spaces dominate the front of Neohouse. These arches, a nod to traditional Vietnamese design, create a welcoming entrance and outdoor living area. A patterned steel mesh separates this space from the street, allowing light, rain, and wind to filter through. Imagine sipping coffee here, as the client plans to open a coffee shop in this unique space. The largest arch flows into another, housing the kitchen and dining area. A third arch on the second floor encloses a study area. When the sliding doors are open, the wind flows freely through the building, blurring the lines between inside and out. Even the gaps between the boxes on the third floor serve a purpose. They create a circulation space for stairs and bridges, acting as a natural radiator for light and ventilation. Light plays a crucial role in Neohouse’s design. It filters through voids and windows, casting dynamic patterns across the textured concrete surfaces of the arches. The concrete itself bears the imprint of woven bamboo used in the formwork, adding a subtle, organic touch. This interplay of light and shadow, combined with the constant breeze, creates an ever-changing sensory experience. Neohouse stands as a remarkable example of how architecture can create a sense of openness and connection to nature, even in the heart of a dense urban environment. It’s a place where tradition meets innovation, and where the boundaries between indoors and outdoors dissolve into a harmonious living experience.