Dramatic arches usher nature inside an alley home in Vietnam

When a young family asked Sanuki Daisuke Architects to design a light-filled house with access to nature in Ho Chi Minh City, the local architecture firm knew from the get-go that it would be crafting a townhouse that was far different from the city norm. Located in a high-density residential area, the long and narrow property wasn’t large enough to accommodate a spacious garden, so the architects decided to bring the outdoors into the home instead. Dubbed the VOM House, the three-story townhouse opens up to the outdoors on the first and second floors to let daylight, wind and even rain inside for an indoor-outdoor living experience like no other. Named for the Vietnamese word that means arch, the VOM House comprises three floors defined by large arched and column-free spaces. Because the clients, a couple with a daughter, made the somewhat unusual request for only two bedrooms — most Vietnamese clients ask for more, according to the architects — the bedrooms were placed on the top floor. As such, the two lower floors can be used as “outdoor rooms.” Related: Villa in Vietnam prioritizes natural light and green space Despite the site’s small size, the architects managed to carve out a small front garden and back garden that bookend the home. The front garden flows seamlessly into a double-height “outdoor living space” on the ground floor that connects to the combined kitchen and dining space in the rear. The clients plan to turn the ground floor into a coffee shop in the future. A small study space that overlooks the downstairs living area is on the floor above. The bedrooms also connect to a roof terrace. To reinforce the connection with nature, trees and plants grow throughout the home. “Although the house is located in a tight residential area in Ho Chi Minh City, many ‘Outdoor Rooms’ create an open and rich living space ,” the architects explained. “We proposed a tropical living space where the family can always feel close to nature under these large arch spaces.” + Sanuki Daisuke Architects Photography by Hiroyuki Oki via Sanuki Daisuke Architects

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Dramatic arches usher nature inside an alley home in Vietnam

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