Architects: Nguyen Khai Architects & Associates
Area: 55 m²
Year: 2021
Photography: Hiroyuki Oki
Architecture Design: Nguyen Quang Khai
Interior Design: Tran Yen Chau
City: Thành phố Huế
Country: Vietnam
Labri House, designed by Nguyen Khai Architects & Associates, is a unique residential project in Hue, Vietnam. Completed in 2021, this 55 m² home embodies the concept of a secret shelter. The design integrates nature with living spaces, featuring four blocks covered by layers of glass, vines, and concrete. With no interior walls, the house offers transparency and connection with the surrounding environment, creating a serene and sustainable living space for its retired owners.
The owners of Labri House, a couple over 55, desired a home where they could live happily and peacefully. Situated at the end of a small alley within Hue city’s citadel, their 100 m² site, separated by one of nine ponds in the area, provided an ideal location for the architects’ vision.
Labri, meaning “secret shelter,” is designed to blend naturally with its surroundings. The house appears as if it has grown organically, with four blocks covered by glass, vines, and concrete. Only 55 m² of the site is used for construction, with trees on top of the one-level structure.
Apart from the human occupants, the house hosts birds, butterflies, and various plants. Vines create green walls for privacy and air balance, while frangipani trees on the roof provide seasonal shading. These trees blossom in spring, become leafy in summer, and shed leaves in winter, offering natural protection throughout the year.
The four blocks, each with different heights and orientations, are connected by pathways and fixed ladders. Walking on the roof feels like traversing a mountain range, with cool, sunlit caves below. The blocks house living/ dining, kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping areas, designed for basic needs and minimal aesthetics.
Labri House has no boundaries or interior walls, allowing residents to see through all spaces, from the kitchen to the sleeping area, and from the front yard to the courtyards. The design offers a romantic setting where residents can watch the moon and stars from their bed or see raindrops on the glass.
The house emphasizes simplicity and minimalism, blending with nature and promoting sustainable living. Labri House is a sanctuary for those seeking inner peace and a connection to nature.
Project Gallery
Project Location
Address: Hue City, Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
