Architects: Kanopea Architecture Studio, T3 ARCHITECTS
Area: 250 m²
Year: 2023
Photographs: Phu Dao
Manufacturers: Daikin, Hafele, Kelvin&Lux, Malloca, Panasonic, SECOIN, Samsung, Toto
Lead Architects: Charles Gallavardin, Tereza Gallavardin, Rafael Lira
Contractor: Harmonie
MEP: Harmonie
Structure Consultant: Harmonie
Lighting Design: Kobi Lighting Studio
Architect: Guillermo Banderas, Vinh Doan, Hai Ta Quang, Dat Nguyen
Interior Design: Kieu Chinh Nguyen
Landscaping: Anthony Desgre
Program / Use / Building Function: Residential
City: Hồ Tràm
Country: Vietnam
T3 ARCHITECTS and KANOPÉA Architecture Studio designed a sustainable tropical villa in Ho Tram, located in southern Vietnam, following the principles of bioclimatic architecture. This weekend retreat was created for a client who sought a secondary residence to enjoy family time away from the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City. The objective was to design a functional, enjoyable single-story villa surrounded by greenery and fully open to the garden.
T3 ARCHITECTS and KANOPÉA Architecture Studio designed this tropical villa in Ho Tram, located in southern Vietnam, following the principles of bioclimatic architecture. The client wanted a secondary residence for family gatherings away from the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City. T3 aimed to create a single-story villa surrounded by greenery, emphasizing functionality and enjoyment while being fully open to the garden.
The T3 team studied the main winds, rain patterns, and sun direction to optimize the plot and design a comfortable home that invites a sense of inner calm. The house comprises two entities: one includes all the living spaces, which are naturally ventilated and entirely open to the garden. The other part is climate-controlled, with a roof insulated with rice husks and lightweight concrete blocks to avoid excessive thermal inertia while still allowing natural ventilation. The goal is to minimize reliance on air conditioning. These two entities form a T-shaped volume, with the private wing (housing the bedrooms and office) facing the dirt road, while the family/public space extends into the garden, fully open to it. Positioning the bedroom volume perpendicular to the small road creates a buffer zone, providing high privacy for the living room, kitchen, and pool area.
At the front entrance, the garage also serves as a utility room, alongside a private garden dedicated to the master suite, especially the bathroom, which is roofed but open to the outside for natural light and ventilation. Sliding doors can close off the house when necessary, but generally, this space is naturally ventilated, with ceiling fans optimizing comfort and minimizing energy consumption. An outdoor dining area with a barbecue connects to the living room, allowing enjoyment of tropical evenings while slightly avoiding insects thanks to a raised terrace. Additionally, a gym is located at the back of the garden, facing the pool.
The entire building is designed with wide roof overhangs insulated with rice husks (20-30cm thick) to prevent heat transfer through the ceiling, offering significantly lower temperatures than outside and protecting the facades from rain during the monsoon. The lighting design by Kobi Lighting Studio highlights the architecture and landscape connectivity, creating varying degrees of light based on users’ rhythms and moods, following a sustainable approach to reduce light pollution common in major cities.
The landscape design was carefully crafted to offer a tropical environment with local species for biodiversity and low-maintenance plants and trees, crucial for a weekend villa, aligning with a frugal and local approach to landscaping. With the increasing population in major cities and the hectic pace of life, more people are opting for secondary residences in peaceful locations to enjoy simple yet essential pleasures: nature, family, and friends. T3 ARCHITECTS and KANOPÉA Architecture Studio have fulfilled this desire for escape while maintaining sustainability, frugality, and simplicity, integrating the principles of bioclimatic architecture.
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Project Location
Address: Hồ Tràm, Xuyên Mộc District, Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Vietnam
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
