Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2025

A Light-Filled Atrium With a Tree House Anchors a Narrow Residence in Vietnam

A Light-Filled Atrium With a Tree House Anchors a Narrow Residence in Vietnam

Story Architecture designs an indoor/outdoor dwelling in Ho Chi Minh City with plenty of room for a family of four to work, live, and play.

In Ho Chi Minh City’s District 7, a 1,259-square-foot home rises above the surrounding rooftops like a bright, geometric birdhouse. Vietnam-based firm Story Architecture designed the dwelling, known as Villa City, to provide a haven for one family toward the start of the pandemic.



The comfort of the homeowners’ two young children was "paramount" to the design, says architect Kava Nguyen, founder of Story Architecture. As a first step in the villa’s design process, Nguyen researched the implications of "space density when you’re at home."

The goal was to address the spaces that would be used the most by the residents and to prioritize the needs of the wife and children, who occupy the areas most frequently. "The owners wished to have a house where the children could play, release energy, and not feel bored," Nguyen says.



On the ground level, the stairway’s wide landing platform functions as a spacious play area where the children can build, draw, and frolic while still visible to the parents from the dining room and kitchen.



A glass door connects the kitchen and dining area to a light-filled atrium, where a tree with a built-in climbing structure provides a unique indoor playground for the children. An adjacent lounge area with a lotus tea table was designed as a special place for the father to relax.



Upstairs, the principal suite features connecting doors that link to the children’s shared bedroom, which features bunk-style beds and floor-to-ceiling glass windows and sliding doors. The principal suite opens to a semi-enclosed, verdant balcony space.



On the top level, the architects eliminated one of the home’s existing bedrooms to create a small indoor swimming pool, which provides further options for entertainment within the home.



Greenery was strategically placed throughout the exterior and interior spaces to help cool the living areas from Vietnam’s tropical heat-as well as to allow the family to feel closer to nature during the isolation of pandemic lockdowns.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
×