Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 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
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
×