ODDO Architects' Casa TH+ Project in Hanoi Addresses Challenges of Housing in Dense Urban Areas

Casa K, a concrete residence, was designed and built by the design team in Vinh city, located in Nghe An province, central Vietnam. This region presents a challenging climate, characterized by intense summers influenced by winds from Laos, dry and cold winters, and a high incidence of heavy rains, storms, and floods.

Despite the adverse climatic conditions, the local community proves to be hardworking, resilient, and has a strong connection to the land and nature. Traditional dwellings in the area often feature wide eaves to provide protection against the sun and are surrounded by orchards, which serve both to supply food and to aid in cooling the building.

The owners requested a home that was uncomplicated, ecologically sound, and unpretentious, yet simultaneously aesthetically pleasing and comfortable, harmonizing with the local lifestyle, people, and climate. The development process for this project, from the initial conception phase to the completion of construction, took approximately four years.

Functionally, the house was conceived to house a family consisting of two generations: the parents and their two children. The owners, who are already of mature age, have a great appreciation for gardening and caring for the house, dreaming of a private refuge where they could find tranquility and comfort. For this reason, a three-story building was structured, encompassing a living room, dining area, and kitchen, in addition to four bedrooms and a technical roof intended for storage and infrastructure equipment.

Considering that the house faces west and receives intense afternoon sunlight, the building was set back from the public road. This arrangement allowed for the creation of an extensive front garden and a rooftop vegetable patch, measures taken to mitigate direct sunlight penetration and thermal radiation.

In terms of layout, the building's volume adopts a U-shape design, organizing itself around a small central garden. This central space contains the corridors and the staircase, acting as the circulation axis that connects all social areas.

Moving from the bedrooms towards the corridor, residents have a visual contact with the bamboo garden situated in the center, which fosters a sense of closeness to the natural environment and provides moments of relaxation during internal movements. Additionally, several small gardens were incorporated on the sides and on the roofs of different levels, ensuring that all areas receive natural light and vegetation, and that each bedroom has its own private garden. All sectors are connected by nature, landscaping, solar luminosity, and breeze, allowing residents to experience the beauty of the natural world—its sounds, light, sun, and rain—directly through the architecture.

Regarding materials, the decision was made to build the entire residence using exposed concrete. Although it is a common material, it offers a unique, simple, and durable beauty, adapting well to the architectural context and the specific climate of Vietnam. In the country, concrete is usually used only for the structure, while walls are made of brick masonry; however, these constructions tend to degrade over time because the junction between brick and concrete can suffer separation, resulting in cracks and leaks that require constant maintenance and painting.

Exposed concrete lends a rustic and minimalist aesthetic, along with remarkable resistance, requiring little intervention or painting over the years. However, achieving a high-quality finish with exposed concrete demands extreme rigor in both project detailing and construction execution. This mirrors the philosophy of the architectural team: the decision to use concrete implies that the client, the architectural team, and the constructor must collaborate meticulously and critically. The ultimate purpose is to create a work that withstands the test of time in terms of construction quality, aesthetics, and functionality.

There is a belief that concrete construction will gain greater popularity in Vietnam as more people value the beauty of this material. With rising labor costs, selecting concrete as the main element can reduce construction time and expenses, delivering a robust property that requires few repairs or care. This is also the motto adopted: Simpler, more sustainable.

The design team presented a residential design located on the border between the urban area of Mohali and the village of Chunni Kalan. The house was built on a plot measuring 9 by 23 meters, overlooking a park, and was conceived for a couple with rural roots who wishes to maintain their traditional values.

The architectural proposal focused on creating a connection between the traditional lifestyle of Punjab and the dynamics of modern city life. Access is softened by a garden situated between the gate and the main door, where lawn, vegetation, and newly planted mango trees, alongside an arjan tree, frame the entrance, guided by floor-laid bricks.

The facade features a gradual curve inward, complemented by white eaves known as 'chajjas,' which provide shade to the wooden entrance door. Upon entering, the space becomes more compact under a dark stone mosaic floor, directing the gaze toward natural light further ahead. A side staircase leads to the upper floor.

The ground floor opens into a spacious double-height hall, called 'baithak,' which faces an internal courtyard. This space recalls the central function of traditional Indian homes as a place for collective gathering. Three high arches connect the 'baithak' to the courtyard, accentuating verticality and referencing local traditions.

The courtyard functions as a private refuge, and decorative elements such as projections of cut bricks and 'jaali' screens integrate functionality with ornamentation. By directing the rooms towards this courtyard, residents interact directly with nature, observing seasonal changes and the associated culture, prioritizing culture over mere form in the design.

On the ground floor, there is a guest room and an independent social bathroom. The first floor has two bedrooms and a common area that extends to a rear terrace overlooking the courtyard. The linearity of the spaces is broken by a geometric and sculptural arrangement. Round windows on the facade, openings facing the courtyard and the 'baithak,' and circular openings in the closed handrail of the stairs add moments of contemplation, maintaining the residence's playful proposal.

The architecture team dedicated itself to exploring themes such as light, materiality, and the need for deceleration. This involved analyzing how natural light traverses surfaces and how textures meet in the construction, valuing everyday details in a compact project. To optimize the structure and reduce foundation costs, the pillars were slightly moved away from the dividing wall, creating vertical glass voids that flood the textured walls with natural light.

This modification also allowed for the inclusion of horizontal skylights at the points of contact with the neighboring wall, illuminating rooms and, notably, bathrooms, which feature curved skylights. Considering solar orientation and thermal comfort, the two southwest-facing rooms were designed with upper openings and recessed windows to mitigate afternoon heat, lending depth and spaciousness to the living areas.

The conception process sought to honor simplicity and incorporate ancestral wisdom into the dwelling. The result is a space that provides a reflective pause, aligned with the concept of 'Sukoon,' which means satisfaction and mental tranquility.

The Dong Trieu Retreat consists of a set of small structures that integrate into the rich landscape of Quang Ninh province, Vietnam. Initially conceived as a weekend getaway for a family from Ha Long, the space eventually became their permanent residence.

In this context, the team was hired to develop several environments focused on recovery and renewal. Among the designed spaces are a kitchen with a dining area, a tea room, a sauna, and a pavilion dedicated to meditation, which offers a view of a lotus-covered lake.