CH House by ODDO Architects is a light-filled house that aims to foster human-Nature interface

Built for a family who aims to create a harmonious living space within Hanoi, CH House enhances traditional family life through its design. Situated on a narrow plot, measuring 4.2 x 35 metres in length, the house creates light-filled room thanks to its inner courtyards.

Hanoi-based practice, ODDO Architects draws inspiration from the traditional village houses, using courtyards to deliver natural light, greenery, and ventilation inside the house.

The three internal courtyards are also designed to foster visual interaction among the family members through composition of open continuous spaces. The internal planning is split into two zones. The first two levels are utilised as commercial shop on the lower level and residential components on the upper.

For the commercial shop, the internal planning utilises the full floor plate, maximising the area and using a large window front facing the street to provide inside view to the visitors.

The house starts at level three, featuring three internal courtyards and common family spaces, such as the living room, library, dining room, and kitchen. These are positioned on different levels with varying ceiling heights to compose a continuous open space.

Generous lightwells fill the house with natural light, improving overall ventilation and providing unexpected spacious feeling, despite the limited width of the house.

“The two children’s bedrooms are situated above the main common area, next to the void spaces, allowing connection with family members downstairs. The quiet area is located at the innermost part of the house and includes the grandparents’ bedroom and the parents’ master bedroom,” explains ODDO Architects.

 

“The design of the space emphasises the connections among the family members, especially in the context of today’s hurried lifestyle in the new, economically growing Vietnam.”

 

Another significant design feature is the treatment of façade, which features an outer layer, made from perforated cement blocks, and a steel-framed glass inner layer.

The double-layered façade, combined with a green layer, provides cover from the sun and dust and allows natural ventilation throughout the entire length of the house. 

The façade treatment is a departure from the overdecorated front façades found all over the city which are often low-quality design, lacking any design strategies to counter the elements.

The double façade, along with internal greenery, is a significant counter measure to protect the house from noise and dust from the street which is often the case in Hanoi.

CH House successfully integrates vernacular building lessons in the modern setting, creating a house which feels surprisingly bigger than its limited footprints. The house creates linkage between humans and Nature, as a response to lack of green space in the city, aiming to improve residents’ wellbeing.

 

 

---

PROJECT DETAILS

Architects: ODDO architects
Location: Hanoi, Vietnam
Built-up Area: 220 m²
Floor Area: 700 m²
Completed: 06 / 2019
Construction time: 14 months
Amount of dwellers: 6 members family
Photographer: Hoang Le photography

 

---

ABOUT ODDO ARCHITECTS

ODDO architects - Architectural firm based both in Vietnam and The Czech republic. The practice is led by partners Mai Lan Chi Obtulovicova, Nguyen Duc Trung and Marek Obtulovic. The aim of our work is to restore the urbanized living environment and to emphasize cultural background in the projects. We mainly focus on sustainability, implementation greenery in cities and community projects, whilst maintaining the essence of the local spirit and traditions. We attempt to re-create, through architecture and urbanism, forgotten relationship of humans with nature no matter the scale of the project.