Design Feature
House in Saigon preserves local culture with the creative use of design
Vietnam-based architect a21studĩo turns an ordinary house into a living museum that the owner can pass on to her children.
IN SAIGON, there is a well-known story about a house called Van Duong Phu built by Mr Vuong Hong Sen, a culturist, academic, and famous collector of antiques. Vuong has an intimate knowledge of southern Vietnam and wrote many books about Ho Chi Minh City( called Saigon among the locals). Upon his death, he had wished for his house, an architectural masterpiece, to be turned into a museum. And also for his next-of-kin to take care of his antiques. Unfortunately, Vuong failed to pass on his love for aesthetics to his offsprings and his house was abandoned and all his antiques were lost.
Learning from the Van Duong Phu story, the owner of“ Saigon House” wanted her house to be a living museum where her children will have fond memories of their childhood days. She would like her children to grow up with an appreciation for the familiarity of the surroundings— and learn to cherish the house and her collection of antique furnitures in future.
The owner of Saigon House loves everything about the city and dislike westernstyle interiors. In Vietnamese tradition, it is normal for the family and their relatives to live under the same roof, with regular gatherings during dinners and especially during special occasions. One of the design requirements is that the courtyard must be made conducive for big family gatherings.
In Saigon, it is normal to see houses with sloping roofs, balconies with flowers and big courtyards inside the house. The alleys are usually full of colours and they are intended as play areas for the children. The burst of colours and materials may seem chaotic but is typical in Vietnam.
Saigon House replicates the Vietnamese alleys by having colouring blocks that appears to be“ floating” in the common areas and are all covered by steel frames where plants can later grow around it.
While a common area for family interaction is becoming rare in modern
building interiors, the owner prefers the Vietnamese approach of having a common courtyard area where family members can interact and enjoy the passing day and seasons. The courtyard area is also designed to look like an alley where kids can play.
The owner is an avid collector of antique furniture salvaged from demolished houses around the city and her collection often takes centre-stage in her home. All the antique pieces have seen better days and have their own stories to tell.
The owner believes that the sad story of Van Duong Phu serves as a good lesson for future generations. Designers should not only create architectural masterpieces but their works has to reflect local cultures and traditions. The next generation should also be taught to love and appreciate what has been passed down to them. •
More information at www. a21studio. com. vn
Building & Investment | www. b-i. biz 63