Building & Investment (Mar - Apr 2016) (Mar - Apr 2016) | Page 67

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
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