The Grand House
A house of reunion
The development of large cities attracts many people to work and live there, but their spirit always remains connected to their homeland. This process has given rise to houses built by those who have returned to their hometowns after years of hard work.
The story of the intersection of contrasting lifestyles between urban and rural areas has been shaping an intriguing architectural form, which continues to transform the face of our countryside with new ideas.
The land in the rural housing complex belongs to Hoa Loan village, Lung Hoa commune, Vinh Phuc province. Despite undergoing many changes due to urbanization, this place still preserves the distinctive characteristics of a Northern Vietnamese countryside.

STORY
We named this project The Grand House, a shared home for the extended family where siblings return to be with their aging parents and connect with their roots. The spatial organization aims to harmonize openness and modernity with privacy and tradition, catering to the individual users while integrating into the overall context of the new rural area. Here, the descendants remain close and warm with their ancestors, yet can embrace a more open, outward-looking lifestyle that adapts positively to the present era.
CONCEPT
1. The house is located in a rural area in Vinh Phuc district. Although it has undergone many changes due to urbanization, this place still retains the unique features of a Northern Vietnamese countryside.
2. Based on the structure of a traditional three-room house with the middle room for worship and two rooms on both sides for bedroom and living room.
3. Free up ground floor space and elevate the three-room structure to the upper floor. The spacious ground floor is a meeting place for families and neighbors. The altar and resting room are taken upstairs to be more discreet, solemn and quiet.
4. The two-layer facade structure is made of ventilation tiles to shade the west-facing sun. The curved shape correspond to the shape of the land and its functions.


CIRCULATION AND SHAPE
The basic structure of a traditional three-room house with the middle room serving as a worship space, and two side rooms for sleeping and living areas, has been retained. The design elevated the traditional three-room structure, creating a more spacious, open ground floor for family gatherings and community meetings, both inside and outside the house. The worship space and resting area were moved upstairs, creating a more solemn, serene, and private atmosphere. The facade was covered with sunshade panels, facing west, and the architectural elements were symmetrical in response to the land shape and functional requirements. The entire project was designed with a concise language, comprising three main blocks: the ground floor block – connecting the front yard, main house, and backyard; the bedroom and worship space block above; and the technical block on top.


SPACE
The spatial arrangement maintains the essential activities of the Grand House: a spacious courtyard linking the inside and outside. On regular days, the central space on the ground floor serves as the host's reception area. On special occasions, the space can expand by combining with the courtyard for festivities or gatherings, like making traditional Chung cakes for the Lunar New Year. Underneath the central staircase, a focal point of the house, where many children play without disturbing other private spaces. Going up the stairs leads to the worship space, preserving memorabilia from the old ancestral altar. On both sides are bedrooms where siblings can stay when they come back home.



DOUBLE-LAYER STRUCTURE
The double-layer structure is a familiar yet effective technique employed by many architects: it fits the tropical architectural style and feels familiar to the local people. However, in this case, we used large sunshade panels to maximize shading effectiveness towards the west. The colors of the panels harmonize with the landscape and endure the harsh weather conditions. All materials used for the house blend harmoniously with the surroundings while maintaining a modern touch: white-toned ceramic tiles cover the walls.


The ventilation terracotta tiles material seen on all building facades that helps the modern house harmonize with the context of the rural housing complex.
DETAILS AND MATERIALS
Through a contemporary architectural language, with minimal details and simplicity, familiar spaces like the veranda, courtyard, and small table are subtly recreated. This is what we, the designers, and the homeowners aspire to achieve. After many years away from their homeland, having experienced and learned many new things, what we truly need when we return is peace and simplicity.
Author: Hien Vo - Translation: Hao Quach
Location | Vinh Tuong, Vinh Phuc, Vietnam |
Building type | House |
Area | 200 m2 |
Design | Km Architecture Office |
Year | 2022 |