Kaleidoscope

Kaleidoscope
© Quang Tran
Kaleidoscope
© Quang Tran

KALEIDOSCOPE

Cong Sinh Architects

CONTRACTOR
Thanh An Interior & Construction Co.,ltd

ARCHITECT IN CHARGE
Vo Quang Thi

PROJECT ARCHITECTS
Vo Quang Thi, Nguyen Thi Nha Van, Phung Kim Phuoc

MODEL PHOTOGRAPHS
Hiroyuki Oki

PHOTOGRAPHS
Quang Tran

STATUS
Built

AREA
3000 Sqft - 5000 Sqft

YEAR
2015

LOCATION
District 10, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

TYPE
Residential › Private House

The rapid urbanization in several Asian cities has dramatically reduced the living area per person.

Especially in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, most people, sometimes extended families, spend their lives in narrow and long tube houses where they live apart from nature and in dark and unventilated spaces.

Kaleidoscope
© Quang Tran
Kaleidoscope
© Quang Tran

Long tube houses for extended families have always been a complicated question for generations of Vietnamese architects.

The building which is 3.8 meters wide and 40 meters long belongs to a 3-generation family with different ages, lifestyles and interests.

The requirement is that there is personal space for each member.

Kaleidoscope
© Quang Tran
Kaleidoscope
© Quang Tran

However, there needs to be some open common areas, just like in traditional Vietnamese houses. They will create a link between generations.

The front yard, backyard and terrace of the house are great places with fresh air for adults to relax and restore their energy for work. After school, the young members can play at the swimming pool at the center of the house.

he elderly members usually have free time, so looking after the plants and having regular contact with other members at the common areas can make them happy.

Kaleidoscope
© Quang Tran
Kaleidoscope
© Quang Tran
Kaleidoscope
© Quang Tran

The ventilation and lighting solutions put forward are suitable for the tropical climate in Vietnam.

The aim is to save energy more efficiently, help reduce climate change, bring family members closer to nature and help them become more responsible for the environment.

The water and plants make the air fresher and cooler in every corner of the house.The wind can go into the building from both facades.

Kaleidoscope
© Quang Tran
Kaleidoscope
© Quang Tran

Then, it is filtered by the double skin made of layers of plants. And finally, the fresh air goes through the living spaces and exits via the skylight.

The sunlight that goes into the house from the two facades is filtered by the plants. The amount of sunlight that actually penetrates the house is appropriate.

The sunlight from the skylight is filtered by a concrete louver placed in a position that matches the sun’s path.

Kaleidoscope
© Quang Tran
Kaleidoscope
© Quang Tran

At the hottest time of the day, this louver will reduce the amount of the sunlight going down the stairs below.

Moreover, the sunlight can still get inside through many slots on some walls.

The dappled sunlight appears everywhere in the building. At each time in a day, the sunlight comes in and creates different shapes at many places along the house.

Kaleidoscope
© Quang Tran
Kaleidoscope
© Quang Tran

This brings everyone feelings of happiness and excitement.

The architects hope that they have created a fresh, healthy and meaningful living space that can bring family members closer to each other, and at the same time, closer to nature in their daily life.

Kaleidoscope
© Quang Tran
Kaleidoscope
© Quang Tran

One's life is like a small piece of colored paper, and the "Kaleidoscope" helps those pieces interact with each other, creating sparkling paintings.


Kaleidoscope
© Quang Tran
Kaleidoscope
© Quang Tran
Kaleidoscope
© Quang Tran


Kaleidoscope
© Quang Tran
Kaleidoscope
© Quang Tran
Kaleidoscope
© Quang Tran
Kaleidoscope
© Quang Tran
Kaleidoscope
© Quang Tran
Kaleidoscope
© Quang Tran
Kaleidoscope
© Quang Tran


Kaleidoscope
© Quang Tran
Kaleidoscope
© Quang Tran
Kaleidoscope
© Quang Tran