Terracotta Breath House

English description provided by the architects.

Designed for two households - the parents' home at the front and their daughter's home at the rear - the project occupies a modest 7×22-meter urban plot.

DESIGN APPROACH

Embracing Vietnamese feng shui principles and delivered on a restrained budget, the architecture celebrates local craftsmanship and passive climatic strategies suited to the tropical climate.

A harmonious, earthy palette of brick, bamboo, timber, clay-coloured render, and corrugated roofing seamlessly envelops the building from façade to garden paths, forming a thermally responsive skin that integrates seamlessly with its dense urban surroundings.

Terracotta Breath becomes more than mere shelter; it is a place of quiet beauty, continuity, and familial bonds, deeply rooted in local tradition and mindful living.

THE PARENTS' HOUSE

Tradition and Ritual – Fronting the street, the parents' house welcomes visitors with a sunlit front garden - a gentle pause before entry.

Inside, the first floor flows from living to dining to kitchen, opening directly to the garden for effortless indoor-outdoor living. A sculpted staircase leads to the second-floor prayer room, a peaceful ceremonial hall that also functions as a community gathering space.

A reading nook, overlooking the central courtyard, captures breezes and daylight. Throughout, brick, bamboo, and timber form a warm, tactile, and timeless backdrop, with terracotta wall tiles in the kitchen and bathrooms paired with beige floor tiles to heighten the sense of comfort.

Large folding windows dissolve the division between living spaces and the shared courtyard, drawing in fresh air, natural light, and greenery to visually expand the interior.

The ground floor accommodates a combined living/kitchen space, a compact bedroom, and a bathroom, with built-in storage and multipurpose furniture allowing the family to reconfigure spaces as their needs evolve.

Two light-filled bedrooms on the upper floor, ventilated through narrow openings and skylights, remain cool and airy year-round. Strategic window placement ensures privacy while maintaining openness, allowing the home to feel larger than its footprint.

The design demonstrates how thoughtful planning and connection to outdoor space can make tiny living both comfortable and liberating.

The architecture avoids unnecessary embellishment, allowing subtle details - the shifting shadows through brick screens, dappled shade from bamboo shade, and greenery brushing against textured walls - to provide moments of quiet delight.

Terracotta Breath thoughtfully demonstrates how humble materials, local craftsmanship, and mindful design can generate sophisticated architecture that quietly enhances everyday life.