1. General information
2. Objectives of the intervention
Goals of the intervention
The overall aim of this project is to bring green space back into the city, accommodating high-density dwellings with big tropical trees to create a green and relaxing space for residents. Furthermore, the following goals were defined:
1. To design around the local climate and enable occupants to escape the street noise and heat to enjoy the shade and greenery inside. (5)
2. To address several issues, including rapid urbanization, air pollution, lack of green areas, disconnection between the inhabitants and the ecosystem, and flooding challenges in Ho Chi Minh City. (1,2,3)
1. To design around the local climate and enable occupants to escape the street noise and heat to enjoy the shade and greenery inside. (5)
2. To address several issues, including rapid urbanization, air pollution, lack of green areas, disconnection between the inhabitants and the ecosystem, and flooding challenges in Ho Chi Minh City. (1,2,3)
Quantitative targets
- To take into account an area of 226 sqm for greening with 5 garden roofs included. (1)
Monitoring indicators defined
- The size of the area turned into a green space. (1)
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Implementation activities
The intervention was developed under a private initiative in 2014. Local and natural materials were chosen to reduce the home's carbon footprint and to keep costs down. (2)
- 5 boxes are positioned to create a central courtyard and small gardens in between.
- The rooftop is made of banyan trees because of the above-ground roots. The roofs are also designed to retain stormwater in order to prevent flooding, with soil more than 1.5 metres deep.
- The exterior walls are made of in-situ concrete with bamboo formwork to reduce the temperature inside the house.
- The courtyard and gardens, shaded by trees above, become part of the ground floor living space, which blurs the border between inside and outside to a tropical lifestyle that co-exists with nature. (1, 2)
- 5 boxes are positioned to create a central courtyard and small gardens in between.
- The rooftop is made of banyan trees because of the above-ground roots. The roofs are also designed to retain stormwater in order to prevent flooding, with soil more than 1.5 metres deep.
- The exterior walls are made of in-situ concrete with bamboo formwork to reduce the temperature inside the house.
- The courtyard and gardens, shaded by trees above, become part of the ground floor living space, which blurs the border between inside and outside to a tropical lifestyle that co-exists with nature. (1, 2)
Type of NBS project
3. NBS domains, ES and scale
4. Governance and financing
5. Innovation
Type of innovation
Please specify technological innovation
I believe the project might be considered innovative from a product point of view, as the idea of a tree house able to respond to the tropical climate of the area as well as rapid urbanization and its consequences is new for the city of Ho Chi Minh. (2,3)
Novelty level of the innovation
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Ha Long Villa is quite similar to Vo Trong Nghia Architecs' previous House for Trees project Binh House and the firm says that due to the simplicity of the design, it could be replicated almost anywhere in tropical regions. (5)
Replicability/Transferability
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Ha Long Villa is quite similar to Vo Trong Nghia Architecs' previous House for Trees project Binh House and the firm says that due to the simplicity of the design, it could be replicated almost anywhere in tropical regions. (5)
