Stepping Park House is part of VTN Architects’ larger initiative, the “House for Trees” series, which addresses the pressing environmental challenges facing Vietnam’s urban areas. As cities like Ho Chi Minh continue to grow, the shortage of green spaces has led to significant issues like urban flooding, overheating, and air pollution. VTN Architects’ response is to incorporate greenery into residential designs, even in small urban plots, creating miniature parks within the city.
Located adjacent to a park, Stepping Park House blurs the lines between the built environment and its natural surroundings, creating an innovative living space that seamlessly integrates with its verdant neighbour. This unique position next to a green public space presented a rare opportunity to extend the park’s greenery into the home itself. The design focuses on this integration, using a large void that cuts diagonally through the three-story structure.
The void serves multiple purposes: on the ground floor, it forms an open living room that directly connects with the park, while on the top floor, it becomes a family room enveloped in greenery. Clad in ivy, the façade around the void not only enhances the home’s aesthetic but also provides natural shading on the top floor. This central space, filled with plants and trees, brings the essence of the park into every level of the home, ensuring a continuous connection with nature.
“The void incorporates both circulation elements and natural elements like plants and trees, providing the private rooms with additional natural light. It gives a feeling of continuity of the park, to all three floors of the building. The house aims to create an environment similar to a forest, despite being indoors,” the architect remarks.
While the common areas embrace openness and connectivity with nature, the private rooms, such as the bedrooms, are housed within solid volumes. These spaces are strategically designed to block direct sunlight with the placement of trees in their openings, cooling the incoming air and filling the interiors with a refreshing green glow. This thoughtful design ensures that even the most private spaces in the house remain connected to the natural environment.
Project & Images: VTN Architects
Article: Lily Wong
