trees protrude through VTN architects' 'stacked planters house' in vietnam

as a result of rapid urbanization, many vietnamese cities are losing large swathes of their tropical green spaces.

as a result of rapid urbanization, many vietnamese cities are losing large swathes of their tropical green spaces. this transformation of low-density landscapes into densely populated metropolises not only increases flood risk, but also significantly contributes to air pollution and a dislocation from the natural environment. in ho chi minh city — one of the urban areas most effected by this change — VTN architects is developing ‘house for trees’, a series of residential projects that incorporate green spaces as part of their design.

for its latest project, VTN — the architecture firm led by vo trong nghia — has designed ‘stacked planters house’, a property that seeks to establish a strong relationship between nature and its inhabitants. the plot forms part of a ‘neatly planned urban area’, where maximum living spaces were achieved by at the expense of green space. conceived as a a ‘small park in a dense neighborhood’, VTN’s response was to design a house where functions are contained within a series of stacked volumes.

‘each private function is packed into a concrete box that is seemingly stacked randomly,’ explains the design team. ‘the horizontal concrete slabs, between boxes, are the terraces where trees grow. these semi-outdoor spaces serve as living and dining rooms where people gather.’ as with VTN’s previous residential projects, the design utilizes local and natural materials with a terrazzo wall a striking feature of the design.