“Every morning, the first thing that I would like to have is drawing first lines in a comfortable and joyful mind. I used to dream of an office-house for not travelling in a frequent traffic-jam and highly polluted place like Hochiminh City.” 

“…I simply want our studio like a wild-cage which is bathed in sunlight, inundated by rain-water, fully surrounded by trees… and non-frontier space… And we are like wild beasts in cage, stay temporary momentary but thirsty for living.”

 

This is just one of those lovely projects which makes my heart race a little bit faster and smile a little bit wider. Located in Saigon (aka Ho Chi Minh City) in Vietnam, architects a21 studio set out to design a multilevel home with an office space to house their studio. So typical of archtects to want to live and work in the same place, don’t you think? Architects typically tend to live at work anyway, so might as well give in and design a home large enough to house an office, right? It’s kind of fantastic and sad all at once, if you catch my drift. Anyway, I digress…

I truly love this project and it’s lack of fussy details, reuse of existing structure and surfaces, abundance of natural light, open breezy spaces, integration with trees and plants, an overall relaxed style and effortless beauty in the simplicity. Just gorgeous. Check out the gallery below for more images of this fantastic house. And whilst you’re at it, I’d love to hear what you think. As always.

[Photos © Hiroyuki Oki, via ArchDaily.]



About The Author

Founder & Editor

With a disarming blend of authority and approachability, Dana is a former refugee-turned-global design visionary. Through her multi-faceted work as a creative director, keynote speaker, editor, curator, interior designer and digital publisher, Dana empowers others to appreciate and engage with design in transformative ways, making the sometimes intimidating world of design accessible to everyone, regardless of their familiarity with the subject. Dana's been catapulted to the status of a stalwart global influencer, with recognition from industry heavyweights such as AD Germany, Vogue Living, Elle Décor Italia and Danish RUM Interiør Design, who have named as one of the Top True Global Influencers of the Design World and counted her among the most visionary female creatives on the planet. Her TEDx talk—"Design Can Change the Way You See the World"— will challenge and transform your understanding of design's omnipresent and profound influence. Through her vast experience in interiors, architecture and design, Dana challenges the prevailing rapid image culture, highlighting the importance of originality, sustainability, connecting with your values and learning to "see" design beyond the aesthetic.

5 Responses

  2. Ezabelle

    I love this house. I especially love your description of it. It’s just amazing how when you look at homes in places like Saigon, you get this real freshness of what a home is- it’s so personal and purposeful to the people that live there- it’s liberating to live in a way that is both authentic and as you describe “unfussy”- free of trends and fads. I really loved this post Dana.

    Reply
  5. Stories on Design: Outdoor Rooms | Yellowtrace

    […] A21 House by a21 studio in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam // Architects a21 studio set out to design a multilevel home with an office space to house their studio. I truly love this project and it’s lack of fussy details, reuse of existing structure and surfaces, abundance of natural light, open breezy spaces, integration with trees and plants, an overall relaxed style and effortless beauty in the simplicity. […]

    Reply

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