BiBi House Tour: A Blend of Modern and Traditional Vietnamese Design

#house #architecture #housedesign

BiBi House was a testament to love, a physical manifestation of a young man's devotion to his family. It was born from the heart of a software engineer, a son who wanted more than just a roof over his mother's head and a room for his sister. He wanted a home, a sanctuary of connection, where the past and present could meet and where the sacred traditions of his Vietnamese heritage could thrive. Nestled in a quiet ward of Vietnam's Dong Nai province, this house was designed not just for living, but for loving, celebrating, and remembering.

The architect's initial challenge was to weave together the modern and the traditional, the private and the communal. The owner's request was specific: an "open house" that would bridge the gap between its inhabitants and the family altar. This was more than a design preference; it was a deep-seated cultural need. The altar was the heart of the home, the place where ancestors were honored during significant holidays like Tet, death anniversaries, and weddings. It was where the family could feel the presence of those who came before them, and the house had to facilitate this connection.

To achieve this, the design eschewed the typical sprawling floor plan in favor of a more intentional layout. The architects conceived of the house as two distinct, private "boxes." These were the inner sanctums, containing the bedrooms and other auxiliary spaces where the family could retreat for rest and solitude. But it was the space outside these boxes—the communal area—that held the key to the owner's request. This large, open space was designed to be a gathering place, a flexible area that could accommodate a crowd during festive occasions.

The most striking feature of the home was the great void, a massive, two-story chasm that served as the home's central artery. Positioned between the two private boxes, this void was the dining room, a space intended for shared meals and conversations. To enhance the sense of connection, two balconies were designed, each extending from one of the private boxes into this grand void. It was on these balconies that the family could truly engage with the communal heart of the home, a design element that fostered a sense of togetherness and shared experience.

Architects: Atelier TAs
Area: 188 m²
Year: 2021
Photographs:Quang Dam
Manufacturers: INAX, Jotun, Xingfa
Country: Vietnam