Olwen House: A Fusion of Tradition and Modernity

Reviving Vietnamese Customs through Sustainable Architecture

The unique feature of the Olwen House is its functional spaces receding into the back, leaving room for a front garden. This garden serves as a buffer space, cooling down the interior and preventing rain from entering the house. The house opens up to the alley, fostering interaction with the surroundings and creating a welcoming atmosphere.

The realization of this design involved the use of natural materials such as wood, steel curtain wall, raw concrete slab, clear glass partition wall, quartz kitchen countertop, clay roof tiles, and vernacular patterns for decoration. The house measures 4.6 m in width, 16.0 m in length, and 12.3 m in height, with a total floor area of 72 sqm.

The design team, led by architect Nguyen Thanh Tan, with team members Vu Hong nhung and Nguyen Thi Thien Thanh, created a design that offers privacy and tranquility. The private spaces are located on the third floor, while the first and second floors house the working spaces. The areas are connected by a red staircase placed on the terrace. Glass partition walls are used instead of rigid walls to offer visual interaction between spaces. The attic floor houses a playground decorated with vernacular patterns, recalling the owners' childhood memories.

The design process, which took place from 2017 to 2018 in Da Nang, Vietnam, faced challenges due to rapid urbanization and a lack of greenery. The team had to design a closed facade to prevent noise and dust from entering the house, while also considering the harsh tropical climate that could heat up the interior space. Despite these challenges, the design was successful in creating a dwelling that is both comfortable and environmentally friendly.

The Olwen House was awarded Silver in the A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award in 2020. This prestigious award recognizes top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that demonstrate outstanding expertise and innovation. The design of the Olwen House, admired for its strong technical characteristics and splendid artistic skill, indeed introduces positive feelings, amazement, and wonder.