A Biophilic Home in Vietnam Impresses With a Hollow-Brick "Breathing Wall"

When Hong Anh approached CTA| Creative Architects to design a home on a lush plot just steps from the Dong Nai river in Bien Hoa, Vietnam, his only aesthetic requirement for the residence was that it feel "bright and airy." However, the client and design team had plenty of conversations about indoor air quality. With three generations of Hong’s family set to live in the dwelling—including Hong’s wife, two children, and grandparents—household air pollution as a serious health risk was a valid concern. 

Armed with ample creative freedom, the Ho Chi Minh City firm devised a 2,235-square-foot home with "breathing walls" that, like a set of lungs, are constantly ventilating the interior. The two-story structure consists of eight private rooms enclosed by standard walls, including the bedrooms and an office. These spaces intersect to form the communal gathering areas, which are surrounded by unique, perforated partitions that continuously circulate fresh air throughout the home.