A Light-Filled Atrium With a Tree House Anchors a Narrow Residence in Vietnam

In Ho Chi Minh City’s District 7, a 1,259-square-foot home rises above the surrounding rooftops like a bright, geometric birdhouse. Vietnam-based firm Story Architecture designed the dwelling, known as Villa City, to provide a haven for one family toward the start of the pandemic.

The comfort of the homeowners’ two young children was "paramount" to the design, says architect Kava Nguyen, founder of Story Architecture. As a first step in the villa’s design process, Nguyen researched the implications of "space density when you’re at home." 

The goal was to address the spaces that would be used the most by the residents and to prioritize the needs of the wife and children, who occupy the areas most frequently. "The owners wished to have a house where the children could play, release energy, and not feel bored," Nguyen says.