The house will be home to 3 generations in the future: the grandparents, the younger couple, and their child.
The owners envisioned a minimalist home that would be cost-effective for the young family, yet harmoniously connected to its surroundings, including the grandparents’ tofu-making kitchen and the elder brother’s house sharing the same yard.

It posed an intriguing challenge for the architects:
How could the house offer privacy for the young family while still maintaining a sense of connection to the extended family?
And how could the grandparents - with their long-standing habits and tofu-making craft - feel at ease in a new home?

There are 2 possible approaches to the site:
One from the main alley, which shares a common courtyard with the elder brother’s house;
and another by opening a separate gate along the side lane for private access.

At first, the homeowners envisioned the main entrance facing the shared courtyard.
However, the architects proposed reversing the house’s orientation, opening it instead toward the private side lane. This approach not only enhances privacy for the young family, but also preserves a subtle sense of connection through the rear of the house.

The ground floor includes: an Altar room, a bedroom for the grandparents, a living room, kitchen and dining space, foyer, staircase, and a shared bathroom.
Placing the Altar room on the ground floor ensures easy access for the grandparents in their daily rituals. The living, dining, and kitchen areas are connected in an open layout, creating a spacious shared zone for family gatherings and festive occasions. The grandparents’ bedroom is located near the shared courtyard with the elder brother’s house, allowing convenient access to the tofu-making kitchen where they work each day.

The green courtyard near the entrance — where the grandparents make tofu — allows them to chat with little Cá as she sits inside reading her favorite stories.
The first floor houses a master bedroom with an ensuite bathroom, a bedroom for Cá, and an extra room reserved for a future child.
Surrounded by open yards, the home offers plenty of space for Cá and his cousins to run and play hide-and-seek around the house.

The architects made full use of the suburban Hanoi site, which still allows room for a generous garden and open courtyards. Every room is designed to capture natural airflow and daylight, keeping the interiors bright and comfortably cool.
The main living area opens wide toward the southeast to catch the prevailing breeze, while the western façade is partially shaded by the elder brother’s house, effectively reducing heat from the sun.

The house features a simple, square form built with common, affordable materials.
Built-in furniture is kept to an absolute minimum to reduce construction costs.
Despite a modest budget, the project fulfills the expectations of both the young couple and the architects - perfectly echoing their shared motto:
“Let’s have the house first, the interiors can wait!”