Located in Hoc Mon District, Ho Chi Minh City, OR House occupies a narrow 5 × 16 metre plot within a dense residential fabric. Designed as a ground floor plus one upper floor residence, the project explores how Bauhaus principles of clarity of form, functional planning, and spatial efficiency can be meaningfully adapted to contemporary Vietnamese urban housing.
Rather than relying on ornament or stylistic gestures, the house is defined by simple geometric volumes, clean lines, and proportional balance. The architectural approach prioritises performance and liveability, demonstrating that sustainability in compact cities often begins with disciplined planning and material restraint.
Compact footprint, efficient planning
The spatial organisation reflects a pragmatic response to limited land area. The ground floor contains an open-plan living and kitchen zone, alongside one bedroom and a bathroom. This arrangement allows flexibility in daily use and supports multigenerational living patterns common in Vietnamese households.
Upstairs, two bedrooms and a shared bathroom are arranged for privacy and efficient circulation. The compact footprint reduces material consumption while shortening service runs and limiting energy demand. Circulation spaces are minimised, ensuring that the majority of the floor area is usable and adaptable.
Passive ventilation and daylight strategy
Given Ho Chi Minh City’s tropical climate, passive cooling is central to the design. Openings are positioned to encourage cross-ventilation, allowing prevailing breezes to flow through the house. Operable windows and carefully aligned internal partitions help exhaust warm air naturally, reducing reliance on mechanical cooling systems.
Natural light plays a defining role in shaping the interior atmosphere. Large glazed openings introduce daylight deep into the plan, reducing the need for artificial lighting during daytime hours. The balance between solid and void is carefully controlled to limit excessive solar gain while maintaining brightness and visual connection to the outdoors.
Material restraint and thermal performance
The material palette is intentionally minimal: plastered concrete surfaces, glass, and metal elements are combined with neutral tones of white and grey. This restraint reduces unnecessary finishes and emphasises durability. Exposed or minimally treated surfaces decrease embodied energy by avoiding additional cladding layers.
Concrete provides thermal mass, helping to stabilise internal temperatures by absorbing heat during the day and releasing it gradually in the evening. Glass is used strategically to optimise daylight without overwhelming the compact interior with glare.
The selective introduction of an orange accent that is applied to highlight specific architectural elements offers a contemporary reference to technology and product design while maintaining overall visual discipline. The colour is used sparingly to avoid material excess and preserve spatial clarity.
Sustainability through simplicity
OR House demonstrates that sustainability in dense urban contexts does not require complex technological systems. Instead, it relies on fundamental architectural strategies: efficient planning, passive ventilation, daylight optimisation, and durable materials. By reducing its environmental footprint through compact design and climate responsiveness, the house achieves comfort with minimal resource expenditure.
