DOM House Hanoi Architecture by DAO Studio

The DOM House Hanoi architecture by DAO Studio is a villa designed as a weekend retreat for an extended family. Located on the outskirts of Hanoi, the house balances modern living with nature, creating a residence that serves as both a permanent home for the grandparents and a gathering place for children and grandchildren. With a total area of 500 m², the project was completed in 2025, showcasing how Vietnamese contemporary architecture embraces family, landscape, and privacy.

Site and Concept

The site of DOM House is unique, with a narrow frontage that expands toward the rear, forming a distinctive T-shape plot. Both the clients and architects agreed from the beginning that the project must prioritize a large garden to provide privacy, tranquility, and a natural escape from city life.

The house is inward-facing, oriented toward its lush green gardens rather than the busy street. This design strategy reduces noise, shields residents from direct external views, and enhances a sense of retreat.

Garden as Living Architecture

The rear portion of the site was reserved for a spacious garden, filled with tall trees, shrubbery, and a wide lawn. This green expanse becomes a natural playground for children and a contemplative space for adults. Seen from the open-plan living and dining areas, the garden acts like a living artwork, evolving daily and seasonally.

This relationship between house and landscape creates a constant dialogue between built form and nature, allowing the family to live with shifting light, greenery, and seasonal transformations.

Spatial Organization and Interior Design

At the center of the ground floor is a wooden core running longitudinally from the front to the back. This volume organizes circulation and houses essential functions like the kitchen, staircase, restroom, and laundry. Upon entry, visitors are guided through a narrow passage that opens into a spacious living room with panoramic garden views.

The dining area is highlighted by a double-height ceiling, adding generosity and openness to the heart of family gatherings. Natural materials such as wood balance the exposed concrete, creating warmth and intimacy.

Architectural Expression and Climate Response

On the second floor, a cantilevered balcony shades the western façade, protecting interiors from heat while casting cool shadows over the veranda below. The heavy concrete massing above frames filtered views of the garden, maintaining privacy while still allowing connection to nature.

This architectural gesture not only responds to Hanoi’s tropical climate but also creates a layered play of light and shadow. Bedrooms on the upper level are sheltered, private, and serene, while still maintaining strong visual ties to the outdoors.

The DOM House Hanoi architecture by DAO Studio exemplifies harmony between modern residential design and nature. Through its inward-looking layout, expansive garden, and climate-responsive features, it becomes more than just a house—it is a family retreat and sanctuary, celebrating both intimacy and openness.

All Photographs are works of Bui Xuan Quy