LDH Serviced Apartment by AHL Architects

A Contemporary Take on Urban Living in Hanoi

Tucked away in a narrow alley in the heart of Hanoi’s bustling downtown, LDH Serviced Apartment by AHL Architects is a compelling example of compact, efficient residential design. With a land area of just 5x20 meters, the project creatively transforms a tight urban footprint into a set of four modern duplex apartments, tailored for short- and long-term rental by foreign tenants.

Each apartment unit is designed as a self-contained module, featuring essential amenities such as:

• An open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area
• A bathroom and laundry space
• Two comfortable bedrooms
• A dedicated work corner

This modular approach ensures a high level of functionality within a small footprint, while still maintaining spatial fluidity and privacy for the residents.

Vertical Circulation with a Sculptural Twist

One of the defining architectural features of the project is its central staircase, which not only serves as a circulation core but also doubles as a sculptural centerpiece. Fabricated with 10mm steel structure and surfaced in EPDM rubber beads, this amorphous staircase disrupts the linear axis typical of Hanoi’s narrow “tube houses,” injecting spatial diversity and visual rhythm.

This central staircase connects the stacked duplex apartments across multiple levels, allowing each unit to enjoy varied perspectives, lighting conditions, and spatial relationships.

Material Palette and Spatial Efficiency

The apartments are structured using a minimalist blend of concrete, natural wood, and steel, offering a balance between durability and tactile warmth. Each unit fits neatly within a 5x5x6 meter volume, demonstrating how thoughtful design can maximize livability without excess.

Despite the uniform size of each module, subtle variations in layout and orientation provide each apartment with a unique spatial identity and differing views of the surrounding urban landscape.

Designed for Modern Urban Tenants

LDH Serviced Apartment reflects a growing trend in Vietnam’s urban housing market: flexible, efficient, and design-forward accommodations that cater to international residents and digital nomads. Its compact footprint, combined with a strong architectural identity, makes it a model for sustainable urban infill in high-density Asian cities.

All the photographs are works of Hoang Le