The Tiamo House by Dom Architect Studio: A Serene Urban Retreat in Hà Tĩnh, Vietnam

The Tiamo House, designed by Dom Architect Studio in 2020, is a masterful urban residence spanning 130 m² in Hà Tĩnh, Vietnam. Conceived as an inward-looking sanctuary, the house offers a private retreat from the bustling streets while maintaining a strong connection with nature. The design embraces sustainable urban living, integrating mature trees, lush gardens, and aquariums that allow family members, especially children, to engage with nature from within the home.

The project prioritizes spatial layering, creating a multi-dimensional living experience. The first layer includes auxiliary spaces such as a garage, toilets, stairs, and small gardens, which act as a transition zone between the exterior and the main house. The garage doubles as a front porch, enhancing the sense of depth and privacy. The second layer encompasses the main living areas, including the lobby, kitchen, and guest zones, opening onto extended verandas that maximize natural ventilation and daylight without direct glare. The final layers include an outdoor porch and a garden with mature trees and a small aquarium, creating an immersive natural environment.

The second floor is minimalistic, dedicated to sleeping blocks and auxiliary spaces, interconnected by airy iron stairs and a lightweight wooden bridge that introduces a playful sense of movement and visual connectivity between floors. The carefully calculated elevation of the house addresses flooding challenges, elevating the main living space just enough to remain safe during extreme weather while harmonizing with the urban landscape.

Materiality plays a central role in The Tiamo House, reflecting the owner’s passion for photography and appreciation for raw, natural materials. Bare bricks, grindstones, natural wood, and exposed concrete dominate the aesthetic, giving the house a tactile, authentic quality. These choices not only reflect the lifestyle and personality of the inhabitants but also reinforce a dialogue between the home, its natural surroundings, and the urban context.

The Tiamo House exemplifies modern Vietnamese residential design, blending privacy, functionality, and environmental responsiveness while celebrating craft, material honesty, and human-centered living. Its innovative layered spaces, connection with nature, and thoughtful material palette make it a standout example of contemporary urban architecture in Vietnam.

All the photographs are works of Hoang Le