Touch House by MyAn Architects: Contemporary Concrete House in Vietnam

Touch House, designed by MyAn Architects, is a remarkable example of a contemporary concrete house in Vietnam, where architecture becomes a medium of connection. Completed in 2024, this 476 m² residence in the Mekong Delta redefines multigenerational living, blending privacy with togetherness, and raw materiality with emotional depth. At its heart, the house is more than shelter — it is an experience that nurtures love, respect, and harmony with nature.

Context and Design Challenges

Located in the Mekong Delta, the project faces a tropical monsoon climate with distinct dry and rainy seasons. The site is framed by neighboring houses on two sides, a quiet road on the northeast, and a dense grove of coconut trees with ponds and canals to the northwest. This natural setting inspired the architects to embrace the landscape while ensuring comfort for a family of three generations living under one roof.

The challenge was twofold: to create spaces that allow independence while fostering connection, and to design a home resilient to climatic conditions while grounded in local identity.

A Multigenerational Living Concept

The architectural breakthrough came with the division of the house into two adjacent blocks. This strategy gave each generation its own living space while connecting the volumes through shared courtyards, a lakeside pavilion, and a breezy corridor. These in-between zones are more than circulation paths — they are spaces of interaction, gathering, and joy. The design embodies the motto: “Privacy for respect, connection for love.”

Concrete as a Living Material

At Touch House, concrete defines the soul of the architecture. Far from being cold, the raw concrete surfaces are treated with precision, revealing textures that interact with natural light. Sunlight glides across the walls, producing shifting shadows that mark the passage of time, turning everyday life into a cinematic experience.

This rawness is balanced with timber ceilings, which bring warmth, intimacy, and a human touch. The interplay between concrete and wood creates an atmosphere that is both modern and deeply rooted in Vietnamese sensibility.

Open Spaces and Courtyard Living

A defining feature of Touch House is its seven courtyards, each shaping the flow of light, wind, and daily activities. A continuous floor level from porch to living spaces creates seamless movement between indoors and outdoors. Round columns and movable partitions further blur boundaries, crafting a rhythm of openness and enclosure.

The central courtyard, flanked by solid concrete walls, forms the emotional heart of the house. It is a meditative space where sunlight, greenery, and stillness converge. A small pavilion and garden extend this experience, offering moments of reflection and family connection.

Harmony with Nature

The architecture dissolves the boundary between human life and the surrounding landscape. Courtyards invite the breeze, sloping roofs filter sunlight, and the design rhythm mirrors the pulse of the environment. By integrating these natural elements, the house becomes not just a dwelling, but a living ecosystem — a place where people and nature coexist gracefully.

All Photographs are works of Oki Hiroyuki