“Tradition Renewed: 3fconcept Crafts a Modern Rural House in Hue”

In Hue, Vietnam, 3fconcept designed a 163 m² contemporary residence completed in 2025. Emphasizing light, materiality, and spatial harmony, the home integrates sleek finishes from American Standard, Ghe Cong, Kova, and Panasonic. Thoughtful layouts and natural ventilation create a serene, functional environment, captured elegantly in photographs by Nguyen Dang Hieu.

Reinterpreting Vietnamese Vernacular Architecture for Contemporary Rural Living

In the heart of Hue, Vietnam, 3fconcept reimagines the traditional “three-compartment, two-wing” house (nhà ba gian, hai chái) through the House in Thuan Hoa. This residence harmoniously blends cultural heritage with modern rural housing needs, offering a thoughtful response to Vietnam’s evolving lifestyles and climatic conditions.

For centuries, the nhà ba gian, hai chái typology has symbolized Vietnamese vernacular architecture—a form deeply rooted in local culture and environmental adaptation. Characterized by a central reception hall with ancestral altar and flanking bays serving as bedrooms or living spaces, it often includes smaller wings used for kitchens or storage. While rich in tradition, this typology reveals limitations when adapted to modern life—restricted natural light, limited privacy, and challenges in integrating contemporary amenities.

A Contemporary Evolution of Tradition

The design by 3fconcept reinterprets this historical form, creating a simplified, efficient, and scalable housing model suited for rural Vietnam. By eliminating one bay and one wing, the architects introduce a spatial reorganization that aligns with modern needs while maintaining cultural symbolism.

The ground floor accommodates an open-plan configuration combining living, dining, and kitchen areas. This open spatial flow encourages natural ventilation, daylight penetration, and direct connection to the garden, offering a fluid transition between indoor and outdoor living. Adjacent to this, one wing functions as a dedicated worship space, preserving the spiritual core of the traditional Vietnamese home.

The upper floor houses private bedrooms arranged perpendicularly to the main axis, ensuring privacy, cross ventilation, and ease of air-conditioning installation. This thoughtful layering of public and private realms enhances comfort while respecting climatic efficiency.

Integrating Culture and Everyday Life

Beyond the main functional zones, the architects integrated semi-outdoor decks and terraces that support diverse daily activities. These spaces accommodate everything from children’s play to rice drying and tea gatherings—continuing the communal traditions of rural life.

The courtyard remains central to the home’s identity. Acting as a multi-purpose social hub, it hosts family interactions, community events, and agricultural activities. Traditional elements like the rainwater jar and vegetable garden are thoughtfully retained, ensuring cultural continuity and environmental practicality.

Material Authenticity and Familiarity

3fconcept employs locally familiar materials—wood, concrete, and brick—to evoke a sense of warmth and belonging. The structure maintains a modest scale and recognizable silhouette, ensuring the design feels authentic and approachable to local residents. The result is a comfortable, climate-responsive home where tradition and modernity coexist in balance.

Through the House in Thuan Hoa, 3fconcept demonstrates how architectural innovation can emerge from vernacular wisdom, crafting a sustainable housing model that honors heritage while addressing the aspirations of a new generation.

Project Credits

• Architects: 3fconcept
• Location: Thuan Hoa, Hue, Vietnam
• Year: 2025
• Area: 163 m²
• Photography: Nguyen Dang Hieu
• Manufacturers: American Standard, Ghe Cong, Kova, Panasonic

All photographs are works of Nguyen Dang Hieu