X House By Cote Architects: A Minimalist Concrete Retreat in the Heart of Hue

Located in Vy Da Ward, Hue City, X House by Cote Architects is a contemporary tropical residence designed as a calm counterpoint to its dense and energetic urban surroundings. Surrounded by hotels, restaurants, event venues, and sports facilities, the project reimagines the private home as an architectural retreat: one that emphasizes stillness, spatial clarity, and long-term sustainability for a young family of four.

Covering an area of 300 square meters, the house was completed in 2025 and reflects a design philosophy rooted in minimalism, cost efficiency, durability, and passive climate responsiveness. Rather than pursuing visual excess, X House focuses on spatial quality, light, and void, allowing architecture to quietly shape everyday life.

X-Shaped Geometry and Spatial Organization

The defining feature of X House is its X-shaped spatial axis, generated by the superposition of two symmetrical triangular volumes shifted along the site. This geometric strategy creates a dynamic interplay between solid and void, which becomes the core organizational logic of the house.

Enclosed, private functions: such as bedrooms, bathrooms, study areas, storage, and dressing rooms, are concentrated within solid zones. In contrast, open and flexible spaces: including the living room, kitchen-dining area, library, gallery, courtyards, and communal spaces, occupy the voids. This deliberate balance fosters interaction, visual continuity, and shared family experiences while preserving privacy where needed.

A House Within a House

All interior volumes are contained within a monolithic reinforced concrete shell, forming the concept of a “house within a house.” This outer concrete envelope serves as both a structural and climatic buffer, shielding the interiors from Hue’s harsh western sun and tropical climate. Carefully positioned openings filter daylight, control heat gain, and ensure privacy without isolating the house from its environment.

Throughout the day, light and shadow animate the raw concrete surfaces, creating a constantly shifting atmosphere that allows residents to experience time, weather, and seasonal change. The restrained material palette enhances the gallery-like quality of the interiors, reinforcing a sense of quiet contemplation.

Prioritizing Void Over Volume

Rather than maximizing built area, X House intentionally prioritizes voids and semi-outdoor spaces. The X-shaped axis organizes circulation vertically and horizontally, visually connecting multiple levels and framing layered views through the concrete structure. These voids become spaces for reading, music, reflection, and informal family gatherings, enriching daily life beyond functional requirements.

This spatial openness improves natural ventilation, daylight penetration, and thermal comfort, reducing reliance on mechanical systems. In X House, less built space results in a richer, more breathable living experience, both environmentally and emotionally.

Sustainable, Affordable, and Enduring Design

Sustainability in X House is achieved through simplicity and passive design. The exposed concrete structure minimizes construction complexity, lowers maintenance costs, and ensures long-term durability. Passive strategies such as cross-ventilation, daylight optimization, and solar protection significantly reduce energy consumption and operational expenses.

X House demonstrates how modest means, when paired with thoughtful spatial design and climate-sensitive architecture, can produce a home that is not only efficient and affordable but also deeply resonant and humane.

A Quiet Architecture for Urban Living

Ultimately, X House is a refined example of modern Vietnamese residential architecture, where geometry, material honesty, and environmental intelligence converge. It offers a compelling model for urban tropical housing: one that values calm over noise, void over excess, and longevity over spectacle.

All the photographs are works of HungHoa