Lush + Modern + Beautiful in Saigon

Saigon is not a name you often hear when talking architecture and cutting edge design. The most densely populated city in the world, Saigon has been fighting the monotony of furious urban sprawl as of late and the architects on this project, Vo Trong Nghia + Daisuke Sanuki + Shunri Nishizawa of Vo Trong Nghia Co., wanted to create something radically different but that still had some of the character of traditional Saigon— "...we intended this house to inspire people to re-define and re-increase the greenery as the character of this city. “Stacking Green” is just one small house, but it is generated from the context of Saigon." Everywhere throughout the city potted plants dot the landscape in entranceways, balconies, rooftops and more. Stacking Green has embraced that principle but also turned it into a stunning architectural and ecological design element. The house is constructed on a plot that is a mere 4m wide by 20m deep. The front and back of the house are composed entirely of cantilevered concrete planters, each placed at slightly different heights for interest and to accommodate the height of the desired plants. They are watered using an integrated irrigation system. In a hot, tropical climate such as Saigon, the house takes full advantage of the traditional Saigonese bioclimactic courtyard house design— Stacking Green allows for crossbreezes to  flow at will and the plants provide shade, both measures which dramatically reduce energy use. Further, the plants clean the air, reducing air borned pollutants in the home.

Sourced by Michelle Carangi, Pure Green Style Director via Arch Daily

Photos © Hiroyuki Oki