A Minimalist Garden Oasis in Can Tho by DA VÀNG Studio
Category: Residential Design
Introduction: Redefining Urban Living Through Minimalism and Greenery
In the heart of Can Tho, Vietnam—a city marked by increasing urban density and diminishing access to private outdoor space—DA VÀNG Studio has crafted a bold architectural response. The Nhà Voi & 7 Gardens House demonstrates how minimalist design principles can converge with verdant, biophilic elements to redefine the spatial and sensory experiences of urban living. Rather than resisting the constraints of its narrow 4.5 x 23 meter plot (approximately 15 x 75 feet), this project embraces them as a creative framework to prioritize well-being, connection to nature, and architectural restraint.
Contextual Background: The Urban Landscape of Can Tho
Vietnamese urban planning norms—especially in rapidly developing cities like Can Tho—frequently allow 100% construction density. This often leaves little to no room for greenery or natural ventilation. In this landscape of tightly packed tube houses, the Nama Voi & 7 Gardens House stands out for what it chooses not to build. By intentionally devoting a significant portion of the interior to gardens, DA VÀNG offers a valuable counter-narrative, returning to the ancient tradition of courtyard homes and pushing it forward into a contemporary urban paradigm.
Design Intent: Minimalism As a Spatial and Lifestyle Choice
The house is a study in minimalism—not only as an aesthetic direction but as a deliberate spatial tactic. DA VÀNG Studio follows the principle of designing “a little less” in built form to “leave more room for trees.” This reductionist approach results in smaller room sizes, thinner partitions, and a scaled-back material palette, setting the stage for the flourishing of seven interconnected gardens that serve as the home’s spatial, climatic, and symbolic centers.
These gardens are designed not simply as decorative features but as integral architectural elements that organize space and mediate flows of air, light, and movement. The minimalist strategy is thus elevated beyond aesthetics to become a lifestyle commitment—one that prioritizes presence, wellness, and ecological harmony amid one of Southeast Asia’s densest urban landscapes.
The Role of Indoor Gardens in Spatial Organization
The integration of seven distinct gardens within the home illustrates how vegetation can serve as both a physical and psychological partition. Instead of erecting solid walls, the architects use these pockets of greenery to divide zones and create visual porosity. This approach allows for a continuous interplay of openness and intimacy throughout the living space.
Functionally, these gardens enable passive ventilation and daylighting. By ensuring that nearly all interior spaces maintain a visual connection to foliage and access to natural air and light, the designers reduce dependency on artificial systems. Carefully placed openings—likely operable windows, clerestories, and skylights—further enhance cross-ventilation and solar gain control, contributing to the home’s energy efficiency and comfort.
Technical Specifications and Construction Methods
1. Structural Systems and Materials
Given the house’s slim lot and vertical layering, construction likely relies on reinforced concrete slabs and load-bearing brick or concrete walls, commonly used in Vietnamese urban housing. These materials also lend themselves well to structural modifications for garden pockets and rooftop planters, ensuring durability under tropical conditions.
2. Garden Integration Systems
To support the inclusion of indoor gardens, the designers must have implemented robust waterproofing membranes, soil containment strategies, and moisture control systems. Adequate drainage systems and perhaps automated irrigation technologies support plant health while avoiding risks of structural damage due to water retention.
3. Ventilation and Lighting
Strategic placement of garden courtyards between functional spaces creates natural air pathways. Combined with skylights and clerestories, this system enables consistent natural lighting and passive cooling, limiting HVAC reliance. The overall system aligns with bioclimatic design principles, where form follows environmental function.
Architectural Precedents and Global Context
While the Nhà Voi & 7 Gardens House is a distinct project within the Southeast Asian context, its core ideas resonate globally—especially in territories addressing urban densification with an eye toward health and sustainability. Below is a comparison of this design’s key elements with common residential typologies in different parts of the world:
| Feature | Can Tho Garden House | North America | Australia | Europe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plot Size | 4.5 x 23 m | Typically larger, suburban or infill plots | Narrow urban sites common in Sydney/Melbourne | Dense urban plots in cities like London, Paris |
| Density | Very high | Varies, often lower | Medium-high | High in cities |
| Indoor Gardens | Integral, multiple | Often single atrium/garden feature | Common in biophilic designs | Integrated into passive or courtyard designs |
| Design Driver | Minimalism and wellness | Sustainability, open-plan living | Indoor-outdoor connection, climate adaptation | Density management, adaptive reuse |
| Historic Models | Tube and courtyard houses | Ranch, atrium, and row houses | Terrace and courtyard houses | Townhouses, passive houses |
Comparable Precedents Across Continents
- North America: The Atrium houses of Joseph Eichler—iconic in mid-century California—used central courtyards to foster transparency and communal living.
- Australia: In cities such as Sydney and Melbourne, narrow terrace houses often adopt central courtyards or green light wells to achieve passive ventilation and visual connectivity.
- Europe: The rise of Passive House retrofits in Berlin and London increasingly incorporates glazed garden spaces and rooftop greenery to balance urban density with wellness and energy efficiency.
Educational Insights for Architects and Homeowners
The Nhà Voi & 7 Gardens House by DA VÀNG Studio serves as a masterclass in using architecture to foreground not only space but also sensory well-being, health, and daily rituals. Whether designing on the narrow plots common in urbanized regions of Europe or adapting to climate transitions as seen in parts of Australia and North America, this project offers direct lessons:
- Reconsider Minimalism: True minimalism is not void—it is value-led. By “doing less,” we can make room for what matters more: light, air, and green life.
- Recenter Nature Indoors: Gardens can serve functional roles as dividers, ventilators, and light wells—not just ornamental features.
- Revive Courtyard House Logic: Time-tested typologies can be reinvented to solve modern problems like stress, disconnection, and unsustainable energy use.
- Simplify Building Systems: Passive design doesn’t require advanced technology—it starts with smart daylighting, cross-ventilation, and garden integration strategies.
Conclusion: Embracing Biophilic Minimalism in Urban Housing
The Nhà Voi & 7 Gardens House is more than an individual achievement in residential design—it is a manifesto for integrating biophilic, minimalist, and climate-responsive principles into compact, high-density settings. For architects, builders, and homeowners around the world, it presents enduring lessons: that comfort need not come at the expense of nature, that beauty emerges from restraint, and that well-being can be built into the very form and function of home.
As cities continue to densify and the need for sustainable architecture becomes more urgent, DA VÀNG Studio’s work underscores a timeless point: the most powerful spatial transformations don’t necessarily come from bigger spaces—but from smarter, greener ones.
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