Indoor Garden Oasis in Can Tho: A Minimalist Urban Retreat by DA VÀNG Studio

Category: Residential Design

In the bustling Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, Vietnam, where urban densification has become the new norm, DA VÀNG Studio has crafted an architectural antidote: the Nhà Voi & 7 Gardens House. This innovative residence exemplifies the art of merging minimalist spatial composition with lush biophilic design—all within the constraints of a narrow 4.5 x 23 meter plot. Designed as a quiet indoor garden retreat amidst the city’s noise and density, the house redefines contemporary urban living for architects, homebuilders, and environmentally conscious homeowners across the globe.

Redefining Residential Space: The Minimalist Urban Retreat

Stripping Space to Essentials

At the heart of Nhà Voi’s design is architectural restraint. Inspired by minimalist living philosophies, the home eliminates visual and spatial clutter. Every square meter serves a carefully considered purpose—defined by what is essential, rather than what is ornamental. DA VÀNG Studio employs their proprietary “fitting proportion technique” to ensure each ambit of the home stays “just enough”—freeing up area for the true protagonist: greenery.

This approach resonates strongly with global trends in minimalism found in Scandinavian models and Japandi-style architecture, where function is prioritized and spaces are purpose-oriented, sparking peace and clarity in daily life.

Nature as Central Architecture

Rather than designing the house with gardens as marginal accessories, DA VÀNG Studio integrates seven distinct garden areas throughout the residence. These gardens are strategically woven through the floor plan—as front and rear yards, courtyards, green corridors, and even bathroom gardens—becoming architectural threads that bind the interior volumes with exterior expression. Walls between “rooms” are replaced with landscaped voids that simultaneously organize circulation, diffuse light, and foster cross-ventilation.

This layout transforms the home into a series of interconnected green volumes, in which walls are less segregators and more facilitators. The entire residence becomes a calibrated ecosystem—emphasizing continuity, sensory engagement, and environmental moderation.

Building Techniques in Tight Urban Footprints

Masterful Site Utilization

Vietnam’s intensified urban fabric means projects are often sandboxed into tight and irregular lots. Nhà Voi’s 103 m² interior area appears modest—but under DA VÀNG’s adept planning, it becomes an expansive spatial experience. By fully occupying the lot and hollowing out segments for gardens and courtyards, the design achieves high volumetric utility without sacrificing daylight or ventilation.

Envelope Design for Privacy and Climate

Externally, the house presents a tall, solid envelope—a deliberate privacy barrier for the inner oasis. This not only buffers noise and visual intrusion but aligns with vernacular Vietnamese responses to urban density. Within this shell, strategic perforations—via open air courtyards, latticed wooden facades, and skylights—allow air and light to animate the otherwise sealed space.

Unlike temperate-climate homes where large windows freely open to the street, Nhà Voi inwardly orients its transparency. Its equation for habitability foregrounds shaded microclimates, a traditionally-informed move that better suits tropical regions.

Passive Climate Strategies

The house leverages several passive environmental controls:

• Cross-ventilation through voids between gardens and stairwells
• Sunlight channeled via patios, skylights, and translucent wooden panels
• Thermal buffering through layered vegetation and shadow play

These strategies reduce dependence on mechanical solutions—fan systems and HVAC—without compromising comfort, a distinguishing feature for climate-conscious architects and developers operating in hot and humid zones.

Landscape as Infrastructure

The plant palette is thoughtfully curated to match the home’s varied lighting and moisture zones. Shade-tolerant, low-maintenance species—such as pothos, ferns, and dwarf palms—create layered interiorscapes with minimal upkeep. Gardens span from bathroom corners to corridor voids, offering a continuous aesthetic without overwhelming burden.

Typological Lineage: Global Inspirations to a Local Solution

Though innovative in execution, Nhà Voi belongs to a long tradition of garden-integrated homes:

• Chinese Siheyuan and Japanese Machiya: Courtyard-centered plans used for climate modulation and spiritual reprieve.
• European Rowhouses: Mid-block configurations often used light wells or conservatories to introduce axial openness.
• Australian Queenslanders: Outdoor verandahs and shaded breezeways extended the indoor-outdoor domestic interface.
• North American Mid-Century Modernism: Like the iconic Case Study House #22, architectural skins blurred environmental boundaries with glass facades and outdoor rooms.

DA VÀNG’s innovation lies in tailoring this lineage to Southeast Asia’s high-density context. Where many historical homes had width or setback margins, Nhà Voi compacts these principles into 4.5 meters—proving that expansive spatial psychology can be achieved even when land is constrained.

Technical Specifications

Comparative Design Insight: Can Tho vs. Western Garden Houses

Additional Case Studies: Global Influences

• Maison de Verre (Paris, France): Uses glass block walls to moderate privacy and light, integrating indoor gardens in tight city contexts.
• Case Study House #22 (Los Angeles, USA): Encased by panoramic glazing, this home blends downtown views with an effortless exterior interface.
• Dutch Canal Houses (Amsterdam): Deep floor plans incorporate inner light wells and green cores—parallels to Nhà Voi’s courtrooms.

Takeaways for Architects and Homeowners

For Architects and Builders

• Small plots can support highly livable, garden-integrated homes through precise space calibration.
• Envelope design must adapt to regional privacy and climate needs—solid walls do not mean dark interiors.
• Passive ventilation and lighting strategies are increasingly essential, reducing carbon loads in warm climates.

For Homeowners and Renovators

• Indoor gardens don’t require atriums or large yards—bathroom plant niches or stairway voids are practical starting points.
• Minimalism enhances rather than limits lifestyle: less furniture creates more space for light, movement, and plants.
• Creating a private green refuge can improve wellness and mental clarity, even in compact urban apartments.

Conclusion: A Global Template for Compact Green Living

The Nhà Voi & 7 Gardens House by DA VÀNG Studio is a masterclass in minimalist urban design—a site-efficient sanctuary that fuses architecture, ecology, and regional realism. In doing so, it bridges the divide between Vietnam’s soaring urban pressures and the universal desire for serenity, privacy, and nature.

As cities across North America, Australia, and Europe increasingly grapple with land scarcity and climate resilience, Nhà Voi offers a transferable model: The indoor garden home as not just a luxury, but a necessary evolution in residential architecture.