House in NGÕ Alley by D.O.G House in Hanoi, Vietnam

Project: House in NGÕ Alley Architects: D.O.G House Location: Hanoi, Vietnam Area: 1593 sq ft Year: 2022 Photography: Cao Xuan Hoa

House in NGÕ Alley by D.O.G House

The House in NGÕ Alley, designed by D.O.G House in Hanoi, Vietnam, draws inspiration from the traditional Vietnamese alley archetype. The narrow and elongated plot is closely connected to residential development, reflecting the relationship between public and private, inside and outside. By focusing on creating a nature-oriented living space, the house employs passive cooling methods and maximizes green zones at the entrance, internal courtyard, and roof. Natural lighting and air flows enhance indoor comfort, while a covered grassy area helps reduce heat and improve thermal insulation. Combining traditional and modern elements, the house prioritizes user comfort by using local materials, indigenous colors, and minimalist interior design.

The idea – "NGÕ" means alley in English and represents a typical community located in the city center. The archetype of an alley is deeply rooted in Vietnamese culture, usually narrow and elongated like a capillary connecting multiple families or generations within one large family. The alley serves as a bridge between inner and outer, public and private, childhood and adult life. This concept emerged from the long and narrow shape of the plot which is not square but organically linked to residential development.

Influence – In the context of Hanoi's urban hustle, rapid development and ecological imbalance, creating a nature-oriented living space is an important endeavor to achieve balance and relaxation within housing conditions. Inheriting the traditional architecture of the typical tube house, House NGÕ is a passive cooling home that maximizes green space from entrance to internal courtyard and roof. Green spaces from the alley garden to the inner courtyard are filled with natural light and air flows, while a covered area helps reduce heat radiation and improve the building's thermal insulation.

Difference – This design represents a cocktail mixing traditional Hanoi tube house style with modern aesthetics. User comfort is prioritized, providing thermal comfort, permeability and relaxation through natural therapy. The indoor temperature naturally stays around 28 oC with maximum encouragement for opening windows. Air traps from the alley garden and internal courtyard provide cool breezes throughout all rooms in summer. Green spaces cultivate herbs and spices with essential oils to repel insects and soothe the spirit. The use of local materials and modified olive soil formula also maximizes cooling and reduces humidity. Interior and decoration in minimalist style with indigenous colors include natural stone, gravel, wood and traditional velvet fabric. Interior lighting is achieved through maximum combination of natural light and reflective surfaces creating gentle shadows in corridors, public and private rooms. Wall colors and curved screen lines help obscure the angular boundaries of the plot shape.

Function – The main function of House NGÕ is to create a living space for three generations of a family, corresponding to three small families. Each family has an organized living area in rooms around the central courtyard – a place where families communicate with each other, as well as a living garden for relatives to meet instead of a living room. There is also a shared kitchen, dining area, sauna, prayer space and roof where children can enjoy running and jumping in an urban setting with limited play areas.

Innovation – The innovation of House NGÕ is that it's built from indigenous materials close to local but with high climate adaptability. The finishing material is olive soil, a mixture of materials modified using traditional Northern Vietnam methods to help cool in summer and retain warmth in winter. Particularly effective in the typical humid climate of Northern Vietnam. House NGÕ is a special space for tube houses with narrow facades. The garden alley, like a green vein connecting the heart of the house, becomes an internal courtyard. This main green system brings natural connection between people and nature despite very narrow plots. Unlike tube houses aiming for access to main roads, this house goes inward to create a garden using silence to control urban hustle and green infrastructure to overcome surrounding concrete urban terrain. House NGÕ is a synthesis of the trend toward environmental protection, preserving both material and immaterial cultures.

-D.O.G House