别墅丨越南丨Idee architects

Architects:Idee architects

Area:2000m²

Year:2023

Photographs:Trieu Chien

Manufacturers:Eurowindows,Unios Lighting,Vietceramics

Lead Architects:Tran Ngoc Linh

Category:Houses

Lead Team:Nguyen Huy Hai

Design Team:Nguyen Dac Nguyen

City:Tam Dao

Country:Vietnam

Text description provided by the architects. The house is set on a 2,000m² hillside plot in Tam Dao, where a cool mountain microclimate and a mature pine forest form a defining natural backdrop. All 52 existing trees were preserved, becoming a living structural framework that guided the project's spatial organization.

The retreat is composed of three detached volumes positioned within the openings of the tree canopy and aligned along the slope. One two-storey block is paired with two single-storey blocks, linked by lightweight steel-and-glass bridges that maintain a continuous relationship between interior spaces and the surrounding forest.

The design embraces clarity and restraint, allowing the architecture to recede and blend into the landscape. Solid corners are replaced with two-sided glazing, creating "cornerless" spaces that extend views and soften the boundary between inside and out. Large glazed surfaces operate effectively thanks to natural shade from the pine canopy and careful solar orientation, while raw concrete and locally sourced grey stone anchor the building to the terrain.

Functionally, the main living cluster—comprising the living room, kitchen, and four bedrooms—is positioned at the higher elevation to capture optimal views. Auxiliary and landscape components are placed lower on the slope to minimize impact on the natural topography.

Tam Dao Retreat reflects a context-driven approach in which the site's ecosystem shapes the architectural form, allowing the structure to settle quietly into the natural terrain.

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