BEST NEW PRIVATE HOUSE

This contemporary take on the traditional Vietnamese shophouse, combining commercial and residential spaces, was created for an affluent artisanal family that produces high-quality ceramic products in the village of Bat Trang, near Hanoi, known for its specialism in the craft. Vo wanted the heritage of the village to be evident in the architecture, so he wrapped the property in a wall of perforated red clay ceramic tiles that he commissioned locally. This ceramic cloak protects the house from the sun in summer and from the wind in winter, while the holes ensure it still gets plenty of natural light. Large gaps allow for trees and plants from the property’s elevated gardens to burst through the façade. The house’s raised ground and lower-ground floors serve as showrooms for the family to display and sell their products, while four additional private levels, with living space, bedrooms and several gardens, sit above. The top floor includes a room for the family altar and an open-air swimming pool bordered by trees and plants. vtnarchitects.net