This small house (KN House) can be found in Hanoi, Vietnam, and is home to a guitarist and his family. With a budget of only $15,000 for construction works, architecture firm, Adrei-studio Architecture (ASA), had their work cut out for them.
The client asked ASA to create a space that would reflect the native housing of Hanoi, as well as promoting his own artistic endeavours. Architectural details such as the entry, doorway and staircase, are elements in-keeping with Hanoi’s traditional building style.
The end result is, according to the architects, “an introversive, multi-layered, close-to-nature space. The space is opened and yet closed, and vice versa.”
The home is small, simple, and flexible. The entryway creates an enclosed private courtyard that has a footprint not much smaller than the house itself. The interior design takes advantage any available space, allowing them to incorporate a relaxation nook, and a study. There are also surprising aspects to this house, like the child’s bedroom which is found at the top of a small staircase.
Perhaps we should revise our western ideologies regarding space and its use. Maybe then we’ll be able to create spaces as small, functional and as homely as this one.
Want to see more ‘homely’ small houses? Then check out this amazing small house built on a cliff-top in Chile, or this 100-year-old barn conversion to a small, beautiful home.
What do you think of the unusual features and design of this home?
Via ArchDaily
I really like this one! Small, but very efficient, and different. I’d like to put one of these up as a stand alone on my lake view property.
Agreed John. It looks to be a very homey, and comfortable house. It’d make a great getaway on a lake!
Overall, this house sings to me. On another website I saw more photos and a plan. The stylized stairs on the inside entrance wall of the courtyard may be functional, leading to an “altar”. If the courtyard could not be seen from neighboring properties, I’d suggest an outdoor bath a la Bali. Given the subtropical climate, it seems as if it would make more sense to have a separate, possibly screened, kitchen in the storage area under the altar to reduce heat load. For practical and comfort measures a recliner and a bath tub are indispensable, imo. I would like to see a full street photo of this house and learn the cost of adjacent real estate and non-architect generated housing in Hanoi.