Urban villa · Ho Chi Minh City
Wood Louver House
An urban villa wrapped in a layer of wood louvers that keeps the family's privacy while still letting in breeze and natural light.
- LocationThu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City
- Land area200 m²
- Floor area450 m²
- Scale3 floors + basement
- ScopeArchitecture · Interiors · Construction
- Completed2024
01The challenge
The house sits on a busy, west-facing road. The owners wanted a discreet facade that cuts down afternoon sun and dust, without making the inside dark and stuffy.
02Design concept
We covered the facade with a screen of vertical wood louvers set 60 cm out from the glass wall. The louvers block the sun and the view from the street, while still letting air and light pass through.
Inside, a 9 m high atrium with a wooden staircase links all three floors into one continuous space.
03Living spaces
The basement holds parking and a gym. The first floor has the living room, kitchen and dining room. The second floor has three bedrooms, and the third floor is home to the ancestral altar room and a rooftop garden.
04Materials & details
- Thermally treated pine louvers, spaced 8 cm apart
- Charcoal powder-coated aluminum panels
- Low-E glass that cuts radiant heat by 60%
- Center-pivot doors opening onto the garden
The house is right on the street, yet inside it's quiet and nobody can see in.
Results
On sunny afternoons, the living room is about 4°C cooler than the house next door. The louvers also noticeably reduce dust from the road.
