Planted in more than 1.5 meters of soil, Banyan trees were chosen for the roof tops because of their above-ground rooting system. The five tower-like buildings were built with reinforced load-bearing walls in order to withstand the weight of the trees and the roofs were designed to retain storm water in order to prevent flooding. According to the architects, the main focus of the unusual home design was to blend the exterior green space into their daily lives, “The aim of this project is to bring green space back into the city, accommodating high-density dwelling with big tropical trees. Five concrete boxes are designed as ‘pots’ to plant trees on their tops.”
Related: Vo Trong Nghia’s Modern Blue Stone House Sports a Rising Green Roof in VietNam
Arranged around a central courtyard, five individual buildings make up the home’s communal living space. For the construction, the architects chose to use local and natural materials where possible in order to reduce the project’s carbon footprint and costs. A bamboo formwork filled with in-situ concrete was used for the exterior walls, while the interior walls consist of locally sourced exposed brickwork.
Throughout the first floor, large glass doors and windows allow for optimal natural light and ventilationon the interior. On the second floor, a metal bridge connects the towers, providing shade for the green space underneath. “The courtyard and gardens, shaded by trees above, become part of the ground floor living space,” said the architects. “Blurring the border between inside and outside, the house offers a tropical lifestyle that co-exists with nature.”
+ Vo Trong Nghia Architects
Via Dezeen
Photography by Hiroyuki Oki
