Analysis of vernacular houses in southern Vietnam, and potential applications of the learned lessons to contemporary urban street houses
ISSN: 0168-2601
Article publication date: 25 July 2022
Issue publication date: 19 August 2022
Abstract
Purpose
This study examines spatial layouts and sustainable features of vernacular houses in southern Vietnam to apply the lessons learned to the development of a contemporary housing design. This study proposes hypothetical low-rise street-house models popular in contemporary urban Vietnam by applying the spatial and ecological lessons learned from the analysis.
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 23 well-preserved vernacular houses in Dong Hoa Hiep – an 18th century village in the Tien Giang Province – were chosen for a 2-month, on-site investigation. During the field survey, the houses were measured to fabricate scale drawings for detailed analysis, and photographs were taken.
Findings
An in-depth evaluation highlighted unique characteristics of spatial compositions, sustainable features, and architectural components that contribute to climate adaptive strategies.
Research limitations/implications
Although numerous potential arrangements of the models are possible, a few examples are illustrated to validate that the assembly could help achieve a dynamic streetscape for street houses.
Social implications
From this perspective, vernacular houses in Vietnam are a rich architectural resource and a significant cultural heritage, because these houses have adopted sustainable design strategies suitable for the local climate and culture to ensure comfort and well-being for a long time. Perhaps, sustainable lessons drawn from Vietnam's indigenous houses are a prerequisite to developing contemporary housing in the country.
Originality/value
Employing the lessons learned from vernacular houses, this study developed three sustainable prototypical designs for the development of contemporary street houses in densely populated cities in Vietnam.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the INHA University Research Grant. The authors also acknowledge the support of time and facilities from Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT) – VNU-HCM for this study.
Citation
Na, L.T.H., Park, J.-H., Jeon, Y. and Jung, S. (2022), "Analysis of vernacular houses in southern Vietnam, and potential applications of the learned lessons to contemporary urban street houses", Open House International, Vol. 47 No. 3, pp. 533-548. https://doi.org/10.1108/OHI-12-2021-0276
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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