To the layman, glass windows as an element of (contemporary) architecture may be taken for granted and considered to be a non-negotiable part of buildings. However, most traditional structures all over the world did not use glass—and rather relied on the finer construction details and placement of fenestrations to allow for good airflow throughout the […]
Read More… from Designing a breathable ‘house with no windows’
A stupa describes a hemispherical and often truncated mound-like shape in traditional architecture, with one of the most popular examples in Indonesia being Borobudur Temple and its array of ‘perforated’ masonry.1 Similar ideas of a grand yet ‘airy’ structure informed this residential architecture in Tangerang’s sweltering climate, where the average maximum temperature is around 35 […]
Approximately one hour away from the metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City is the province of Tiền Giang, one of the largest rice-producing regions in the Mekong Delta. Its long-standing tradition of rice cultivation has played an important role in Vietnam’s agricultural and economic development. Although the region has diversified into other agricultural sectors, rice […]
Read More… from Noah’s Nest by Archiro Vietnam: A ‘living’ home that evokes rice fields
Nestled in the historic Australian town of Chewton—established during the gold rush in Australia—this residential building is a contemporary take on the agricultural buildings that are typical of the Central Victorian landscape. The national park in the backyard influenced the design decisions, encouraging a layout that maximises views and connects the indoor living spaces with […]
The Sri Aman Master Plan (SAMP) is a first-of-its-kind sustainable regional plan in Malaysia based on a network of greenways and blueways, green infrastructure, sustainable management, and the promotion of agrarian residential communities. It fully responds to Malaysia’s commitment to reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The SAMP is the first step in initiating future sustainable development […]
Originating in Hawaii architecture, a lanai is the term for a sheltered (roofed) terrace, veranda or porch. This type of in-between space can be used to bring interiors closer to Nature, as is the case for this residence in Manila, the Philippines. The existing house was built decades ago in the form of a family […]
Read More… from A Lanai Extension ‘Renews’ a Decades-old House
The site is located along the approach to a renowned shrine and on the edge of a plateau in the Yushima district of Tokyo. In recent years, buildings in the area have been replaced by apartment complexes, which rapidly transformed the area’s spatial character. There were a few challenges within the site context that significantly […]
Read More… from Tenjincho Place: Finding beauty in ‘imperfection’
Unlike most houses in the neighbourhood—Tanh Dinh ward in Ho Chi Minh City’s most condensed district—that maximise building upon their plots of land to create monolithic enclosed masses, the architects sought to reduce the built-up spaces of this house from the start. From discussions with the owner, they pared down the programme to the point […]
What is distinctive about this project is that the house itself takes up less than a third of the 735-square-metre plot of land—Nature has become central to daily living. The land originally belonged to the family’s elders with a flower garden in front, built by the grandfather, and a vegetable garden at the back, built […]
In Asia’s compact living environments, gardens or green lots are still sometimes relegated to ‘nice-to-have’ decorative elements on the borders or leftover areas of activity zones. If one is fortunate enough to own a property on which to build one’s home, then perhaps natural flora does not have to be an after-thought or option for […]
“The architecture resembles a bridge or a temple. Watching the people sitting on the porch enjoying their onigiri (rice balls), it feels like this architecture is a reminder of something important that modern Japan has lost.” In light of the above poignant observation by the architects, one begins to see this longhouse project in a […]
When it comes to the impact of architecture on health, it is clear that badly designed spaces—such as structures prone to weather damage; spaces with stagnant air circulation; poorly lit corners; or hot and stuffy rooms—have a negative impact on well-being. It has long been observed that building-related illnesses (BRIs), most often occurring in workplaces […]
Read More… from Healthy Homes: The Importance of ‘Blank Spaces’
