White Cube House

White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki

WHITE CUBE HOUSE

MM++ Architects

ARCHITECTS
MM++
Architects

LOCATION
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

CATEGORY
Houses

YEAR
2016

PHOTOGRAPHS
Hiroyuki Oki

MANUFACTURERS
Daikin, HAIKU, Hunter Douglas

ASSISTANT ARCHITECTS
Huy Tran Duc, Regis Robin

This house is located in a residential area in District 7 of Ho Chi Minh city and hosts a couple with 2 young kids. The land is a square of 15m length.

White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki
White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki

The footprint and volume are the result of the strict interpretation of the regulation guideline from setback, floors levels to pitched roof and color of walls.

White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki
White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki

Sun path with the west orientation of the house, tropical climate of Saigon and the surrounding environment have led the design of the elevations with minimalist but effective solutions.

White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki
White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki
White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki

The house is split in 3 distinct blocks to avoid the usual heavy look of a 3 floors villa in dense area.

White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki
White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki
White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki

- The ground floor footprint is setting back to keep the upper white box shape intact.

White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki
White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki

It’s an open space merging a kitchen island with dining and living room.

White Cube House
White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki

It’s fully glazed on the east side, partially on North and South sides, giving a feeling of openness to the garden, full of natural ventilation.

White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki
White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki
White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki
White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki

Except for the staircase, the west side, hotter, has only small size windows for the bathroom and a wet kitchen in the back, except for the large glass frame along the staircase which is equipped with an automatic sunshade louver to control the amount of direct sun light in the afternoon. This design keeps the house cool.

White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki
White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki

- The white cube on the first floor is the main volume of the construction. It hosts 2 bedrooms with bathroom and a large mezzanine along the staircase.

White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki
White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki

In contrast with the ground floor, it’s a solid block with thick double bricks walls insulated to keep the house cool and Air Conditioning more efficient.

White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki
White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki

2 deep loggias with built-in planters are placed on South and East elevation of the construction. It underlines the minimalist composition.

White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki
White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki
White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki

The dense vegetation helps to control views and brings privacy.

On the mezzanine, a spiral second staircase leads to the upper floor.

White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki
White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki
White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki

- the second floor is the third separated volume recessed, set on the white cube. Pitched roof and walls are covered by slate tiles.

White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki
White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki
White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki
White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki

An insulation layer over the concrete frame keeps this floor cool as well despite being exposed to sun heat all day round.

White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki
White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki

Built-in planters with vegetation help to filter the direct sun light and control the views.

White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki
White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki
White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki

The master bathroom and the lounge room open on a terrace on the east side.

All the way to the design process the sun path, the tropical climate and the surrounding environment have been considered to bring comfort, easy maintenance and relaxing feeling.

White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki
White Cube House
© Hiroyuki Oki


White Cube House
Ground Floor Plan
White Cube House
1st Floor Plan
White Cube House
2nd Floor Plan
White Cube House
Roof Plan


White Cube House
Elevation
White Cube House
Elevation
White Cube House
Elevation
White Cube House
Elevation