The Nang House accommodates three generations within a layered residential structure located in an urban area of Vietnam. The house preserves the original ground-level dwelling while adding new volumes above and around the existing structure. The retained portion includes shared living spaces such as the living room, kitchen, and service areas organized around a central courtyard. Additional floors introduce private bedrooms, family rooms, and circulation spaces stacked vertically to expand usable area without increasing the footprint. Open voids are maintained to allow daylight and air to reach lower levels.
The building uses reinforced concrete columns and slabs to support the new construction. Exterior walls are finished in light colored plaster with vertical window openings positioned for ventilation. Roof terraces are included at upper levels and accessed from internal corridors. Interior finishes include wood panels, ceramic tiles, and concrete surfaces. Staircases and ramps connect old and new areas while maintaining clear movement between shared and private zones.
Image Credit: Trung Tran Studio
What's Driving This Trend
- Multigenerational Living Spaces
- Designing homes that cater to multiple generations offers an opportunity to create flexible spaces that meet diverse family needs while optimizing limited urban land use.
- Vertical Space Expansion
- Vertical expansion in residential architecture innovatively maximizes space efficiency, providing an alternative to horizontal sprawl by building upwards.
- Sustainable Urban Redevelopment
- Integrating new structures with existing urban homes supports sustainable redevelopment by reducing the need for complete demolition and preserving cultural heritage.
Who This Affects Most
- Real Estate Development
- The real estate development industry can leverage layered residential designs to increase property value and appeal to multigenerational households.
- Architectural Design
- Architectural design firms have the opportunity to innovate in structural engineering by incorporating skyward expansion techniques in dense urban environments.
- Construction Materials
- Manufacturers of construction materials are poised to supply innovative building solutions such as reinforced concrete and sustainable finishes for vertically layered homes.
