Vietnamese architects 85 Design have a question for us: why should our homes be disconnected from the natural world? Why live in sealed boxes when we could create home microclimates that make us feel better? Their answer is G.AO House, a building that will probably change the way you think about living space. Try to imagine a structure where trees grow through the floors, where water flows from one floor to another in transparent tanks, where the boundary between inside and outside is constantly questioned.
It's not just an aesthetic experiment: it's a concrete attempt to solve one of the most pressing problems of contemporary architecture. How to build houses that make us feel good without devastating the planet?
When architecture breathes
In an era in which we spend over 90% of our time indoors, the quality of the air we breathe becomes a crucial issue. The Vietnamese study 85 Design seems to have understood it perfectly. The G.AO House, located near the FPT City technology hub in Vietnam, is a bold experiment in sustainable architecture oriented towards well-being. Here the domestic microclimate is not a secondary element, but the core of the entire project.
A green wall that extends from the ground floor to the roof crosses the building vertically, acting as a natural lung for the interiors. Plants are not simple decorative elements: they are real biological filters that purify the air, absorb CO2 and release humidity, creating an internal environment in constant balance. I like to think of this solution as an ancient technology rediscovered and enhanced by modern science: We have known that plants improve air quality for millennia, but only today are we able to integrate this principle into complex and functional housing systems.
Natural ventilation has been studied in great detail: large double-height voids facilitate air circulation following the principles of thermal convection. Hot air rises, cool air descends, creating a continuous flow that keeps the rooms cool even on the hottest days of the tropical Vietnamese climate.
Home Microclimate: The Dance of Water
One of the most fascinating elements of the G.AO House is certainly the integrated water system that permeates the entire structure. From the roof to the garden, the water makes a circular journey that significantly contributes to the building's domestic microclimate. On the front balcony, a cascade of water gently descends from a suspended transparent basin into a pond in the garden.
This element is not only scenographic: the moving water cools the surrounding air through evaporation, creating a sort of natural conditioning. Furthermore, the sound of flowing water introduces a relaxing sound element into the domestic environment, contributing to the psychological well-being of the inhabitants. The large fish tank, integrated into the architecture, adds another level of complexity to this artificial ecosystem.
The water circulation system between the garden pond and the roof element helps regulate the internal temperature, exploiting the principles of thermal inertia of water. In practice, the building uses water as a natural thermal regulator, drastically reducing the need for artificial air conditioning systems. This bioclimatic approach It is particularly effective in a tropical climate like Vietnam, where humidity and high temperatures pose constant challenges for residential architecture.
Flexible spaces for changing needs
The G.AO House is not only an experiment in the domestic microclimate: it is also a functional response to the contemporary need for flexibility of spaces. Designed as a hybrid between a residence and an office, it represents an interesting model in an era in which the boundaries between work and home life are increasingly blurred.
The first floor includes a private office that can effortlessly transform into a bedroom thanks to a fold-out bed hidden behind the desk. This solution brilliantly responds to the growing demand for multifunctional spaces, capable of adapting to different needs throughout the day.
The attic level It houses a small bedroom that offers a 180-degree panoramic view of the surrounding environment. Thanks to a part of the roof that opens, it is possible to regulate natural ventilation and access to light depending on the weather conditions. This flexibility allows the inhabitants to modulate the domestic microclimate according to their preferences and external conditions, without having to resort to energy-intensive mechanical systems.
Not just a domestic microclimate
If the domestic microclimate is the beating heart of the G.AO House, sustainable technology is its backbone. The building was designed to minimize its ecological footprint, both during construction and throughout its life cycle.
The main structure is made of a prefabricated steel frame, a solution that reduces waste during construction and facilitates the eventual recycling of materials at the end of the building's useful life. This approach reflects a fundamental principle of sustainable architecture: designing not only with the present in mind, but also with the future dismantling and reuse of materials.
On the roof, solar panels provide the energy needed for the daily operation of the house, reducing dependence on the conventional electricity grid. This system of self-generation of energy is particularly effective in Vietnam, where solar radiation is abundant throughout the year.
The front garden, with water elements and reclaimed stone, references the site’s original construction, adding a unique texture and minimizing waste. The use of reclaimed and recycled materials is another important piece in the project’s overall sustainability strategy.
Lessons for the future
What makes the G.AO House particularly interesting is its nature as a replicable prototype. It is not a cosmetic operation or an experiment in itself, but a concrete model that demonstrates how it is possible to create comfortable and sustainable domestic environments even in challenging climatic conditions.
Projects like this offer valuable insights to rethink the way we build and inhabit our homes. The domestic microclimate is no longer a luxury or an abstract concept, but a concrete necessity to ensure well-being and sustainability.
The G.AO House teaches us that sustainable architecture is not just about energy efficiency or the use of ecological materials: it is a holistic approach that considers the building as a living organism, in constant interaction with the surrounding environment and its inhabitants. It is a vision that overcomes the traditional dichotomy between nature and construction, proposing instead a harmonious synthesis between natural and technological elements.
The Vietnamese architect has demonstrated that it is possible to create living spaces that not only reduce environmental impact, but actively improve the quality of life of their inhabitants. The domestic microclimate thus becomes not only a tool for comfort, but a true design paradigm, capable of guiding more conscious and sustainable architectural choices.
In an increasingly urbanized and climate-unstable world, perhaps this is exactly the approach we need: homes that don’t just protect us from the elements, but actively create conditions of well-being, in harmony with the surrounding environment and the natural rhythms of the planet.
