Nam Dam Homestay and Community House on Archdaily
(VOV) - Nam Dam Homestay and Community House in Quan Ba District, Ha Giang Province was recently highlighted on Archdaily, the world's most visited architecture website. Here’s a gallery of photos:
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Nam Dam is a minority village in Quan Ba District, Ha Giang – Vietnam’s northernmost province. It is isolated by mountains, lack of connection with other areas and sufficient infrastructure, resulting in locals’ poor living standard and difficult children’s accessibility to education. |
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The Swallow Community House and Homestay: The iconic building of the village, showing innovation spirit while keeping local identity. This two-floor house has functions as the space for meetings, local & tourist activities with a small museum and 5 bedrooms. |
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| Verandas, voids and beveled folding roof resembling the Swallows’ wing – the bird believed to bring luck - make the inner space full of natural light. |
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The community was built with the support by architects and Switzerland NGO Caritas. This is an opportunity to improve locals’ life quality, develop tourism as well as preserve the region’s identity. |
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| The house is integrated between traditional and modern construction techniques, maximizing local materials (rammed earth wall and timber structure). |
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On the first floor, the 80cm thick earth wall is rammed directly on the stone foundation. |
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| It plays an important role in preventing erosion, resisting the risk of scrubbing and also keeping the indoor space warm in winter and cool in summer. |
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Inside the building, the wall surface is coated by a mixture of earth and additives in order to enhance the strength, prevent cracking and keep the surfaces clean. |
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On the second floor, the structural frame is a combination of timber floor panels and reinforced concrete beams and column. The walls, panels, trusses systems are made from natural wood which is environmentally friendly. |
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The model has helped foster the village’s economy, preserved the culture and hopefully strengthens the bond among residents, adapts to the area’s development in the future. |