Reclaimed timber makes up this tranquil nature retreat in…

Vietnamese architecture firm SILAA has recently completed the Hachi Lily House, a nature-inspired retreat tucked into a pomelo tree-filled village near the city of Hue. The clients are a family who, after leaving the hustle and bustle of city living in search of a more peaceful lifestyle, asked the architects to design the home as the “base” for a future homestay project that will also be located on the property. The simple gable-roofed dwelling prioritizes indoor/outdoor connections and is primarily built of reclaimed timber salvaged from the structures of old demolished buildings. 

Completed earlier this year, the 115-square-meter Hachi Lily House features a rectangular footprint set on the northeast corner of the property planted with pomelo trees. To highlight the landscape, the architects oriented the home towards views of the pomelo trees and fitted it with vast glazing, a timber mezzanine with views of the garden, and an outdoor veranda that spans the length of the front facade and faces a water lily pond with a small wooden bridge. 

Inside, the light-filled home separates the main common areas on the south side of the home near the front entrance from the sleeping areas on the north side with two centrally located restrooms. The open-plan living area, dining room and kitchen connect seamlessly to the outdoor veranda via timber-framed sliding glass doors. In contrast, a natural stone wall wraps around the two bedrooms in the rear to provide privacy and to frame a hidden inner garden that includes two outdoor showers near the bathrooms. 

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Related: Dramatic arches usher nature inside an alley home in Vietnam

A ladder in the living room leads up to a small mezzanine where the family’s library and storage are located. A skylight and small operable windows let in natural light and promote air circulation in the elevated space, while extended roof overhangs protect the home from unwanted solar gain in summer and the prolonged rains in winter. “Different types of stone, wood, concrete, glass, terracotta, textile, water, greenery… create a good color palette,” note the architects. “The children and their grandmother can have a good sleep in this cozy and calming atmosphere.”

+ SILAA

Images by Hoang Le