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A family compound that accommodates and reflects the traditions of Vietnam
On the anniversary of an ancestor's death, called ngay gio, a Vietnamese family typically gathers to pay tribute by sharing memories and a family meal. This tradition forms both the spiritual and physical core of the Nguyen residence.
The center and focus of the residence is an "ancestor room" which floats in the middle of a lotus pond. The ancestor room is used by the family for worship, making it the heart of the house. The room is free-standing and its shape is inspired by curved, water-shedding banana leaves. Setting the room above the pond is in keeping with the placement of venerated religious structures in Vietnam. The lotus, which grows in the mud and still sends up pure, white flowers, is strongly symbolic of a spiritual life.
The Nguyen residence includes two main houses that sit on opposite sides of the property and embrace the ancestor room. To the east, a wooden bridge leads from the room to an outdoor kitchen. The kitchen is designed to prepare elaborate meals for family gatherings and religious occasions. It provides a focus for activity, simplifies cleaning, and keeps cooking aromas out of the house.
Closeness and separateness for multiple generations
Mr. Nguyen and his family live in the main house on the west side of the pond. This two-story structure accommodates bedrooms on the second story and living areas at ground level. An open veranda and foot bridge leads to the living room, bringing guests from the street to the tranquil interior environment. Entry from family parking beneath a car porch leads through the kitchen and dining room.
The second house is the Nguyen’s parents’ residence, a one-story structure adjacent to the outdoor kitchen. A porch brings visitors into the dining room and living room. The bedrooms wrap around the house and end at the mother’s bedroom which has an adjoining tea room that looks out upon the ancestor room.
The standing seam roofs of both houses form a metal ribbon around the site. Both roofs and the roof of the ancestor room funnel rainwater into the lotus pond. The flow of water mirrors the overall flow of the structures and emblemizes the unified spirit of the design.
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