Greening Colonial Heat Islands in Tropical Cities | Home Design Find
RSS

Home Design Find

No Comments »

Greening Colonial Heat Islands in Tropical Cities

 architecture

A challenging renovation in Hanoi, Vietnam begins with a four-storey house of stuffy, poky rooms.

Its balconies were unusable, because the house was enclosed behind security bars on all the the doors and windows.

 architecture

In their latest work, Vo Trong Nghia Architects solve both problems with an imaginative renovation.

 architecture

The existing security fencing was taken off the windows and instead, a galvanized steel trellis was attached to the outer edges of the existing balcony, on which climbers are grown.

 architecture

The pleasant resulting ‘greenfall’ outside can be glimpsed through new openings in the floors deep inside the now renovated interiors.

 architecture

All that can be seen from the street is what appears to be a green wall climbing a trellis.

 architecture

Vietnam’s rapid growth has created many urban problems including an increase in noise and air pollution from motorbikes, and a shortage of green space.

 architecture

The Hanoi renovation project was designed to return greenery to the city, creating a more relaxing living environment for both the resident and the neighbors.

 architecture

The new interiors are now refreshed by an invigorating cool, green ambiance and the balconies are once again accessible to the family.

 architecture

A new green roof is also added, which helps cool the house below, while offering a real escape from the stresses of hot city life.

 architecture

Several trees are also cultivated at the ground floor at the bottom of the central stairway.

 architecture

The existing house in the center of the city had suffered from dim, dark, wet and moldy environment a typical condition for many of the older houses in Hanoi.

 architecture

This same space, formerly the darkest ground floor is now daylit by an opening in the floor above, creating a direct central light well from the former second balcony doors.

 architecture

A second lightwell houses the central stair connecting all four floors.

Its walls are finished with uneven stone, creating a textural graphic interest.

1112 architecture

What had been a four storey warren of tiny dark rooms is now lit down through its center, creating a livable home.

 architecture

Where before, the tropical city’s heat island effect was exacerbated by the concrete warmed in the sun.

 architecture

Now the facade is simply and economically covered.

The architects feel this concept can be replicated easily throughout other rapidly growing cities like Hanoi to solve the climate problems of tropical urbanization.

You can receive our articles for free in your email inbox or subscribe to our RSS feed. Just enter your email below for the email subscription:

| Buy | Print

Leave a Comment