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M11 House: Warm and Unpretentious Minimalism in Vietnam

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A21 Studio in Vietnam has a bold approach to minimal design. Their rock office is an example of the down-to-earth yet completely out of the box thinking that goes into their work.

Their new work, the M11 House is a residential home in Thu Duc, Vietnam, is designed to bring peace to a weary commuter.

A central courtyard adds space and “outdoors”  in the middle of the house. The view outside is deceptively large…

…viewed from the other side of the kitchen, at night, you can see that the glass enclosure for the tree is small and spare. But it is enough to create a sense of a courtyard, during the day.

It is created by a light well. At the center of the house, a large glass roof skylight creates a central light well that pulls daylight down all three floors.

Likewise, the sense from the bathroom, at the top of the house, is that space is unlimited.

It seems that the garden is everywhere. The slab of stone separating the shower enclosure is elegantly simple.

From outside on the terrace, looking in to the bathroom, this becomes a meditative space.

A floor down from the bathroom, the bedroom is equally minimal, but not harshly so. Wood and stone throughout warm the house with natural materials.

Behind the bathroom, separated only by this screen of cedar sticks, a gym area occupies the back of the top floor.

The light well cascades light down the central stairwell. Enough light is left to reach the bottom floor where the tree grows in the dining room, appearing as if it is outside the kitchen.

Although extremely minimal, the house is not didactic. It is just sweet and relaxed.