TH+ house
Woven into the dense urban fabric of Hanoi, TH+ House is located within a network of narrow alleyways and informal vertical houses. The project occupies an extremely constrained plot just 2.5 meters wide, accessible only by tight pedestrian alleys.
In a city of approximately 8.5 million inhabitants, density is often perceived as a limitation. In Hanoi’s alley neighborhoods, however, it fosters a vibrant community life shaped by daily interactions—shared tea, small businesses, street games, and spontaneous social exchanges. This social intensity became a key premise for the design of TH+ House.
High density presents significant challenges for residential architecture, particularly limited daylight, poor ventilation, and compartmentalized layouts that separate family members. TH+ House addresses these constraints by promoting openness and encouraging shared activities despite the narrow footprint. Rather than relying on size, the project explores spatial generosity through diversity, visual connections, and flexible use. A sequence of varied spaces allows family members to choose environments that suit different needs, moods, and levels of privacy throughout the day.
Although conceived as an independent project, TH+ House extends the original TH House, built in 2021 on an adjacent plot for the same family. Together, the two structures form a combined vertical home that adapts to the evolving needs of a growing household. Instead of replacing the existing building, the extension builds on its principles, allowing the house to expand incrementally while maintaining continuity of identity and spatial logic.
Due to the limited width and the presence of a shared load-bearing wall, thick perimeter walls were not feasible. The structure is therefore organized around a single central red steel column running from the ground to the fourth floor. This column acts as the primary structural backbone and becomes a defining architectural element. It supports key spaces—including the tea room, guest room, living room, and children’s room—allowing thinner walls, wider spans, and greater openness throughout the interior.
This strategy enables larger façade openings, light-filled voids, and effective cross-ventilation despite the tight context. Layered spatial organization maximizes usability, accommodating a range of functions such as a tea room, reading room, flexible living areas, a small terrace, and a bar. Passive design strategies compensate for limited daylight: a south-facing façade provides soft, consistent light, while skylights, porous floors, and vertical voids bring daylight deep into the interior and enhance ventilation.
Material selection plays a key role in shaping the spatial experience. A deliberate mix of materials avoids monotony and creates a sense of richness within the compact volume, enhancing both tactile and visual depth.
Green terraces and planted areas are integrated throughout the house to improve the microclimate and compensate for the lack of greenery in the surrounding neighborhood. Beyond environmental performance, the project responds to the social realities of alley living. The vertical arrangement of shared and private spaces strengthens family relationships while allowing moments of retreat. At the same time, visual openness toward the alley maintains a strong connection with the community.
Ultimately, TH+ House demonstrates how urban homes in Hanoi can evolve over time, adapting to changing family needs while reinforcing social continuity. It proposes architecture as a tool for care, adaptability, and resilience within the city’s dense urban landscape.
