Houses
in Quy Chau - Nghe An Province
Location
Quy
Chau is located in Nghe An province, 150 km SouthWest of Vinh
City (350 km from Hanoi). Most of the inhabitants around the
city are Thai people, one of the numerous Ethnic Minorities of Vietnam.
The area is rich for it's traditional Thai Architecture as well
as Vietnamese wooden houses. All traditional houses are usually
made of wood.
The program
The program was to create a house for the
expatriate based in Quy Chau for a period of five years. A second
"guest house" is created for the consultants who will spend a few
weeks in Quy Chau for a short term mission, with four guestrooms.
The concept
The concept (developed by BTC and Ubik) was
to create some buildings that could dwell the three cultures: Vietnamese,
Thai and European. The houses have
the functionality of a European house, the topology of a Southeast
Asian tropical house, and the look of a traditional house.
Local Materials
As this this project is within a cooperation
program, UBIK used local materials as much as possible. All tiles
(terracotta, marble, slate etc.) are local. The roof is made with
hatch with a metal underlay for waterproofing: the 20cm thick thatch
also provides a natural thermal insulation. The roof frame and the
thatched roof is also realized directly by the minorities, with
the supervision of UBIK. Even if the wood chosen for the construction
is termite-resistant, no precious timber have been used for the
construction of the frameworks, doors or windows.
Details
All outside details are inspired by details
found in the Quy Chau area (see pictures herewith). Unlike the dreadful
concrete public buildings built recently in Quy Chau, this building
has been designed to merge in its natural environment.
 
Central
pond - View from the Guest House
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