For this family of four in Qui Nhơn, Vietnam, the priority was to be able to see or hear each other most of the time even if they were in different parts of the home.
Since the wife loves cooking and consequently spends a lot of time in the kitchen, she needed to keep an eye on her two sons, Bin and Bon, who would often play in the front yard with the neighbours' children.
To address the design brief, architects H.a. Workshop decided to build an open-concept home with a terrace structure for each level, so each receded floor overlooks the main area below. The house was designed around the kitchen, which was kept as the central spot.
The large tree in their front yard, which provides some privacy, casts a shadow that spills over into the home, thanks to the open concept.
The home was constructed of simple, natural materials that were easy to source locally.
From the vantage point of the ground floor, the terrace structure of the home is the most obvious -- each receded floor allows anyone from the kitchen to see and hear the occupants upstairs.
The recessed floors above also meant that the kitchen had a soaring ceiling, giving the house an expansive, airy feel.
Even when the children are playing on the top floor, they are within sight of their mother.
Sliding glass doors and curtains provide privacy at night, and can be drawn open to let light and air flow through during the day.