72/8architects builds sculptural Tam House in Hoi An

 

Tam House is a residential project by 72/8 Architects located within the dense urban fabric of Hoi An, Vietnam. Designed on a narrow 5 × 16 meter plot typical of local tube houses, the project explores how spatial openness, light, and ventilation can be introduced within a constrained footprint. Rather than adopting a conventional rectilinear form, the house is conceived as a continuous architectural volume shaped by curved surfaces and internal voids.

 

The project responds to its urban context by reinterpreting the tube house typology through section and form. Split levels and vertical connections replace stacked floor plates, allowing spatial continuity across the interior. A central atrium functions as a primary environmental device, facilitating daylight penetration and natural ventilation throughout the house. This internal void improves environmental performance while reducing reliance on mechanical systems and addressing the limited frontage of the site.

curved cutouts sculpt fluid voids within gabled residence in vietnam
all images by Kien Tran

 

 

Tam House’s curved openings modulate light and privacy

 

Circulation is organized around the atrium and follows a sequence of gradual level changes. This arrangement establishes visual connections between floors and allows light conditions to vary throughout the day. Rather than serving only as a functional element, circulation becomes a spatial organizer that contributes to the overall interior experience.

 

Material and formal decisions reflect both local references and contemporary construction techniques. The exterior is finished in textured stucco, punctuated by geometric openings that modulate light and privacy. A red tiled roof references the vernacular architecture of Hoi An, reinterpreted in a curved form that departs from traditional pitched profiles while maintaining material continuity with the surrounding context.

 

For the interior palette, Studio 72/8 Architects combines exposed concrete, wood elements, and locally sourced tiles. These materials are applied in a restrained manner, emphasizing surface texture and construction logic. Together, the spatial strategy, sectional complexity, and material selection transform the narrow plot into a permeable residential environment defined by light, airflow, and spatial continuity.

curved cutouts sculpt fluid voids within gabled residence in vietnam
Tam House by 72/8 Architects is located in Hoi An, Vietnam

curved cutouts sculpt fluid voids within gabled residence in vietnam
the house occupies a narrow 5 × 16 meter tube house plot

curved cutouts sculpt fluid voids within gabled residence in vietnam
the project reinterprets the local tube house typology