Living Without Air Conditioning? DHY House Ingenious Design

DHY House
Architects: AHL architects
Area: 300 m²
Year: 2022
Photographs: Hoang Le
Manufacturers: Bluescope Lysaghts, Croled, Genta, Kayxau, Kitchen Town, Minh Duy Electrics, Vietceramics
Project Team: Hung Dao (C.A), Nguyen Ngoc Hoang (A), Vu Van Cuong (CS), Hoàng Hải Quang (ME)
Graphic: Thuong Le, Ngoc Hoang
City: Thái Nguyên
Country: Vietnam

The DHY House, designed by AHL Architects and located in Thái Nguyên, Vietnam, is a 300-square-meter residence completed in 2022. Built by a fashion designer for her mother, the house harmoniously blends traditional Vietnamese architectural elements with modern sustainability. Central to its design is the concept of buffer zones, such as porches and shaded courtyards, which provide natural ventilation and protection from the tropical climate. A large concrete wall serves as both a visual and functional divider, separating a public café from the private living space, while a sloped roof with varying elevations optimizes sun and wind flow. The house’s four open sides, combined with shade trees, ceiling fans, and local materials like wood and ceramics, enable natural cooling, making air conditioning unnecessary even on the hottest days. DHY House exemplifies a thoughtful approach to sustainable living by integrating traditional wisdom and modern design.