Tiam Espresso Store & Dwelling / Nguyen Khai Architects & Associates
Tiam Coffee Shop & Home / Nguyen Khai Architects & Associates
Text description provided by the architects. Located near the crossroad in the center of Hue city, Tiam was renovated from an 18-year-old house, which was in really bad condition. With a gross built area of only 35 m2, this is the living space for a three-generation family of seven members.
Spending time talking and understanding the essential needs of the owner, we designed Tiam in a way to give a better standard of living along with valuable experiences for each and all members of the house. It has three floors, one attic, balcony, and terrace.
The first floor is for the café, which is run by the owner, and the rest of the building is for living. The vertical louvers and glass walls covering the house are like a vague partition between “in and out”, bringing people inside the house closer to nature and to other people in the streets.
The louvers not only help reduce heat radiation but also create light effects and geometrical rhythm, which enhance people’s feelings every time watching, both from inside and outside.
The effective solution for such a limited built area is to design the interior as minimal as possible and to create continuous and open spaces. We create functional zones and place objects in order to bring members of the family closer to each other, but still be able to have their private spaces if necessary.
The old and ineffective spiral staircase has been replaced by the straight one, which helps optimize spaces and achieve better circulation. Furniture in the house is mostly made of bamboo, which is a sustainable and environment-friendly material. It owns some outstanding characteristics that are suitable for use in extreme climates in Hue.
The café on the first floor was designed with the same elements and materials as the rest of the house. Long curved tables, slim and transparent chairs placed in such a minimal and monochrome space make all other colorful objects noticeable. Moreover, the appearance of people drinking and chatting in the café makes it a lively and beautiful scene.
Plant pots of different sizes are found in every corner of the building. Plant pots on the louvers, balcony, terrace, and inside the house create a calm and pleasant atmosphere. Although Tiam is located near a crowded crossroad, all family members still feel close to nature and have such a peaceful living space.