Typology: Apartment Renovation
Area: 100 m2
Year: 2024
Client Testimonial:
“At the start of the project, I shared with the architect my vision of a house perched high in the trees—a bird's nest where birds from all directions gather. Comma.Studio’s design not only addressed the challenges of an old, deteriorating apartment but also created a space filled with light and air, perfectly organized for someone with diverse interests. The 'Ba Trieu Nest' is a design where every detail reflects thoughtful consideration for the comfort and joy of those who live in it.
Much like a nest where birds gather, the apartment has no dividing walls. It’s an open space where people can connect more easily, brought together by a shared love of good food, beauty, and life.”
This renovation project spans the top two floors of an old apartment building on Ba Trieu Street, an area renowned for its French colonial architecture, often referred to as the "French Quarter of Hanoi," just 1 kilometer from Hoàn Kiếm Lake. The apartment, occupied by the family for over 50 years, had undergone numerous patchwork renovations, resulting in an ad hoc, confined, and cluttered layout. "Ba Trieu Nest" transforms this deteriorating space into a cohesive architectural narrative that bridges tradition and modernity.
Designed for a passionate art collector and cultural enthusiast, the project beautifully celebrates Vietnamese heritage and traditions. Blending spirituality, a love for cooking, and a flair for entertaining, the interior achieves a harmonious balance between artistic expression and functionality.
Key design interventions include the removal of internal walls to establish an open-plan layout integrating living, dining, and sleeping areas. A central skylight and a light-filled staircase anchor the spatial composition, improving natural ventilation while creating a vertical dialogue between levels. Traditional Vietnamese timber craftsmanship informs custom joinery, incorporating multifunctional platforms for sleeping, working, and socializing. The design merges functionality with heritage, from the "tiger cage" mesh supporting greenery in the kitchen to display walls that showcase the client's art collection.
The apartment balances public and private realms with adaptable spaces, such as a spiritual room located at its core, enhanced by filtered light and timber screens. Outdoor connections are emphasized through a west-facing kitchen that opens to a herb garden and a large balcony, blurring the boundary between interior and exterior. Comma.Studio’s approach preserves the building's historical context while reshaping it into a vibrant, light-filled sanctuary that seamlessly integrates contemporary living with cultural homage.
Publications - Read more about our project
https://notesbook.vn/en/design/the-nest/