Recently, Business Insider (USA) newspaper reported on one of the quite popular types of architecture in Vietnam, often called “tube houses”.
In his article, Insider introduced, that typical houses on the streets of the Hanoi capital are painted in all kinds of colors. They can be less than 2m wide.
“This type of house is known as the tube house. These houses are among the most popular types of architecture in Vietnam,” said Dinh Quoc Phuong, course director of the interior architecture program at University Swinburne Technology School, shared with Insider.
“Old tube houses were built before 1954, usually consisting of 2 floors, the design is stretched to the back with a narrow facade of 2-5m. On the old ground, today’s tube houses are built higher, even up to 12 floors”, Mr. Phuong emphasized.
Traditionally, tube houses are often associated with Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Here, each street is named after the products that people trade on both sides of the road such as Hang Bac (Silver Street), and Hang Gai (Silk Street).
Unlike the new tube houses that are purely for living, the houses in the old quarter continue to serve commercial functions. The old tube houses often designed shops on the ground floor and the family lived on the upper floor. With multiple floors of living space, multiple generations can live under one roof.
“Traditional tube houses used to be shared by many families, maybe up to five or six households living together. Until now, in the old quarter, you can see that. Even, families don’t even know each other,” said Mai Hung Trung, the architect who initiated Hanoi Ad Hoc, a study on Hanoi’s urban landscape.
The old tube houses lacked width but were compensated in depth. They can reach depths of up to 100m.
According to Mr. Trung, this type of architecture can be formed due to the expensive land price. When the population density is thick, the government levies a facade tax, people try to reduce the size of this area. But when the children of families grow up, they need more space, so they have to build more inside or stack many high floors.
“The land in the inner city is golden land. The street frontage is considered as important as the size of the land. Old houses have courtyards for natural light and ventilation. The courtyard also functions as a space. common activities for family members to gather together,” Mr. Trung said.
In recent years, new tube houses are often built in the French architectural style. This style is adapted in different ways. But regardless of their origins, tube houses have become a feature of Vietnamese streets. Thereby, forming the urban landscape of the country.
“Tube houses and motorbikes are one of the most remarkable features of Vietnam’s urban landscape. They stick together for many years because small motorbikes fit perfectly into narrow tube houses. Just sitting on a motorbike, you can move to any corner of the city, “said Trung.
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