I love presenting photos of Vietnamese architecture and describing what it is and how it fits into the context or culture of Vietnam. Like most architects, however, I cannot write well about the reasons for the architecture. We know what is good about particular examples of architecture, and can illustrate it, but we cannot explain it.
Hawkins Pham of the blog Saigon Blues is not an architect, but he is a good writer, and a good architectural critic. He posted recently about the reasons and history behind the design of the Nam Hai villas located between Danang and Hoi An on the central coast of Vietnam. He wrote articulately about the historical references and the phong thuỷ principles behind the contemporary design of the Nam Hai villas.
I visited the model villa set up for sales of the villas at Nam Hai while the project was under construction.
I recognized then that the planning of this development and the design of the villas had set a new high standard for the design of resorts yet to come up and down the coast of Vietnam, as well as Southeast Asia.
I especially appreciated the spaces between the villas and how the design skillfully created privacy between units (that are actually quite close together) and also created a sense of journey to the entry of the units.
Looking back now at this final photo, I realize now the detailed references to the construction of the old Chinese courtyard houses evident in the window details and roof eaves of the new villas.
The Nam Hai was developed by Indochina Capital in 2006 and the villas were successfully sold to buyers for values over US$1 million each. The villas become part of the hotel pool when owners are not present. The hotel is managed by GHM Hotels. The villas were designed by AW2, a french firm with a strong presence in Vietnam, and the interior design was by Jaya Ibrahim of Indonesia. The design was designated by Travel+Leisure Magazine as the best resort design in 2008.
