Asia is one of the fastest economic growing regions and so are many cities on the Asian continent. Economic growth brings forward many challenges including intensive urban development, loss of natural features, increased urbanization, and high levels of air pollution, just to name a few. One of these cities is Ho Chi Minh where it was assessed that only 0,25% of its area is covered with vegetation, and in addition to this, there is traffic congestion and air pollution (3). In an effort to rectify some of these transgressions, a private initiative developed a house called the House of Trees, located in Tan Binh district, one of the most densely populated residential areas in Ho Chi Minh City, where many small houses are crowded together (2). The green features of the house include five roofs that function as gardens thanks to a layer of earth substratum, from which tall tropical trees grow (3). The aim of the project is to bring green space back into the city, accommodating high-density dwellings with big tropical trees. Five concrete boxes are designed as "pots" to plant trees on their tops. With a thick soil layer, these pots also function as storm-water basins for detention and retention, hence contributing to reducing the risk of flooding in the city. The project has been conducted by Vo Trong Nghia Architects, a leading Vietnamese firm in building green architecture in urban Vietnam. (1)
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- House gardens
- Nature on buildings (external)
- Green roofs
- Green walls or facades
Key challenges
- Environmental quality
- Air quality improvement
- Noise reduction
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
Focus
Project objectives
Implementation activities
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Private sector/corporate actor/company
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Citizen monitoring and review
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Project implemented in response to ...
Financing
Total cost
Source(s) of funding
- Private funding by citizens
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Lowered local temperature
- Environmental quality
- Reduced noise exposure
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Unknown
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
References
(2). Tebbutt, L. (2014). Rooftops of Vo Trong Nghia Architects' House for Trees covered in greenery. Available at Source link (Accessed on February 5, 2023).
(3). Vo Trong Nghia Architects. (n.d.). House for Trees, Ho Chi Minh. Available at Source link (Accessed on February 5, 2023).
(4). Williams, A. (2014). House for Trees in Vietnam by Vo Trong Nghia Architects. Available at Source link (Accessed on February 5, 2023).
(5). William, A. (2020). Greenery grows out of concrete House for Trees
. Available at Source link (Accessed on February 5, 2023).
(6). Home World Design. (n.d.). VTN Architects New Family House Featuring Large Green Gardens. Available at Source link (Accessed on February 5, 2023).
