At the outset of the design process, the young couple, both working remotely from home, approached the project with a refreshingly open mindset. Rather than bringing a predetermined vision or detailed brief, they entrusted the design team with a blank canvas, allowing ideas to emerge organically through conversation and shared imagination.

Their only clear desire was for the house to serve as a holistic space: a place that supports both their daily work routines and their evolving lifestyle as a growing family.

We sat down and talked with them like friends. The wife mentioned, “Maybe I like glass bricks, a space filled with natural light,” and pondered aloud, “Would an indoor slide be a crazy idea?” We looked at each other and began imagining a unique home, inspired by the couple themselves.

Beyond their work life, both are passionate about nature and often explore Vietnam’s winding roads together. As they anticipated the arrival of a new family member, the idea of a true home - one to return to - became more urgent and meaningful.

.They brought us into a narrow alley within a densely populated neighborhood in Thu Duc City. Surprisingly, at the end of the alley was a peaceful plot of land with just enough sunshine and serenity, free from dust and urban noise. Almost every neighboring house nurtures some greenery, preserving a quiet, natural charm reminiscent of a small village.

What delighted us most was the presence of a mature starfruit tree in the front yard. From that moment, the house had a name “3 Gang house”, inspired by the Vietnamese folktale “Ăn khế trả vàng, may túi ba gang…” (“Eat starfruit, repay with gold, sew a bag three handspans wide..."). It would be a modest sanctuary where the couple could raise their little girl “Bối” surrounded by energy, memories, and a spirit of exploration.

Built on a narrow 4m x 18m plot, 3Gang house resembles a “three-handspan bag” custom-tailored to fit a lifestyle of working, living, relaxing, and experiencing, all within one compact space.

Organized across three compact yet expressive levels, the house unfolds through a sequence of purposefully crafted spaces that adapt to the family's evolving rhythm of life.

The ground floor merges the kitchen and dining areas into a communal core, doubling as a space for leisure and intimate gatherings. Adjacent to the entrance, a small workshop offers the husband a dedicated corner to care for his collection of travel motorcycles. The second floor features a quiet home office facing the sunlit front yard and a secluded master bedroom at the rear, balancing productivity with privacy. Above, the third floor includes a light-filled gym and a cozy bedroom awaiting little Bối as she grows.

Visual and spatial permeability are achieved in both horizontal and vertical planes, ensuring openness, cross-ventilation, and continuous connection among family members. A central void serves as the heart of the home, crowned with a light-filtering louvered roof that diffuses daylight gently across interior spaces.

Rooms are linked via perforated steel bridges, functioning as both passageways and transitional buffers. Strategically placed windows, skylights, and openings nurture a seamless relationship between inhabitants, nature, and architecture, inviting the rhythms of the external world (sky, sunlight, breeze, greenery…) into the domestic experience.

A highlight of the design is the indoor slide that runs beside the staircase, at once whimsical and nostalgic. This playful element animates the compact urban home with surprise and delight, transforming circulation into an experience of joy.

3Gang house embodies the heartfelt dedication of the Space+ team. It expresses the unique personality of its residents while standing as a testament to the belief that every square meter should be a "space plus", never wasted, always purposeful.

Sustainable strategies are seamlessly integrated throughout: from ample daylighting and natural ventilation to energy and water efficiency. By embracing passive design principles and environmental mindfulness, the home fosters health, comfort, and a closer bond between people and place.

In blending clarity with creativity, this modest dwelling transcends its limited footprint, offering a poetic response to urban living through design rooted in intention and care.