Named Saigon House, the four-storey property was designed by architects at a21studio to provide a family home for their client and her children, but with enough room for her parents and siblings to stay.

Her main request was for a traditional Saigon home – referencing the name of the Vietnamese city prior to 1976 – as opposed to the western-style homes that have since become popular.

She also requested a space reminiscent of the house mentioned in the mythical tale of Van Duong Phu, a famous collector of antiques whose unfulfilled dying wish was for his home to become a museum to inspire future generations.    

Simple materials including bricks and timber frame the structure. The architects also added bright colours to offer variety.