Hanging Garden
Mindful listening and connecting
Years in years out, we have come to realize that our job doesn't revolve around designing, drawing, conceptualizing and consulting all the times. In fact, mindful listening is a crucial and major part of our job, which we need to constantly work on. It isn't easy for everyone since people are typically immersed their own thoughts and preconceptions, hindering true understanding. More than often, we allow us to mindfully listen to our client's stories and character in the process of consultation. Only by doing that, can we achieve enough insight needed to do our job, which defines the success of the project. Apart from that, we form a true and meaningful connection and bond with our client throughout the project.
Hanging Garden was that kind of project. Not the one with perfect details, high-end furniture and pricey materials but the one in which we found fulfilment, respect, sharing, and efforts from our clients and our construction partners all along.
The client kept on surprising us while we dived deeper into the project. He is an introverted, sincere, inexpressive, simple and careful speaker. When starting to work with him, we found him to be a broad-minded person who got lots of love for his family and nature. Portraying his personality, the concrete facade looks rough on the outside but open and spacious on the inside. The hanging garden is centred in house, which got all his approval as it is the exact embodiment of his character and interests. On the other hand, the space was skillfully concealed in the living area, the simple customization of the staircase mass is appealing as it unfolds itself to let the light gradually illumniate vertically once you start climbing the staircase.
If you take a closer look, you may find little polish and sophistication in furniture and other details, which was what KM chose to "let go" as we were unable to follow up on this out of town project. The more you want to take control of everything, the more you are out of control in everything. When we choose to let things go, other people will come in and fill our place. As long as they do it with all their heart and passion, they'll bring liveliness to the place. By "they", I mean the client himself and the constructor he chose.
In the end, the reason the place is full of life and beauty is owing to the meticulous care and positive energy that the owner breaths into it not just the painstaking work and techniques of the architect. The way he takes care of every plant on a daily basis brings more life to the place. This is the greatest gift an architect can ever be given. If it hadn't been for the the love of the owner, the very concept of this hanging garden wouldn't have come into reality.
Author: Hien Vo - Translation: Hao Quach
Location | Rach Gia - Kien Giang, Viet Nam |
Building Type | City villa |
Area | 420 m2 |
Architects | Km Team |
Year | 2019 |