Wasp House

Wasp House is a tiny home on a 3.5 by 7 metre plot in a dense neighbourhood, built for two siblings. It has two floors, with one bedroom on each.

The stair is the heart of the house. Beyond getting people up and down, it is a place to grow flowers, read or simply sit and rest.

Daylight fills the house through a glass roof and brick walls laid with gaps. Sun on the rough brick gives the small rooms a close, changing atmosphere.

The gate and fence are simple metal grilles meant for climbing plants. As the vines grow they will cover the front and filter the dust from the street.

To keep costs down, the architects simplified details, materials and furniture, made the most of every functional space and lowered the floor heights. The aim was a bright, lively home for the neighbourhood, on the belief that a beautiful house should not be only for people with high incomes.

Project Information

Firm: Tropical Space
Completed: 2015
Type: Residential
Material: Brick, Concrete, Glass, Steel

The narrow house in its alley — Credit: Quang Trần

Brick facade above neighbouring roofs — Credit: Quang Trần

Perforated brick front with planters — Credit: Quang Trần

Steel stair along the perforated wall — Credit: Quang Trần

The house among overhead wires — Credit: Quang Trần

Stair with plants beside the kitchen — Credit: Quang Trần

Ground floor with timber cabinet — Credit: Quang Trần

Brick pattern above a steel grille — Credit: Quang Trần

Dining corner by the stair — Credit: Quang Trần

Steel stair rising past plants — Credit: Quang Trần

Stair and grille in the narrow plan — Credit: Tropical Space

Glass roof over the stair — Credit: Quang Trần

Reading on the stair — Credit: Quang Trần

Bedroom with pale brick walls — Credit: Quang Trần

Light through the brick onto the stair — Credit: Quang Trần

Looking up the stair void — Credit: Quang Trần

Grille with climbing plants — Credit: Quang Trần

Bedroom opening onto the stair — Credit: Quang Trần

Upper bedroom with a mattress on the floor — Credit: Quang Trần

Bed behind the planted grille — Credit: Quang Trần

Stair void with plants — Credit: Quang Trần

The house lit at dusk — Credit: Quang Trần

Bedroom with perforated brick window — Credit: Quang Trần

Looking down the stair from above — Credit: Quang Trần

Stair framed by steel and brick — Credit: Quang Trần

Brick roof against the sky — Credit: Quang Trần

Front of the house at night — Credit: Quang Trần

Bedroom with a window to the street — Credit: Quang Trần

Ground floor with desk and cabinet — Credit: Quang Trần

Glass doors behind the grille — Credit: Quang Trần

Kitchen along the brick wall — Credit: Quang Trần

Steel stair seen from below — Credit: Quang Trần

Glazed wall with plants — Credit: Quang Trần

Spiral of steps against the brick — Credit: Quang Trần

The house from the alley — Credit: Quang Trần

Steel frame and table on the landing — Credit: Quang Trần

Ground floor plan — Credit: Tropical Space

First floor plan — Credit: Tropical Space

Second floor plan — Credit: Tropical Space

Wasp House

Project Information

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