Project Info
Project Name: Khai Son Duo Penthouse
Location: Long Bien, Hanoi, Vietnam
Architect: Idee Architects
In the evolving fabric of Hanoi, where density often dictates compromise, the Khai Son Duo Penthouse by Idee Architects offers a compelling counterpoint that transforms constraint into spatial opportunity. Completed in 2025, the 600-square-metre residence reimagines urban living by merging two adjacent penthouses into a single, continuous home defined not by floor plates, but by section.
A Home Shaped by Vertical Movement
Rather than treating the duplex as stacked levels, the design unfolds as a vertical journey. A central circulation spine organizes the plan, dividing the home into primary and secondary zones while maintaining visual and spatial continuity throughout.
At either end, two contrasting staircases - one rectilinear, one sculptural and spiraling - act as both connectors and architectural statements. Together, they choreograph movement across the residence, reinforcing a sense of fluidity between floors and functions.
A double-height living area amplifies verticality, where linear detailing draws the eye upward and anchors the social core
Voids as Living Spaces
The project’s defining gesture lies in its use of double-height voids. Rather than residual spaces, these volumes become the emotional core of the home. One frames a generous living room, where vertical openness amplifies light and social interaction. The other transforms into an indoor garden - an unexpected landscape that threads through the dining area, kitchen, and into more private quarters.
This interplay between void and function introduces a layered domestic experience. Linear elements accentuate height in the living zone, while tall trees in the garden emphasize organic growth upward, softening the architectural rigor with moments of playfulness and calm.
The living room opens outward to the city, where expansive glazing extends the double-height volume into the skyline beyond
The garden acts as a living spine, threading nature through dining and circulation zones
Material Contrast and Spatial Clarity
Materiality reinforces the project’s conceptual clarity. Rough travertine surfaces ground the interiors with a tactile, almost geological presence, while metallic details introduce refinement and precision. The dialogue between raw and polished elements mirrors the broader balance between openness and structure.
The architectural language remains deliberately restrained - clean lines, controlled geometries, and a neutral palette - allowing light, proportion, and movement to take precedence over ornament.
Travertine surfaces ground the interior with tactile weight, contrasted by refined metallic accents
A restrained composition of dark stone, matte cabinetry, and reflective metal defines the kitchen
A palette of raw stone and precise finishes balances solidity with lightness
Designing for Family, Not Just Form
At its core, the penthouse is designed for a young family, and this intention shapes every spatial decision. The openness encourages interaction, while the variety of zones - social, private, and transitional - supports different rhythms of daily life. The indoor garden becomes both a visual anchor and a space of retreat, particularly meaningful in a dense urban context.
Rather than a static luxury interior, the home is conceived as an adaptable environment that invites exploration, play, and connection across generations.
A calm interplay of material, light, and greenery brings the spatial composition to a quiet, cohesive close
A New Model of Urban Living
Khai Son Duo Penthouse ultimately proposes a shift in how vertical residences are imagined. By prioritizing section over plan, void over enclosure, and movement over compartmentalization, it transforms the penthouse typology into something more dynamic and humane.
In doing so, Idee Architects crafts not just a home above the city, but a layered spatial landscape within it where architecture becomes an active participant in everyday life.
Photo Credit: Wuyhoang Studio
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