Origin: Hanoi, the spirit of the Old Quarter and French-colonial-era houses of the early twentieth century.
Old Hanoi style evokes the Old Quarter, with narrow and deep tube houses, along with houses from the French colonial period. Recognisable traits include pale yellow or ivory walls weathered by time, patterned cement tile floors, louvred timber doors, arched windows, wrought-iron balconies and high ceilings. Inside, light wells and small courtyards bring light and ventilation to deep plans.
In humid coastal areas, a port city that also has many French-era buildings, this spirit is easy to relate to. Use locally made patterned or pattern-effect tiles, louvred timber doors, iron railings and pale yellow limewash-effect paint. Dark timber furniture and framed pictures add nostalgia. Waterproofing matters because of humid weather, and keeping the light well prevents a deep house from feeling stuffy.
