Origin: The narrow, deep house form dates to Vietnam old quarters; the modern version has spread since the late 20th century.
The tube house is a townhouse with a narrow frontage, usually 3 to 5 metres, and great depth. The main challenge is light, ventilation and privacy in the middle. The modern version answers with skylights, voids between floors, daylit stairs and a façade with louvres or planted balconies.
In humid coastal areas, plots often face southeast or northwest, so the front must handle afternoon sun and winter wind. Place a void in the middle, step upper floors back for shade, use insulated glazing and louvres on west faces, and waterproof the roof terrace and skylights carefully. Soft ground calls for a geotechnical survey and suitable pile foundations to avoid differential settlement next to neighbours.
