2110 Apartment / Atelier 12

Architect: atelier 12
Area: 80 m²
Year: 2019
Photographs: Chimnon studio
Lead Architects: Dang Duc Viet
City: Long Bien District, Hanoi
Country: Vietnam

The 2110 Apartment in Hanoi is a carefully conceived renovation by atelier 12, transforming an 80-square-meter unit within an older apartment block. Designed for a couple whose lives and livelihood center on crafting, the project dissolves the conventional divide between living and working spaces. By removing two enclosed bedrooms, the architects opened the plan to create a flexible interior where everyday life and creative production merge seamlessly. The apartment’s two balconies were reconnected with the interior to bring natural light, greenery, and ventilation, enhancing comfort and sustainability in a compact setting. Material choices emphasize simplicity and locality, relying on rustic finishes and natural textures to reflect the residents’ craft-based lifestyle. More than a functional reconfiguration, the renovation reimagines the apartment as an adaptable environment where personal expression and creativity thrive.

The beauty found in everyday life, traditional culture, and nature are the elements that inspire me the most.
Interview with Đặng Đức Việt of atelier 12

Hanoi’s housing landscape is defined by a mix of dense tube houses, aging collective apartments, and more recent high-rise developments. Many of the older apartment buildings, constructed during periods of rapid urban expansion, were designed with rigid layouts and compartmentalized spaces that no longer align with contemporary ways of living. The 2110 Apartment, located in Long Bien District, exemplifies how these dated interiors can be revitalized to meet evolving lifestyles and aspirations.

atelier 12 approached the project with an understanding of both spatial limitations and the personal identity of its occupants. The original unit was divided into three self-contained bedrooms, leaving little flexibility for a couple whose livelihood depends on crafting. By eliminating two of these rooms, the architects liberated a generous open space where domestic life and creative work coexist without boundaries. This decision not only addressed issues of efficiency but also created an interior tailored to the rhythm of its residents’ daily practices.

The two balconies, once treated as peripheral extensions, were integrated into the spatial composition to enhance light, air, and greenery. In a city where natural ventilation and access to outdoor space are highly prized, this reconnection introduces a sense of calm and vitality into the compact apartment.

Materiality reinforces the project’s ethos. The use of natural, rustic finishes recalls the handmade quality of the residents’ craft, ensuring the home resonates with their values. Local availability also guided the material palette, grounding the renovation within the practical realities of the context.

The 2110 Apartment demonstrates how small-scale interventions can redefine domestic living in Hanoi’s aging housing stock. By merging work and life within a flexible, light-filled environment, atelier 12 illustrates the potential of adaptive design to transform constraints into opportunities. The project stands as an example of how thoughtful renovation can breathe new life into the city’s existing apartments while offering a model for more creative and sustainable urban living.