DB Horizon / SAL

Architects: SAL
Area: 200 m²
Year: 2024
Photography: Trieu Chien
Manufacturers: Hafele, TUILDONAI
Lead Architect: Nguyen Hoang Xuan
Contractors: Nguyen Ngoc Kin, Mai Tran Dang Vuong
Location: Diên Khánh District, Khanh Hoa Province
Country: Vietnam

DB Horizon residential building designed by SAL in Khanh Hoa province, Vietnam has introduced a layered spatial system that addresses multigenerational living through the separation of private and communal zones, responding to environmental conditions and cultural continuity, completed in 2024. Replacing a deteriorated ancestral house, the project organizes bedrooms on the ground floor and shared spaces above, using external and internal circulations to maintain functional privacy and social connectivity. A sloped metal roof, deep eaves, and a wooden louver ventilation system support passive cooling and natural airflow. 360-degree openings and elevated terraces strengthen the relationship between interior spaces and the orchard landscape, reinforcing vernacular strategies in a modern architectural expression.

DB Horizon is a 200-square-meter residence designed by SAL in Dien Khanh, a rural district situated 10 kilometers west of Nha Trang in Khanh Hoa province. Completed in 2024, the house replaces an aging family home and reinterprets vernacular traditions through a spatial and environmental framework suited for contemporary multigenerational living.

DB Horizon is like a story, a long one that spans generations. Every element in the house carries its narrative, recalling memories of an old home, living habits, and familiar stories that were once associated with that area.
Interview With Nguyen Hoang Xuan of SAL Architects

Dien Khanh is defined by a low-density rural fabric, agricultural orchards, and a cooler microclimate shaped by the nearby Suoi Dau River and sea breezes. The project site benefits from these natural conditions, which directly influenced the architectural orientation and environmental strategy of the house. SAL used the site’s wind exposure and passive cooling potential to inform decisions around layout, materiality, and ventilation.

The house is arranged vertically across two levels, with a clear division between private and shared spaces. The ground floor accommodates bedrooms and an external garage. Each bedroom faces a different section of the surrounding garden, offering privacy and varied spatial experiences. The garage is positioned to reduce dust and sound intrusion into the living quarters.

The first floor contains the social and cultural core of the home, including the living room, kitchen, dining space, worship area, shared family room, and a terrace. The layout supports gatherings while maintaining separation between household activities and guest circulation. Visitors approach through an external staircase that bypasses the private ground-floor zones and leads directly to the terrace and communal areas.

A cluster of enclosed functions—including the kitchen, worship area, restroom, and storage—sits at the center of the first floor, forming a boundary between the guest-facing zone and the family’s living space. This arrangement preserves openness while managing visual and spatial privacy. An internal staircase, used exclusively by the family, connects both floors.

The house is naturally ventilated through a continuous system of wooden louvers and clerestory openings. Operable windows line the entire first floor, creating 360-degree views and allowing cross-ventilation throughout the communal areas. The structure is aligned along an east-west axis, optimizing airflow across interior spaces.

A wide sloped metal roof extends well beyond the building envelope. Oriented to capture prevailing coastal winds, the roof shields the interior from sun exposure and rainfall while defining shaded transitional zones. These exterior thresholds support thermal regulation and provide layered circulation, enhancing the user experience as one moves between indoor and outdoor areas.

The architects described their approach as creating “a space with a traditional lifestyle but with a modern look.” DB Horizon applies vernacular principles such as elevated terraces, passive airflow, and functional zoning to meet present-day domestic needs. Regional materials, spatial transitions, and environmental responsiveness connect the building to its rural context while accommodating shifts in land use and future urbanization. The project preserves familial and cultural memory through a framework rooted in adaptability and spatial clarity.