Rapid urbanization and climate change are creating new challenges for housing in tropical cities. Today, many residential buildings depend heavily on mechanical cooling, while a number of modernist private houses built in Ho Chi Minh City between 1954 and 1986 used passive design strategies that responded well to the local climate. Despite their architectural importance, these houses have rarely been discussed in relation to sustainable housing.
The research examines the climate-responsive design values of modernist private houses in Ho Chi Minh City and considers how these values may inform contemporary residential design. It focuses on passive strategies such as solar shading, natural ventilation, transitional spaces, internal courtyards, and spatial organization adapted to tropical conditions. The finding argues that these design principles remain relevant to current housing challenges, particularly in improving thermal comfort, reducing dependence on mechanical cooling, and supporting better environmental performance. By looking at modernist houses not only as architectural heritage but also as a source of practical design knowledge, the study highlights lessons that may contribute to more sustainable and climate-responsive housing in Vietnam. It also provides a basis for further research on the architectural values of modernist private houses in Ho Chi Minh City.
