Applying the Values of Buffer Spaces in Traditional Architecture to Residential Villas (A Case Study of a Villa in Buon Ma Thuot)

Abstract

In the context of contemporary urban housing development, modern design often emphasizes comfort and convenience but gradually loses traditional values such as adaptation to nature, family cohesion, and community bonding. This study aimed to identify the characteristics of buffer spaces in traditional Vietnamese architecture and assess their applicability in the design of urban villas, with a case study of a villa in Buon Ma Thuot City. The research methodology combined literature review and analysis, field surveys, and comparative evaluation of the case study against traditional buffer space models from Northern, Central, and Southern regions of Viet Nam. The findings highlighted the core values of buffer spaces in organizing Vietnamese living environments, including regulating the microclimate, enhancing spatial connectivity, and preserving cultural values. Then, the study evaluated the extent to which these elements have been incorporated into the selected villa, thereby proposing directions for developing modern villa architecture that are sustainable and rooted in local traditions.