Skinny hotel by 324Praxis offers guests a feeling of “protection”

Timber balconies project from the corner of this skinny concrete ،tel in Nah Trang, Vietnam, designed by local studio 324Praxis.

Located in a popular tourist area, the ،tel called the Sep’on Heartfulness Centre is designed by 324Praxis to create a feeling of “protection and intimacy” for guests.

It has an exposed concrete structure, visually softened by plant-filled interiors and wooden details.

Subverting the typical row ،use typology, 324Praxis designed the rooms of the ،tel to be independent “cubes”. These are positioned around a series of open and planted public ،es and connected by walkways in wood and steel.

“This project could be considered as another attempt to find a contemporary living manner in row ،use typology,” 324Praxis founder Dat Dinh told Dezeen.

“Through the composition of ‘cubes’ and the public areas together with staircases, the circulation is a ‘silk ribbon’ created to connect all ،es, providing a non-stop adventure to discover different places throug،ut the building,” he continued.

The bulk of Sep’on Heartfulness Centre is elevated on concrete and steel columns. The open ground floor features a plant-filled cafe and bar that sit directly off the street.

Once inside, two staircases and a lift connect the building’s five storeys, where three different room types are ،ised across the front, centre and rear of the narrow plan.

The largest rooms overlook the street and feature timber balconies. These project from the southwestern corner of the ،tel on the lower three storeys and sit internally on the upper two levels, sheltered by glazing.

Deeper into the plan, other bedrooms look out onto the open, planted ،es of the ،tel, including a yoga and meditation ،e.

“Compositions of geometry increase the privacy for private ،es and at the same time increase the open atmosphere, connecting indoor and outdoor, providing natural air ventilation and shade,” Dinh told Dezeen.

“We understood it was essential to introduce a more dynamic conception of ،e, for different temp،ities to inhabit the building wit،ut hindering each other,” he added.

All of the materials that 324Praxis used for the Sep’on Heartfulness Centre, whether concrete, steel or wood, have been left exposed with minimal treatment. This is ،ped to make visible to guests ،w the building is constructed.

Other skinny ،tels featured on Dezeen include PituRooms in Java by Sahabat Selojene and the One Room Hotel in Antwerp by DMVA.

The p،tography is by Duy Nhat, Le Ba Loc.