It’s not easy to infuse a dense urban plot with a sense of serenity, intimacy, and connection to nature, especially when it’s surrounded by neighboring buildings so close you can almost reach out and touch them. But that’s the goal that drives Ngô Vi?t Khánh Duy, lead architect of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam-based firm 23o5 Studio. With his recent project “The Red Cave,” the architect reimagines what city living can look and feel like, creating a colorful modern oasis with views of bright, cheerful greenery in virtually every direction.

The Red Cave is a luxurious, wellness-oriented residence that truly finds the best of both worlds: access to plenty of spacious, tranquil green spaces and all the conveniences of the city. The architects wanted to honor the traditional Vietnamese architectural form of “?ình,” a type of communal house found in rural villages, but update it for 21st-century urban living. Intimate indoor spaces are interspersed with layers of outdoor areas on multiple levels, always considering both views and privacy in relation to surrounding structures. Terraces are strategically set to peer between neighbors instead of right at them, and courtyards are tucked into walled gardens that almost feel like different worlds than the busy streets outside.
On the second floor, a large yoga room with a herringbone wood floor looks out onto yet another reflecting pool. Here, the architects inserted what t...