The traditional houses of ethnic minority in the north mountainous region is a kind of green architecture of Vietnam. Nowadays, many ethnic groups such as Tay, Thai, Muong, Dao, etc., build the system of pole made of wood from trees in their garden. It is a very human way because when they bear the children, they will plant trees. When children grow up, the trees also grow up and then those trees are used to build houses for them. The plants having a short growing cycle, about from 7 to 10 years, can be used to make house poles.

The majority of the houses is in the middle of immense places so people can exploit energy naturally. The locals can have the natural light through the reasonable system of door and use the vegetable oil to lit. The fire is burned by dry wood and leaves for light, warmth and cooking food. The summer is so cool because of the reasonable system of gates catching wind. The houses have also moisture proof, mold proof and sterilization through lifting the floor up. In the winter, systems of closed door combining to a fire (usually located in the middle of the house) to heat the air is convenient and economical. In addition, in each house there are green gardens. People know how to utilize nature to cool the summer and warm in the winter. Nowadays, industrial electrical system has become more modern  but the locals sill live with traditional habits, only use electricity in the compulsory circumstance such as watching TV or listening to the radio. If there is a good solar energy policy, using energy and renewable energy will be completed.

Ethnic minorities in the north consider water to be one of three main factors when choosing a settlement. The source of water is used with two main functions for production and life service. Water is used according to a closed loop: water taken from the stream – to use in daily activities – seep into the soil – self filter – seep back into the stream. Therefore, the use of natural water sources or exploitation of water in daily activities has become characteristic feature.

The traditional houses of ethnic groups have created fair convenience for the locals’ life. The simple life and and practicality of the ethnic people is also a way of green life. For example, with the family of 4-6 people the space of 50-60m2 is enough to live. People can design their houses flexibly and this way can also keep the Vietnamese culture, especially the intimacy, warmth and close relations between members of the family.

The house is wide  and close to the nature. The locals living here do not suffer from greenhouse effect, industrial dust, urban noise, traffic and people’s health is not affected. The green of gardens, rice terraces and forests is really the endless supply of clean air.

The traditional houses are built and exploited naturally. Therefore  it can be said that there are no carbon emissions because some domestic waste source are treated with many green trees. The materials for building houses are wood from trees in garden and the materials for walls and roof are the non-baked soil and forest leaves which are allowed to exploit, which is really friendly to environment.

Unlike the daily urban lifestyle, each person averagely discharges about 2kg of garbage, meanwhile ethnic people with a simple lifestyle discharge 40% of Kinh people. Garbage from their house is also less inorganic because ethnic minorities use most of items from natural sources. Besides, the locals today are also introduced and guided about using bioga systems, composting systems, etc.

The green architecture of traditional houses of the ethnic minority is also national identity that should be maintained and promoted the Architecture of Vietnam in the period of intergration and sustainable development. However what is resonable should be selected and what is backward should be removed, especially the environmental conditions and factors that endanger to forest resources. These features not bring benefits for the construction of houses and villages here, even if these houses are researched scientifically and practically, that is a large contribution to build the green architecture in Vietnam’s cities.

 

Photo: Source Internet