This 5-story apartment building that is completely covered by a living, creeping, the green curtain is located in Hanoi’s Dong Da district in Vietnam. This living building of Hanoi is the masterpiece of Prof. Dr. Hoang Nhu Tang. The doctor was a former lecturer at Hanoi University of Civil Engineering and a resident of this unique structure.
All of this started 30 years ago back in 1990. Back then, this particular building was among the tallest constructions in the area. Owing to that fact, the building had next to no shelter from the scorching sun during the summer. That made the building quite uncomfortable to live in during the hot season. That led Hoang Nhu Tang decided to plant two creeper plants that are famous for their ability to filter sunlight and to carry out temperature regulation. His idea worked brilliantly and about three decades later, the plants are still fulfilling their intended purpose. The structure has also attracted a lot of curious people from all over the city and beyond.
Dr. Hoang Nhu Tang said, ‘In 1990, this area was mostly low-rise, so the sunlight hit the building all through the day making living in it very hard. Therefore, I chose to grow creeper plants to limit sunlight from entering my house.’ The building is covered with different plants. However, as per the Vietnamese retiree, there are only two plants that have grown all over the building.
Hoang began work by creating a frame on the outside of the building by employing wood, iron bard, and plastic cables. He claims that the creeper plants took almost 10 years to completely cover the entire place but says that guiding them by the end of this period was the most difficult part. Currently, he only has to prune the plants once or twice a month using the tools that he designed himself.
Dr. Hoang Nhu Tang, ‘Many people say that planting creeper plants like these attract mosquitoes. But on the contrary, thanks to the protective curtain, the air in the house is very fresh, cool, and my house does not have mosquitoes. A house is a peaceful place that helps people live in harmony with nature in this cramped urban center.’
