“The Bunker is a metaphor for my parents. They are not extravagant or flashy, but once you get to know them, you realize they are truly rich in emotion.”
The Bunker is my first architectural project while I studied at the University of Southern California.

My parents wanted a living space that harmonizes with nature, ensuring privacy without feeling isolated. The house is located in a quiet residential area on a hill in Da Lat. Nestled 1.2 meters below street level, the house’s facade is a staggered concrete brick fence, left unpainted and unadorned.

The heavy exterior, clad mostly in Shou Sugi Ban (charred wood), greets visitors with a cold, slender strip of windows. I named the house The Bunker for this reason. Its outward appearance is indifferent and monotonous, yet it fully reflects the beauty within my parents’ personalities and spiritual life.

A concrete bridge from my memory inspired the house’s design. To develop the idea, I divided the house into two main blocks: the living area and the worship room. These two blocks are connected by a bridge with glass walls for lighting. It also serves as a welcoming room, where sunlight and nature embrace you the moment you step in. The boundary between the outside and inside seems to blur as you move further in.

The functionality is distributed according to my parents’ daily habits and clearly reflects their personalities. The main entrance leads to the top floor, where most of the main activities occur (meditation, cooking, dining, etc.). It is a large space that unifies smaller areas. From here, the view of Da Lat city is framed by wide windows.