a ring of rooms on a vietnam lake
Lotus Clubhouse by MIA Design Studio located at Eco Retreat Long An in Vietnamarranged as a low, scattered structure that follows the contours of a lakeside landscape. From above, its plan appears as a complex of circular forms with shaped roofsit sits in the water and is connected by curved paths that trace a slow perimeter around the site.
The project spans approximately 2,000 square meters, with individual volumes placed at various heights and distances. This layout breaks the program into smaller parts, allowing each function to interact directly with its environment. The restaurant areas open out to the lake, while the quieter rooms move closer to the planted edges and shaded areas, creating a series that shifts between exposure and enclosure.
images © Hiroyuki Oki
bridges and paths guide traffic
Traffic through the Lotus Clubhouse in Vietnam is guided by the ground rather than the runways. THE architects at MIA Design Studio creates a network of pathways that slide between planted roofs and shallow pools, with bridges and edges framing changing water views. The path remains legible but open, allowing visitors to choose slower or more direct paths depending on how they navigate the site.
Water plays an active role in this series. Reflective surfaces extend the perceived footprint of the architecture, smoothing the transitions between structural and physical elements. From a distance, the clubhouse appears to sit slightly in the lake, its outline broken into fragments that blend with vegetation and shoreline.
the cluster of circular volumes is located within a lakeside landscape in vietnam
Circular roofs carry energy and plantings
The most defining element is the system of multi-layered green roofs, organized as circular slabs that gently rise and fall across the site. Each roof is planted with native species, forming a continuous surface that acts as both insulation and habitat. Solar panels are integrated into select trays, adding a technical layer without disrupting the overall composition.
These roofs regulate heat gain while supporting a microclimate that benefits both users and the surrounding ecology. Rainwater is filtered through planted layers before returning to the pond, and the vegetation contributes to cooling through evapotranspiration. The geometry remains constant, yet each roof responds slightly differently to the orientation and program below.
curving paths and bridges guide movement between rooms and into the water
the sculptural columns expand and become ceilings
Inside, the architecture is based on a series of large, conical columns rising to wide, curved ceilings. These elements distribute the loads while shaping the interior space, creating large openings that remain open to the landscape. Glass enclosures are placed lightly between the structure and the exterior, maintaining visual continuity at the thresholds.
Material choices remain restrained. Stone flooring, muted wood finishes and soft furnishings keep the focus on proportion, light and views. The interior reads as an extension of the exterior ground, with seating arranged to face outwards and align with the rhythm of the columns.
each program is divided into smaller booths
Light filtered through ledges and greenery
Daylight enters through the gaps between the ceiling slabs and through the full-height glazing, producing a constant, diffused brightness. Overhangs filter the direct sun, allowing the interior to stay cool while maintaining the connection to the lake. As the sun moves, the shadows from the columns and edges of the roof slowly shift across the floors and walls.
At night, the Lotus Clubhouse in Vietnam takes on a different presence. Subtle lighting erases the edges of roofs and paths, outlining the circular geometry on the dark surface of the water. The building remains low and horizontal, maintaining a calm relationship with the surrounding villas and landscape.
tapered structural columns extend into wide ceilings that shape open interior spaces
