Chicken House in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam by Tropical Space.

Reinventing the humble chicken coop may seem a bit superfluous – but for Vietnam-based studio Tropical Space, a hen enclosure could also be the perfect country escape for some city-bound grandchildren. Designed for an elderly couple’s garden in My Hanh Nam northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, ‘Chicken House’ is a simple, but tranquil home for a brood of chickens and a few ducks, as well as a play and discovery space.

The 20-square-metre coop is made from steel, steel grid, and cement board, and features ladders, climbing frames, boxed platforms, and planters. The idea was to create a free space for chickens to roam, relax, lay, and hatch eggs, and one that would also be large enough to encourage play for the couple’s visiting grandchildren.

Raised platforms and boxes connected by lightweight stairways create nooks for hens to rest at night, as well as a little shade from the humidity and direct sunlight. On the ground, little ponds are sunken into the concrete for ducklings to enjoy. Around the cage too, the owner will grow vegetables and vines which can weave over and create a canopy for extra cover and protection.

Related: Stories On Design // Architecture For Pets.

[Images courtesy of Tropical Space. Photography by Quang Dam.]