Architectural Trends In a conversation with a female architect, she is the author of many drawings of houses and apartments filled with trees in many cities, I asked her if she had a common denominator of the personality of homeowners. are not. This female architect said that the vast majority of her clients are highly educated people who have an artist’s soul and love nature and plants. They are willing to narrow the space of the kitchen, bedroom, living room, to make room for natural space: skylights, rockeries, green areas… There are new 4-hour houses built new. divided into 2 floors, in the middle of the house where mango trees and milkweed trees have been planted for a long time and best of all, the architect has kept the status quo. Sitting in the house reading a book, drinking a cup of coffee under the tree, but feeling like sitting in the garden. The green space in the house creates a sense of relaxation for the people living in it Photo: DINH THU HIEN – CAM NHUNG Of course, implementing the difficult problem of designing a house so that it is beautiful and useful, that is the talent of the architect. There are green areas in the house after a period of operation that cannot be “fed”, because of lack of sunshine, must gradually be replaced with green patches of artificial grass. But that’s how life works. Must go to come. If you don’t dare to do anything, this life is too safe and boring. I once visited my sister’s house in District 7 (HCMC), looking at the small landscape of the aquarium and aquatic plants right in the living room on the ground floor, it was so beautiful, everyone who came to was captivated and admired forever. . It takes a lot of effort for the owner to maintain such beauty and comfort. Love enough, nature will innocently step in Many homeowners of green houses have really found pleasure and relaxation in taking care of trees, as a way of life balance. After a full day and a busy working week, many large families gather and divide the work to best preserve the green areas, as a concept of love and care for each other in a beautiful living space. Nowadays, you want to have green plants in your bedroom, office, kitchen… it’s also easy to do. Many varieties of plants suitable for growing indoors are for sale, easy to find and buy. The house has a large area, the owner can grow many trees. If space is limited, narrow, people can grow in small pots, put on the table, on the bed … Nature enters our homes in so many different ways. The water plant grown in a small glass bottle placed on the washbasin or bathroom shelf is also enough to add a little joy to waking up every morning. The space on the balcony is also wide enough to plant a few clusters of roses in pots, taken care of so that the flowers are regular and “fat” as desired. Potatoes that are cut in half to be placed in a glass bowl also sprouted and placed on a cute decorative kitchen shelf. A little grain of rice sprinkled in a small hand-held ceramic pot is placed on the desk, and the dining table feels warm. It’s as simple as that, but it doesn’t need to be expensive. Only when there is enough love, nature will spontaneously step into your home. Green space on the balcony Photo: DINH THU HIEN – CAM NHUAN Recently, a colleague took a photo to show off the dewdrop vines and bougainvillea plants planted on the balcony of the attic. In the middle of the golden sunshine of Ho Chi Minh City, the dew green color, the brilliant red color of bougainvillea make his attic light up, extremely beautiful. Living in that scene, young people’s minds must also be equipped with optimism and joy to continue with their daily lives in this urban city. People always want to be close to nature Some people think that only the rich, who have enough conditions, can create their own green space in the house. As for those who have a material life that lacks many things, they only focus on making a living, but have little energy to think about taking care of trees. Agree that when the material life gets better, people easily focus on improving their spiritual life. But people like to live close to nature. Ever since ancient times, when leaving the village to go to the city, the houses in the streets of our grandparents have always been filled with green, not only by the fruit trees planted in the yard but also by the ornamental plants: The birth tree is bent like the dragon and the phoenix. On New Year’s Day, you must bring apricot trees, kumquat trees … into the living room to enjoy. There is no need to wait until the money is full, the love of nature is full, then the hobby and the appreciation for trees and nature appear!

But few people know this simple act of hygiene was one of the important rituals of the aristocracy and the physically fit in medieval Europe. Washing hands was a rite of passage for the aristocracy and the physically fit in medieval Europe. (Image: Getty Images) People in the Middle Ages were often thought of as lacking a sense of personal hygiene, but the opposite was true. The kings and peasants of that time bathed thoroughly before and after meals. Furthermore, because cutlery is a rarity and most people eat with their hands, it is essential to keep hands clean before eating, and also to show respect to the person hosting the meal. “ Keep your fingers clean and your fingernails well-manicured , from Les Contenances de Table, a medieval text on table manners. Gradually, hand washing evolved into a ritual showing the power and wealth of the nobility, and washing hands was also considered a “sign of politeness”. Medieval aristocrats and clergy took hand-washing and face-washing to a new level. Even this action was solemnly organized by ancient European kings, with many complicated stages. When the princes have guests, they will invite guests to enjoy music and invite them to wash their hands with luxurious sinks, brand new high-end white towels and lotions. A team of servants will be around to help guests wash their hands. Women must wash their hands before going to the party, because in ancient times there was a belief that only girls with noble and pure dignity could touch white cloth without leaving a speck of dirt. After the guests were seated in the hall, the king entered and washed his hands in the presence of all the guests. Only after the king had finished his work were the others allowed to sit down. According to Amanda Mikolic, assistant curator of the Department of Medieval Art at the Cleveland Museum of Art in Ohio, it was a display of royal power for monarchs to wash their hands in front of guests. “ It’s a game of thrones to remind (guests) who holds the power ” said Ms. Mikolic. Lavabo – European hand sanitizer dispenser in the Middle Ages. (Image: Getty Images) ostentatious ceremony All elaborate rituals require ostentatious tools, in which case handwashing is bound to involve soap. From time immemorial, Crusader soldiers brought luxurious Aleppo soap made from olive oil and laurel to Europe. Before long, the French, Italians, Spaniards, and eventually the British all started making their own versions of Aleppo soap using local olive oil instead of the pungent tallow of many. previous century. Perhaps the most famous of the European soaps of the time was the Spanish Castile soap. Today, this soap is still produced and used around the world. Along with soap, the water jug ​​also played an equally important role in the hand-washing ritual of medieval European aristocrats. These vases are often very elaborately decorated and contain warm water mixed with aromatic oils. Another version of this tool is the lavabo – an object shaped like a bowl with a spout. In the most wealthy households, servants will sprinkle fragrant water on the hands of the owners before the meal. The role of the pitcher was so appreciated that Queen Jeanne d’Évreux of France, wife of King Charles IV, displayed a vase in the place of her favorite ornaments. After that, hand washing gradually became less important than before. Many historical scholars have blamed the fork for making people disregard hand hygiene before eating. It was not until the 18th century that this tool was commonly used in meals. “ The whole ceremonial nature around hand washing began to fade as the role of the tableware (knife, fork) became more prominent. Households began to prepare tableware for guests, and then people could eat without taking off their gloves. ” said Ms. Mikolic. But today, even though elaborately decorated water jugs and washbasins are out of fashion, hand washing can still show one’s wealth. It is still too early to say that the rituals of the pandemic period will stick with people for a long time. But today, though ornate water jugs and washbasins are out of fashion, hand-washing can still show a person’s wealth: through hand-painted metal sinks, expensive soaps and soaps. from essential oils to luxurious Egyptian cotton towels, etc. The luxurious rituals surrounding hand washing are constantly being created and developed. “ Every time I use soap, I’m reminded of medieval perfumes “, shared Mikolic.

For those who do office work, after a day of working with computers and air-conditioned rooms, using the outdoor bathroom definitely brings a feeling of refreshment, much more comfortable than the indoor bathroom. . Should make the most of the open space for outdoor bathrooms. (Illustration) Make use of open space When embarking on designing an outdoor bathroom, the first step homeowners should do is try to create an open space for the bathroom. An open design bathroom helps users feel more comfortable and closer to nature. The open bathroom helps the user to both watch the sky, breathe the outside air and soak in a cool bath. Bath just right Depending on the aesthetics, the homeowner can arrange the bathtub in a simple or luxurious style. On the market today there are many types of bathtubs with large sizes. However, you should choose the size of the bathtub to suit the outdoor bathroom space. Choose the right bath size for the space. (Illustration) Color scheme There are many color schemes for an outdoor bathroom, but it is best to decorate the bathroom with the colors of the surrounding landscape. If the bathroom has many green trees or flower beds, choose main colors such as light yellow or light blue. For an outdoor bathroom near the swimming pool area, it is recommended to use colors such as blue, green or orange. If homeowners want to create a striking outdoor bathroom space, you can use black or red. Outdoor bathrooms erase the distance between people and nature. (Illustration) Floor For outdoor shower floors, it is recommended to choose tiles, anti-slippery stones for flooring. Stone in gray and white color can be used to decorate the border around the bathroom. Patterned stone tiles are used to brighten the bathroom space. The light To create a relaxing space for an outdoor bathroom, light is an indispensable factor. Brightness is the first criterion because with the requirement of body cleaning, no owner wants his bathroom to have weak light. Priority should be given to using natural light for outdoor bathrooms. (Illustration) The light sources are stable by area such as lavabo, bathtub, vanity … and the lights of each area are only turned on when the homeowner uses it. In addition, there must be a common light source to ensure the entire bathroom is always full of light. In today’s modern bathrooms, the bright and beautiful elements are equally important. With an outdoor bathroom, homeowners should prioritize natural light because it brings charm to the space. Phuong Anh (synthetic)

Location The bathroom near the bedroom and the main traffic path is usually the bathroom shared by the whole family. More advanced is the bathroom designed in the bedroom. This design is often found in the master bedroom or room for the elderly. The bathroom and hygiene have gradually been more interested in design and decoration by the owner. (Illustration) In today’s modern house, the bathroom is also designed in combination with the dressing room to increase the convenience of use, and at the same time “free” the huge wardrobe in the bedroom. Make use of open space The bathroom is a relaxing place, so if possible, design the bathroom with the side exposed to the outside space. Bathroom windows are wider and facing open spaces such as gardens, courtyards, skylights … and to ensure privacy, use blinds, blinds, or blurred glass with decorative stickers. mind. Should make the most of open space for the bathroom. (Illustration) In case the bathroom is located in a private bedroom, to create a feeling of open space for the bathroom, some homeowners use the bathroom door with transparent glass. Functional subdivision Bathroom is divided into two separate zones, that is, the dry area and the wet area. The dry area is where the lavabo – washbasin and toilet are located. And the wet area is the bathing place. The dry and wet areas are usually separated by a glass wall or nylon curtain. The bath tub has been gradually replaced by cabins, either standing or standing baths, either ready-to-buy or custom-designed. Colors and materials Natural colors and materials are now very popular in bathroom design and decoration. To avoid the boredom of conventional paving bricks, designers tend to use granite, marble, natural sawn stone, wood, gravel… more. Mosaic tiles are used to decorate walls, as accents in the bathroom. (Illustration) On the market today, there are glass mosaic tiles with many colors, which can be used as accent walls for bathroom decoration very aesthetically. In addition, in the dry area of ​​the bathroom, homeowners can use oil-painted walls, lumpy paint to decorate. Phuong Anh (synthetic)

The shower plant is the most important item of the bathroom. Not only doing normal tasks, the lotus plant also has the effect of relaxing and helps you reduce fatigue and stress with different modes of hot, cold, or weak water … Instead of using a single lotus You should invest in a double lotus made from good materials on the market to have relaxing moments in the bathroom. Instead of using a regular felt or fabric shower mat, you should use a bamboo bath mat with natural color, waterproof and also cleaner. This item will make your bathroom feel like a relaxing space in a spa. On the market there are many bathroom mirrors with lovely, convenient shelves to help your bathroom more tidy. Find out the reasonable design and cost to invest in this item instead of overflowing the items on lavabo, making your bathroom become sloppy, less tidy. For moments of relaxation after a long day at work, keep your head, neck and back well supported with a comfortable shower pillow. You won’t have to rest your head against the side of a hard tub or use a towel that’s both dirty and easily falls into the water. Bath pillows help position your neck and back properly to minimize the risk of back injury. Nothing brightens a boring bathroom like trees. They not only create beautiful color patches, but also freshen the air and improve your mental and well-being. If you don’t have a lot of space, you can hang them from the ceiling or choose small flowers and place them on any unused surface. Going to the spa, you will find indispensable music to help relax and heal the spirit. For your bathroom space, choose a waterproof Bluetooth speaker, on the market there are speakers that switch the tone by voice. With this device you will want to stay in the tub for as long as possible. To relax in the tub, invest in a multi-purpose wooden tub cabin. Some products even have a tablet or bookshelf slot, a phone holder, a cup holder, a wine cup holder … Bathrooms sometimes lack comfortable seats, consider buying a small wooden bench. To save space, you can choose a bench with storage shelves to hold the necessary items./.