“An ordinary house but far from ordinary”
When embarking on the Applied Mathematics project “Building the Dream House,” the Sigma Boy team – 11 Orlando quickly realized that 4 billion VND wasn’t such a large amount to bring every idea to life. However, with creativity and relentless effort, the team turned challenges into opportunities, exploring and learning from many sources to design a modern, sustainable, and comfortable living space.
From the very start, the Sigma Boy team faced numerous challenges. The lack of knowledge about real estate and the process of researching prices, urban planning, and building materials required the team to proactively gather information and consult experts. Then, there was the Budget problem—4 billion VND—how to allocate it reasonably between design, interior, and green technologies while ensuring feasibility? Many nights, the team members “lost sleep,” thinking about solutions to this tough problem. Working with 3D design tools—learning and using modeling software—was another big challenge, as most team members had never used such tools before. But these difficulties helped the team develop self-learning skills, logical thinking, and effective teamwork.
The whole team designed an optimized living space on a plot of land the size of a primary school football field at TDS-THT. A highlight of the project was that the Sigma Boy team focused on creating a green space around the house, blending modern design with nature in the villa. Moreover, what made the house “extraordinary” came from simple, everyday ideas like upgrading the fire safety system with an open-air staircase combined with modern sensor technology, making the house a wonderful place to live, meeting the 3A criteria: Adaptable – Aesthetic – Accessible.
At Dewey, Math is not just about numbers and formulas—it’s about solving real-world problems through Design Thinking. Instead of passively learning theories, students research, experiment, and prototype their ideas, just like engineers and architects. Throughout this project, Sigma Boy applied the Design Thinking process to help them learn better.
“The math project not only helped the team apply mathematical knowledge to reality but also improved self-learning skills, teamwork, and budget management. As students, most of us at this age have never handled such a large amount of money like 4 billion VND. Setting a problem with such a “huge” budget didn’t just make us rack our brains, but also served as a stepping stone to stimulate creativity and problem-solving in the team.” -Chu Phuong Linh-11 Orlando (Sigma Boy Team Leader) shared after the project presentation.
After much effort, the Sigma Boy team proudly won the “Best Team” title! This project was not just a lesson in mathematics but also a journey of creativity, self-learning, and teamwork.
A memorable and inspiring experience for the team’s next challenges through the “Dream House Design” math project!
Watch the full 3D version of the design HERE.
———-
Caption by: Hoàng Anh, 11 Orlando.
Video by: Phương Linh, Ngân Anh, 11 Orlando.
