Vietnam, Japan discuss traditional wooden architecture

 

 

Vietnamese and Japanese experts gathered for a workshop in the central city of Hue on November 12 to discuss traditional wooden architecture in the preservation of architectural relics in the former imperial city of Hue. 

The workshop, the first of its kind, was jointly organised by the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre (HMCC), the UNESCO World Heritage Institute at Japan’s Waseda University and the Japan Architects’ Association. 

Participants said that traditional wooden architecture plays an important role in the Hue monument architectural system. They stressed that the thorough understanding of materials, manipulating methods, structures and factors that affect wooden architectural works is an important foundation for the conservation and restoration of relics. 

Researchers discussed the traditional wooden architectures of Vietnam and Japan and their similarities. 

The two sides shared experiences and proposed measures to conserve wooden architectural works, as the Hue relics are badly affected by global climate change. 

Waseda University is coordinating with HMCC a study of the restoration of the war-torn Can Chanh Palace , which was the second largest - after Thai Hoa Palace - in the Imperial Palace.

The project is estimated to cost 10 million USD. Funded by official development assistance (ODA), construction is expected to be completed in five years.

Source: VNA

 

Last king’s palace opened to tourists

The Centre for Preservation of Hue Relics has opened Khai Tuong Lau (An Dinh palace), where Vietnam’s last king Bao Dai and his family lived from 1945 to 1955, to tourists.

The palace was built in 1917-1918 by King Khai Dinh, before he enthroned, by his own money.

Khai Dinh’s son, Bao Dai, lived here from 1922, and 17 years laters, it became the assets of Bao Dai’s eldest son, Bao Long.

Before 1945, An Dinh Palace was managed by the Nguyen Dynasty. After August 1945, it became the home of King Bao Dai’s mother and Bao Dai’s family.

In 1954, Ngo Dinh Diem administration confiscated the palace.

Bao Dai’s mother bought the house at No.79 Phan Dinh Phung to stay until she died.

After 1975, the revolutionary administration took over and gave the palace back to Bao Dai’s mother but she donated the palace to the government.

An Dinh Palace was then managed by the Hue Labor Cultural House before it was handed over to the Center for Preservation of Hue Relics in early 2012.

The palace was restored in 2007-2008. The Center for Preservation of Hue Relics and German experts restored the 2,000sq.m mural in the palace.

The An Dinh Palace at present: