VietNamNet Bridge – It has been 50 years since Mai The Nguyen was last in Ha Noi’s Old Quarter, but his affection for his birthplace remains as strong as ever.
Nguyen, an architect now living in Norway worries that the Old Quarter’s distinctive character will be lost to modernisation. Shock of the new: It’s been 50 years since Mai The Nguyen was last in Ha Noi’s Old Quarter, but his affection for his birthplace remains as strong as ever. - File Photo
He graduated in natural sciences and subsequently travelled to Norway to study architecture. His graduation thesis was on Viet Nam’s traditional architecture. Later, he even helped make improvements to the Norwegian royal palace.
Nguyen fears that sentimentality is no longer an overriding concern and that slumbering side streets and matchbox houses will be lost to the high rises that have been popping up about the city.
He maintains that modernisation need not entail the destruction of Ha Noi’s heritage and that city planners, politicians, sociologists and local residents should strive to preserve the city’s colour and character.
Nguyen said that talented people and the proper materials could create a beautiful and modern city. To successfully plan the city, the Vietnamese people must learn about the successes of other countries, he said.
To commemorate the city’s 1,000th anniversary, Nguyen published Ha Noi Architecture – An Informal Notebook of a Jumble City in Norway.
Besides photos and an introduction to Ha Noi’s architecture, there are blank pages on which tourists can jot down their own impressions of the city. The 120-page book is a carefully researched account of the city’s past and present.
"Writing the book was like writing a love letter. It’s about beautiful corners and living spaces. It’s about love," he said. "The city has a special vitality that sadly is at risk of being lost forever."
The book is his gift to Ha Noi. It catalogues every district of Ha Noi’s architecture. Photos have not been selected for their beauty but for their historical value.
The book pays particular interest to Giang Vo, where he now lives, which he said typifies the cultural conscientiousness of Hanoians. He also focuses on Chua Mot Cot (One-Pillar Pagoda), the Ha Noi Opera House, Thuy Ta (Lakeside Pavilion) and President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum.
The handbook’s cover is edged in light green. His sweater also had light green trim. Even his name card has a light-green background. The architect said he loved light green, the colour of young rice, which he only sees in Viet Nam.
VietNamNet/Viet Nam News
