Ho Guom Museum and Cultural Ecology for the Capital -a creative and meaningful idea of architect Hoang Thuc Hao
Having been working as an architect for almost 30 years, Hoang Thuc Hao has designed so many beautiful structures. He believes that architecture is born from the land, then will be back to the land. Mr. Hoang has created a lot of eco-friendly structures with the express purpose of protecting the landscape for posterity. As a result, he is called “Green Knight”. He thinks that designing structures must be in harmony with humanity and the environment. He aims at the ability of architecture that not merely includes designing building and space, but creating happiness. The sustainability of the building and culture has also been focused on by him. With a love for Hanoi and a desire to contribute to the thousand-year-old capital, Mr. Hoang came up with the idea of establishing the Ho Guom Museum and the “cultural ecology” for the Capital.
Hoan Kiem Lake, the heart of Vietnam, is the symbol of Hanoi’s culture and the witness of the city’s history during the process from feudalism to socialism. The lake associated with a legend that King Le Loi returned the sword to the sacred Turtle; from then on, its name was changed to Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the returned sword) or Ho Guom (Sword Lake). Surrounded by the streets organized like a chess-board by the French, Sword Lake has become the center of Ha Noi. Moreover, around Sword Lake which has biodiversity, there is a convergence of East-West architectures such as French Quarter Hanoi, Vietnamese temples and pagodas. Therefore, Ho Guom deserves to have a museum that will have preserved, maintained and promoted the cultural and spiritual values of Ho Guom.
Although there is not much spare land, the museum will not convey the special meaning if it’s not in Ho Guom culture space. Mr. Hoang proposes the solution that was to take advantage of the building with the ancient French architectural style next to the monument of King Le Thai To and redesign it to be Ho Guom Museum. This solution potentially creates the cultural and historical space when the statue of King Le Thai To will be surrounded by the museum.
Architect Hoàng Thúc Hào
Building the museum will not cost much. It will be simple but very impressive and will highlight the love for peace and freedom. Ho Guom Museum will also not be too sophisticated, just have enough room to preserve artifacts, stories, songs, and special documents. There will have the technology for display. For example, 3D images tell the legend of Hoan Kiem Lake… That people can enjoy the lively artifacts and stories with the support of new technology also the thing Hoang Thuc Hao aims at.
Perspective of “Ho Guom Museum”
Architect Hoang Thuc Hao not only proposed the idea of establishing Ho Guom Museum but contributed ideas to build the individual cultural models and reconnect into a “cultural ecology”.
As a result of the development, the buildings and skyscrapers will gradually occupy the public spaces which will restrict the living spaces. Therefore, It’s necessary to construct the cultural models for Hanoians to enjoy and have a better quality of life. Cultural architectures will appear interwoven with the apartments; the splendid buildings will honor scientists such as Ton That Tung, Tran Dai Nghia, Ta Quang Buu …; the best craftsmen especially the village artisans who handed down their skills from generation to generation will have been honored deservingly; there will be small museums to respect the traditional handicraft villages such as the bronze cast village and silk village… The combination of these areas will create a “cultural ecology” in the whole city.
Currently, this idea has been proposed by architect Hoang Thuc Hao to Hanoi People’s Committee. “It would be great and happy if those ideas are implemented, we can preserve and introduce to tourists and posterity the values of Ho Guom as well as improving the spiritual life of Hanoian”- Architects Hoang Thuc Hao said.
By Vĩ Thanh