Titled “Hanoi Architects with Hanoi, the exhibition displayed various artworks created by architects such as Dinh Hai, Tran Hoang Hai and Pham Anh Quan, and their projects to improve living space in the capital city. They aim to preserve memories of the past at a time when Hanoi is changing day by day because of urbanisation, gradually losing its long-treasured charms. The sketches preserve the city’s heritage and help people who live here gain a deeper understanding of it.The exhibition also showcased mixed media artworks created by 40-year-old artist Nguyen The Son.Son’s reliefs depicts the prototypes of several typical apartment buildings called “nha tap the” in Hanoi, which have housed thousands of people including Kim Lien, Thanh Nhan, Thai Ha, Giang Vo and Nguyen Hong.His art is unique. To make his works lively, Son took pictures then created 3D reliefs with printed pictures that were pasted onto a solid backing.The public can also see photographs of these apartment buildings with the “tiger cages” that residents build to extend their living spaces.He also displayed artworks reflecting houses facing the street. Visitors can understand the rapid change in which residents have taken to erecting huge billboards that cover their entire house fronts and compete for the viewer’s attention with their bright colours.“Instead of windows and balconies which facilitate the communication between neighbours, tall billboards seal the houses off, both towards the street, the outside, as well as the inside,” said the artist. “What remains is a lightless living space behind the… [Read full story]
Italian and Vietnamese architects Masimo Alvisi and Nguyen Dinh Thanh won the first prize in the 'architectural contest. The contest themed 'Restoration of Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square and Hang Dao Street in Old Quarter' aims to restore and preserve the Old Quarter of the capital. The second place went to the 11-member team which included Vu Dinh Thanh, Nguyen Xuan Anh, Hoang Tan Truc, Ha Thi Bich Dao, Pham Minh Duc, Vu Thanh Cong, Grégoire Du Pasquier, Manuel Der Hagopian, Simon Pelletier, Do Quoc Hoan and Dao Le Hong My. The third prize belonged to Italian and Vietnamese architects,…... [read more]
An estimated number of international visitors to Hanoi in June 2009 was some 60,000, down 14.9 per cent against May and 26.9 per cent against the same time last year, according to the Municipal People’s Committee. Meanwhile, domestic visitors to Hanoi also saw a sharp decline as tourists tended to go to beaches and mountains instead of Hanoi during the hot weather. Yet, the total turnover of tourism in June was down only 2.2 per cent against last month. According to estimates, Hanoi welcomed some 518,000 visitors in the first 6 months, down 20 per cent year on year as…... [read more]
British conductor Graham Sutcliffe (R) and artists of the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet in a recent program at Luna D'Autunno. Hanoi restaurant Luna D'Autunno is doing something very unusual - having opera performances once a month in its informal setting. It was an initiative by Graham Sutcliffe, British conductor of the Vietnam National Opera Ballet. "I have been going to the restaurant regularly for a long time, and I asked the owner why there is no Italian music in such a wonderful space." He has always wanted to take opera to the Vietnamese, who generally perceive it as academic…... [read more]
Architect Mai The Nguyen’s wish to publish a handbook to introduce Hanoi architecture to foreign visitors has become true. He has brought handbooks, which were printed in Norway, to Vietnam.The handbook’s cover is edged in light green. His sweater also had light green. Even his name-card has a light-green background. The architect said he loves light green, the color of young rice, which he only sees in Vietnam. He always remembers that color so he has to return home every year to see that color.Mai The Nguyen has taken many Norwegian friends to Hanoi and he realized that there are…... [read more]
(Cinet)- On 2 October, at the Cultural and Art Exhibition Center – No 2 Hoa Lu, Hanoi, the Union of the Vietnam Literature and Art Associations and the People’s Committee of Hanoi city and the Architectural Magazine – the Vietnam Architects’ Association cooperate to hold the International Conference with the topic “ 1000 years old Thang Long- Hanoi”: the architectural remarks through time”. This is one of the cultural and art activities to welcome the great anniversary of 1000 years old Thang Long- Hanoi. The conference has the participation of many researchers, experts in architecture – planning, culture, history having…... [read more]