VietNamNet Bridge – Ha Noi is expected to issue preservation regulations for colonial-era French-style villas as the city's old buildings undergo assessment, a top planning official has said.

Planning and Architecture Department deputy director Duong Duc Tuan said the department has completed a comprehensive report of more than 1,500 French villas in the so-called ‘French quarter', which covers an area of about 400ha in the districts of Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh, Dong Da and Hai Ba Trung.

"We have submitted the report with preservation proposals to Ha Noi People's Committee and preservation regulations are expected to be issued by the end of the year," he said.

According to the report, some 230 villas, mostly in Ba Dinh District, were classified as ‘particularly valuable', and are at least 500 sq. m in size, set in a good location and still maintained their original look and architectural style.

"They need to be strictly preserved," said Tuan.

The department has also suggested restoring some 430 others back to their original style as they are "valuable villas in a good location but partly damaged or distorted".

Assessment team member Tran Quoc Bao, who lecturs at the Construction University's Architecture and Planning Department and is a member of Ha Noi Architecture Research Group, said the assessment was based on the buildings' historical and cultural value, architecture, landscape, originality and function, where architectural value and originality were seen as the most important.

"This is the first French architecture preservation project that the city has ever run," said Tuan.

He admitted that weak management and underestimating architectural buildings from the French colonial period has led to widespread destruction and unplanned repairs of valuable houses in the city.

Most destruction occured after the Doi moi (Renewal) process began in 1986 when the city needed land for its increasing population and economic development.

"It was painful to see most of private beautiful villas be whether replaced with new ugly structures or distorted due to expansion," said Bao.

The city has also started efforts to preserving French-style public buildings and another project is underway to assess the current condition of old public buildings south of Hoan Kiem Lake and in the Ba Dinh District, according to Tuan.

"We hope to soon expand the efforts to the remaining part of the French quarter," he said, adding "the French left a huge architectural heritage in Ha Noi."

The capital was one of Asia's most modern cities during the roaring 1920s and 1930s as described by French Professor Christian Pedelahore at Ecole Nationale Superieure D'Architecture de Paris La Villette in France.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News