VietNamNet Bridge - UNESCO Asia-Pacific has just announced the Heritage Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation, with Vietnam singled out for excellence for two conservation and restoration projects.

Preservation of Duong Lam Village urged

War bunker discovered in Hanoi’s oldest hotel

An ancient house in Duong Lam and the bomcell.

In June this year a panel of international conservation experts was convened to review and deliberate on the 47 entries received from 16 countries across the Asia-Pacific region.

“We were particularly encouraged to see our broadest ever geographical range this year, spanning from the Cook Islands in the Eastern Pacific Ocean to the Islamic Republic of Iran at the far end of West Asia,” comments Tim Curtis, Chair of the Jury and Chief of the Culture Unit, UNESCO Bangkok.  

Vietnam was honored twice, first with an Award of Distinction for the Historic Buildings in Duong Lam Village, Son Tay District, Hanoi.

The project has restored five selected buildings in Duong Lam Village in a successful effort to showcase the value of vernacular wooden architecture in Viet Nam, which is increasingly threatened by deterioration, neglect and eventual loss.  

Through careful documentation and the revival of traditional construction techniques, the restoration has returned the buildings to their authentic condition and now assures their on-going maintenance by the local craftsmen trained over the course of the project.  

The exchange of knowledge among the carpenters, Vietnamese architectural historians and Japanese experts was a key feature in this commendable collaborative initiative. The Duong Lam Village experience established a noteworthy model for future conservation efforts in other rural villages across Viet Nam.   

An Honorable Mention was given to the restoration in Hanoi of the Lost Bomb Shelter of the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel.

The restoration of the Lost Bomb Shelter has revealed yet another layer in the rich history of the Metropole Hotel, one of Hanoi’s most notable heritage buildings.  

Forgotten for decades until its rediscovery in 2011, the bomb shelter has been preserved in its original condition, with the unobtrusive addition of new mechanical and electrical installations to allow the space to be accessible and safe for public viewing.  Through its sensitive approach and thoughtful interpretation, the project provides a rare glimpse into an important chapter of Vietnamese contemporary history.

The restoration of the principal chedi (reliquary stupa) in Wat Prayurawongsawas Worawihan temple in Bangkok, Thailand has been honored with the Award of Excellence.

Other awardees include:

Awards of Distinction:

The Great Serai, Kabul, Afghanistan

Lal Chimney Compound, Mumbai, India

Khaplu Palace, Baltistan, Pakistan

Awards of Merit:

Maryborough Railway Station, Victoria, Australia

Enjoying Snow Yard, Beijing, China

Tai O Heritage Hotel, Hong Kong SAR, China

Royal Bombay Yacht Club Residential Chambers, Mumbai, India

Otaki Town Hall, Chiba Prefecture, Japan

Honorable Mentions: Sail Maker's Shed, Broome, Western Australia, Australia

The UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation program recognizes the efforts of private individuals and organizations that have successfully restored and conserved structures and buildings of heritage value in the region. By recognizing private efforts to restore and adapt historic properties the awards aim to encourage other property owners to undertake conservation projects within their communities, either independently or by seeking public-private partnerships.  

The winners were selected based on how the projects reflected a clear understanding and application of various criteria, such as the articulation of the spirit of place, technical achievement, appropriate use or adaptation, and the project’s contribution to the surrounding environment and the local community’s cultural and historical continuity.

Eligible projects must be more than 50 years old and the restoration must have been completed within the past 10 years.  Buildings with a new use must have also been in viable use for at least one year from the date of the awards announcement.  

T. Van