A hundred-year-old villa once had an elevator for... bird watching

The owner of this villa was Nguyen Van Hao (1890 - 1971), one of the richest merchants in Saigon in the mid-20th century. He was the representative of the world- famous Michelin tire company (France), and the owner of the Nguyen Van Hao theater (now Cong Nhan theater, 30 Tran Hung Dao, District 1), the largest theater in Saigon before 1975 - the "cathedral" of reformed opera at that time with a capacity of more than 1,200 people.

Sketch by Nguyen Thanh Duc

The project was completed in 1937, designed in the Art Deco architectural style that was popular at that time with a wide door system across the facade, decorated with embossed letters NG.V.HAO... With 4 facades, on Tran Hung Dao street, Mr. Hao let Caltex open a gas station; on Ky Con, Le Thi Hong Gam and Yersin streets, he opened a showroom selling spare parts and maintaining and repairing cars, the most prestigious in Saigon.

Sketch by Architect Hoang Huu Dat

The large terrace was used to raise birds and fish, grow many ornamental plants, and even had a small swimming pool. According to his descendants, although the house only had two floors, an elevator was installed "so that Mr. Hao could go up to the terrace to watch the birds and relieve his tired legs" (after 1966, when Mr. Hao returned to his hometown to retire, the elevator was removed and sold by his descendants).

Sketch by Architect Bui Hoang Bao

Sketch by Architect Linh Hoang

Sketch by Phan Hong Thanh - Student of Danang University of Architecture

Painting by Architect Phung The Huy

According to many documents, this project "used tree sap mixed with lime, sand, and water to build instead of cement". However, this detail is probably not accurate because the first cement factory in Vietnam, Hai Phong Cement Factory, was built in 1899 (by the French who brought technology and techniques).

Nguyen Van Hao Villa on a rainy afternoon - painting by architect Phung The Huy

Sketch by artist Tran Binh Minh

Sketch by designer Le Quang Khanh

Sketch by Architect Tran Xuan Hong

Ky Con Street - sketch by Architect Linh Hoang

Currently, the building has degraded, the lower floor of this villa is managed by the state, Mr. Hao's children and grandchildren live on the upper floor.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/goc-ky-hoa-biet-thu-tram-tuoi-tung-duoc-lam-thang-may-de-ngam-chim-185240921202322683.htm