Living heritage requires a new approach.

VHO - Hanoi aims to develop a "dynamic conservation" model based on both preserving and safeguarding historical values, while maintaining, promoting, and developing contemporary academic life for the complex of buildings of Hanoi National University and a part of Hanoi University of Pharmacy.

The complex of buildings at 19 Le Thanh Tong ( Hanoi )

When the Hanoi Capital City Master Plan with a 100-year vision was officially approved, one of the contents that received special attention from academics, architects, and conservationists was the relocation of universities from the inner city. According to the plan, Hanoi's higher education system will gradually move to training and research areas in the suburbs to reduce pressure on urban infrastructure and restructure the development space of the capital city.

In this context, Hanoi University of Pharmacy, an educational institution over a century old located at 19 Le Thanh Tong Street, is situated within a unique orientation: developing according to a "dynamic preservation" model, simultaneously safeguarding historical values ​​and maintaining contemporary academic life. This is not just the story of one school, but also opens up reflections on how Hanoi should approach its intellectual heritage on its journey to becoming a creative city of the future.

For over a century, the space at 19 Le Thanh Tong Street has been more than just a place of learning. It has also accumulated layers of memories of Vietnamese higher education: lecture halls that have witnessed generations of intellectuals mature, laboratories preserving the imprint of numerous research projects, and courtyards that have hosted important events in the history of national education.

Because of this value, the architectural complex here is not only seen as an old building needing preservation, but as a "living heritage," where history has not ended but continues to be written through daily academic activities.

Before the Capital City Master Plan was approved, Hanoi proposed transforming the space of Hanoi University at 19 Le Thanh Tong Street into a "Museum of Universities in the Ho Chi Minh Era," based on relocating some training units such as Hanoi University of Pharmacy and the Faculty of Chemistry, University of Natural Sciences . This proposal stemmed from a desire to preserve and honor the history of Vietnamese higher education, while also connecting the area with the museum ecosystem around the city center, such as the National Historical Museum, the Vietnam Women's Museum, and the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum.

However, even during the consultation process, many intellectuals, scientists, lecturers, and students expressed concerns. Their worry wasn't about preservation itself, but rather how to preserve it without losing the vitality of this intellectual space that has existed for over a century. Many argued that if it were completely transformed into a static exhibition space, it might lose the function that makes it so special: training, research, and knowledge transfer. A heritage site would only be "observed" and no longer "lived with."

Previously, architect Pham Thanh Tung of the Vietnam Association of Architects stated that the complex at 19 Le Thanh Tong Street is not only an architectural heritage site over 100 years old but should also be considered a "living museum," where training and research activities continue daily. This perspective reflects a new trend in urban heritage preservation: retaining not only the architectural "shell" but also preserving the spirit of the space. In many major cities around the world, long-established educational institutions continue to operate as academic centers and cultural destinations. Historical spaces are not "frozen" but are renewed through research, seminars, exhibitions, and academic dialogues.

Architect Dao Ngoc Nghiem also argued that the policy of relocating universities from the inner city does not mean completely eliminating the old facilities. According to him, spaces with special value, such as 19 Le Thanh Tong Street, can still maintain functions for postgraduate training, in-depth research, or high-quality academic activities to keep the flow of knowledge continuous.

Sharing this view, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Huy, former Director of the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, stated: "A museum, if built in the right direction, closely linked to academic and social life, and connected to effective public activities, will still be a 'living' space, and may even bring more value."

According to Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Huy, the "life" or "death" of a heritage space depends on how it is managed. A museum, if linked to community activities, academic forums, scientific seminars, interactive experiences, etc., can absolutely become a vibrant space. More importantly, the area must not be allowed to fall into a state of deterioration or functional fragmentation as it is currently, where there are signs of uncoordinated expansions and small-scale service activities that diminish the aesthetic value of a heritage site.

The story of Hanoi University of Pharmacy is not just a matter of relocating or preserving an educational institution. More broadly, it's about how Hanoi can create its own identity in the next century. In its new planning, the city aims to build an image of Hanoi as a knowledge-based, creative city , where culture and knowledge become the driving force for development. The space at 19 Le Thanh Tong Street is expected to serve not only education but also become a destination for academic tourism, heritage tourism, high-level academic diplomacy, and the development of cultural and intellectual products.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/di-san-song-can-mot-cach-ung-xu-moi-230411.html