Unique house made of ironwood, nearly a hundred years old.

Amidst the changes of the city, the nearly century-old wooden house of Mr. Nguyen Van Khoai's family in Hanh Phuc Doan village, Dong Quang ward, remains perfectly preserved. More than just a residence, the house is a beautiful architectural masterpiece, a testament to the skillful craftsmanship of the Dat Tai carpenters of the past.

The ironwood house of Mr. Nguyen Van Khoai's family.

Where time "stands still"

It was only the beginning of summer, but the sun was already more intense than in previous years. The golden sunlight, like honey, poured down on the road, carrying with it a heat that made our arms sting. Following the smooth, paved road from the center of Hac Thanh ward for about 20 minutes, we arrived at Hanh Phuc Doan village in Dong Quang ward. The road leading into the village narrowed, but the shade of green trees made the space quiet, cool, and fresh. Near the end of the lane, the nearly century-old wooden house of Mr. Nguyen Van Khoai's family gradually appeared, solemn and ancient, like a silent testament to time.

Stepping through the simple brick gate, one finds a small, flat dirt lane, exuding a rustic and unpretentious beauty. Amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life, it's rare to find a house in the city with an alleyway not paved with bricks or stones, but rather a dark brown earthen surface like his.

Right next to the small alley and the house is a lush, carefully tended garden of medicinal herbs. The aroma of basil, mugwort, and other herbs evokes a feeling of closeness, simplicity, and rustic charm.

In front of the small courtyard stands an old, moss-covered well, adding a touch of charm to the peaceful scene of the house.

The spacious front yard was neatly swept clean by the homeowner. Dry firewood was spread out to dry in the sun, waiting to be used as fuel. Beside it were a few traditional Vietnamese medicinal herbs, emitting a faint fragrance.

From that courtyard, the house appeared serene and steadfast, like a silent testament to time.

Mr. Nguyen Van Khoai shared: “The house was built in 1945. I am the third generation to maintain this house. It's not just a place to live; it holds countless memories for generations of my family. Warm and loving family meals... bursts of laughter... joyful stories... will forever remain beautiful memories for me. In this very house, through his family's traditional herbal medicine practice, my father raised his children.”

This house also sheltered family members through the most brutal years of the war against the US to save the country. Every room, every brick, every pattern is a part of my memories.”

A panoramic view of the ironwood house belonging to Mr. Nguyen Van Khoai's family.

The mark of the skillful carpenters of the old Dat Tai

The house of Mr. Nguyen Van Khoai's family is a traditional five-room house situated on a spacious and airy plot of land, built by the skilled hands of carpenters from Dat Tai village, Hoang Hoa commune (formerly Hoang Ha commune, Hoang Hoa district).

People of Hoang Hoa often proudly say: "Heaven bestows intelligence upon Hoang Hoa for its development / The sacred support enables its achievements to reach fame and renown."

Perhaps due to the meticulous craftsmanship of the carpenters from Dat Tai village, the house of Mr. Nguyen Van Khoai's family is a beautiful work of architectural art. The three main sections serve as the family's worship and living quarters, with one side being the bedroom and the other the guest room. The three main sections are constructed entirely of ironwood – a type of wood renowned for its hardness and natural resistance to termites. The columns, beams, and rafters were skillfully assembled by the Dat Tai craftsmen, ensuring tight joints without the need for any iron nails. The eight ironwood columns in the three central sections rest on four large stone foundations without cement, yet remain strong and stable.

The house's distinctive artistic feature is the set of Four Seasons paintings (Pine, Chrysanthemum, Bamboo, and Plum Blossom). Thanks to the exquisite, meticulous, and sharp carvings of these paintings, the house appears soft and graceful.

The old house features exquisitely carved patterns.

In his house, Mr. Nguyen Van Khoai still keeps a wooden hanging altar. Because it doesn't touch the ground, the altar has not been damaged by termites over time.

One of the most valuable aspects of the house's architectural engineering is that all the walls are constructed using fired bricks mixed with lime, sand, and molasses. This technique ensures the walls are strong, keeping the interior dry and preventing the dampness characteristic of the central region's climate.

Most notably, the left side of the house is the bedroom, while the right side is the living room. The living room's facade features arched doorways reminiscent of Western architecture. However, the traditional aspect of this room lies in its purely Vietnamese relief details. The central oval symbolizes wisdom and fulfillment. On either side of the oval are motifs of lemon blossoms and phoenix wings, creating a soft feel. The columns in front of the living room are also constructed from fired bricks mixed with lime, sand, and molasses. The entrance to the living room is made of wood. In the past, whenever local people came to get traditional medicine, Mr. Nguyen Van Khoai's father would take their pulse, chat with them, and prepare the medicine in this living room.

Time passed, and Mr. Nguyen Van Khoai's parents have long since passed away. Due to unfortunate circumstances, Mr. Nguyen Van Khoai now lives alone in the house. Every day, he maintains his habit of waking up early to clean the house and garden. After enjoying a moment of sipping green tea, he prepares herbal medicine to treat the villagers. In the late afternoon, as the sun sets, the man, nearing seventy years old, silently gazes at the rural landscape, quietly observing every corner of the house – the place that holds the most beautiful memories of himself and his family.

Tuong Van - Minh Huong

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/doc-dao-ngoi-nha-go-lim-gan-tram-nam-tuoi-286211.htm