Around 1933, this marshy land on the banks of the An Cuu canal was a small chapel, surrounded by residential areas of Catholic families. Due to the increasing demand, the Redemptorist Church was completed in 1962, designed by architect Nguyen My Loc (a talented contemporary of architect Ngo Viet Thu).
Sketch by 10th grade student Le Tran Mai Han
The building has a cross-shaped ground plan, symmetrical through the central axis, built of concrete and blue stone, in the Gothic architectural style (shown through large windows, pointed arches, stained glass, etc.). The church can accommodate about 1,000 people, without a row of columns in the middle, making the space more open and spacious. On the walls of the church are relief paintings about the life of Jesus. According to Father Giuse Le Viet Phuc: "The cross in front of the church is made of steel from a plane wreck (the initiative and effort of priest Henry Bui Van Khac)...".
Inside the cathedral - sketch by architect Bui Hoang Bao
On both sides of the church are large, dense stained glass windows. The sunlight shining through the stained glass into the church becomes sparkling and magical. The ventilation system surrounding the building not only helps with better air circulation but also reduces the heaviness of the building.
Sketch by Architect Bui Hoang Bao
Sketch by Architect Nguyen Van Thien Quan
Sketch by Architect Tran Xuan Hong
Sketch by Architect Linh Hoang
Sketch by Architect Linh Hoang
Sketch by Architect Linh Hoang
Sketch by Architect Phung The Huy
Sketch by Architect Tran Thai Nguyen
Sketch by designer Le Quang Khanh
Church on flood day - sketch by designer Le Quang Khanh
However, the church still has many details that bear Vietnamese characteristics. Specifically, the 53-meter-high bell tower (with a pointed spire supporting the cross on top), octagonal, three-story with a gradually smaller stepped roof like the tower in a Vietnamese pagoda. Next to it, the image of the roof of a Vietnamese communal house or pagoda is faintly reflected through the terracotta tiled roof, the roof covered with plaster imitating yin-yang tiles, the fake corner rolls on the steps, the layered roof system in the style of overlapping roofs...
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/goc-ky-hoa-nha-tho-co-thanh-gia-lam-tu-xac-may-bay-185241130204930739.htm
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