The book "Residential Complexes - Rediscovering the Dream of Paradise" is a collaborative work co-edited by Dr. Tran Hau Yen The and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dinh Hong Hai, with contributions from many other reputable authors.
Published by Vietnam Education Publishing House, the book recreates the space of the apartment complex, a place that preserves the culture and life of urban dwellers. Ultimately, the apartment complex is not just a place of residence, but also a heritage space with the characteristic adaptability and transformation of the Vietnamese people. It accumulates many life values, creates its own unique beauty, and is a place that embraces countless human destinies.
Through three main sections: "Historical Heritage," "Humanistic Urbanism," and "The Dream of Paradise," the book not only recreates the journey from dream homes in the post-war era, with elements such as "toilets," "tiger cages," or "AIDS-related housing," but also analyzes the humanistic, community, and creative values in urban living spaces.
In the book's introduction, Associate Professor, Doctor of Architecture Nguyen Hong Thuc emphasizes: "For its residents – those who lived there – the apartment complex has become a collective memory of youth, human connection, and a place to call home." The book offers a multifaceted perspective, from architectural history to residential culture, contributing to the preservation of Vietnam's urban heritage in the context of rapid urbanization.
Part 1, titled "Historical Heritage," presents the formation and development of the collective housing model in Vietnam, particularly in Hanoi, from the 1930s to the end of the 20th century. This section brings together many articles and real-life stories about life in collective housing, such as: the dream house with its own toilet, the tiger cages inhabited by people, the AIDS ward in the Kim Lien collective housing area... These simple, everyday stories clearly reflect the socio-economic context, housing policies, and community living model of the subsidy period.
Part two, titled "Humanistic Urban Life," is a collection of articles, studies, and notes on the spiritual life, cultural behavior, community lifestyle, and neighborly spirit of the residents of the apartment complex. Film footage of the complex, the glittering lights on the old apartment buildings, or the "House of Light" movement of the 1930s... are vividly recreated, portraying the "human essence" and strong sense of community in these old apartment buildings.
Part three, titled "Dream of Paradise," presents contemporary perspectives on preserving, maintaining, and promoting the value of residential complexes within modern cities, where "villages in the city" still exist, blending nostalgia and creativity. This section opens a dialogue between the past and the present, between residential complexes and modern apartment buildings, between community memory and the aspiration to create a humane and sustainable urban future.
In addition, the book "Reclaiming the Dream of Paradise" has collected and selected many documentary paintings, photographs, and vivid real-life stories about life in famous apartment complexes in Hanoi such as Kim Lien, Van Chuong, Khuong Thuong, Thanh Cong... Each image, each story is a piece of memory, contributing to recreating the living space, cultural activities, and community spirit of urban people during the subsidy period, a period rich in emotion and humanity in the history of the capital's development.
Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/ra-mat-sach-khu-tap-the-tim-lai-giac-mo-thien-duong-524744.html
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