Restructuring the space for cultural industry development

*After expansion, the APEC Sculpture Park has become a cultural and artistic space where artists connect with the public through photo exhibitions. Photo: DOAN HAO LUONG*

Building creative spaces

Da Nang City has a rich history and culture of thousands of years, is the place of exchange and interaction between Champa civilization and Dai Viet, the space expands from the island area, coastal plains to the mountainous area of southern Truong Son. The system of relics here is diverse in types, including architectural relics, archeology, revolutionary history, scenic spots...

In particular, works in the neoclassical architectural style of the late 19th and early 20th centuries such as the Da Nang Cathedral, the City Hall headquarters, and a number of villas and townhouses have created a characteristic architectural appearance for the city's early urbanization period.

These works not only reflect the influence of French culture, but also show the integration of Western architecture with local climate, materials and aesthetics. This is an important resource for developing cultural industries in the current context of international integration and digital transformation.

However, in reality, apart from the bridges that mark the city, the architectural works of Da Nang have not yet been able to create a highlight associated with the cultural industry. Dr. Architect To Van Hung, Chairman of the City Architects Association, said that Da Nang is a locality with a rich urban architectural fund, but it is not really unique enough to contribute to the cultural industry.

“Up to now, we have not yet placed the role of architecture in connection with the cultural industry to create products that create an ecosystem of the right level. For example, when we built the Dragon Bridge, it was very beautiful, but we did not think it would become a highlight or tourist destination, so organizing a space for visitors to see right where the Dragon Bridge breathes fire was not appropriate,” Dr. Architect To Van Hung explained.

Regarding this issue, Ms. Dam Thi Van Dung, Da Nang Institute for Socio -Economic Development Research, also said that, with the desire to go ahead and create breakthroughs, Da Nang needs to restructure the space. The city can build film studios or international entertainment complexes, instead of following the mandatory cultural institutional system that this region must have compared to that region, such as building cultural houses, or having to achieve the targets set by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. While we have achieved widespread factors, future international goals to serve the development of the cultural industry are still lacking.

Need a mechanism to attract experts

Creating unique architectural spaces not only contributes to preserving, maintaining and promoting cultural values, but also creates new cultural values to contribute to the cultural industrial ecosystem. To do this, the city needs to have policies regulating construction standards, capital support, etc. to encourage businesses to invest in projects that not only create architectural services but also contribute to forming unique products for the city.

The walking street along with the Dragon Bridge has become an indispensable destination for tourists every spring thanks to the beautiful arrangement of flower streets and ornamental plants. Photo: DOAN HAO LUONG

According to Dr. Architect To Van Hung, first and foremost, the city needs to have a comprehensive strategy and policy mechanisms so that architectural services can truly become one of the driving factors contributing to the cultural industry in Da Nang.

“The strategy must start from the overall planning solutions, investment projects and policy mechanisms. For example, there must be a mechanism that can escape from technical regulations on height and construction density so that investors can be creative enough to create a unique project. Or the investor can invite a famous architect and through that project will create a great value,” Dr. Architect To Van Hung suggested.

Ms. Dam Thi Van Dung suggested that with the current technology, we can sit in one place to work, experts do not necessarily have to come to Da Nang to work 8 hours a day. Perhaps the city needs to have mechanisms for experts working far away to create conditions for them to create products for Da Nang, to serve Da Nang. Policies such as supporting their families to visit Da Nang are an example.

After the merger, the Danang City Architects Association has more than 600 members. This is an important resource contributing to the fields of culture and tourism.

If the city has appropriate support policies, it will help members display and introduce their architectural works to the public through seminars, cooperation programs, exhibitions, and fairs. Thereby, consulting with residents, tourists, and critics to flexibly and promptly adjust the design, function, display content, and supporting services of architectural works to better meet market demand and cultural consumption trends, while ensuring the suitability and sustainability of the works. Only then can the strengths of architectural design services be promoted, contributing to the development of the cultural industry.

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