Finding solutions to preserve Phong Nam ancient village

*Shepherd procession festival in Phong Nam village. Photo: PV*

Special features of Phong Nam ancient village

According to Associate Professor, Doctor, Architect Nguyen Anh Tuan, Head of the Faculty of Architecture, Danang University of Technology and Doctor, Architect Phan Bao An, University of Technical Education, the city has recently had many synchronous solutions throughout the area with the goal of researching, preserving and promoting cultural and historical values bearing the imprint and identity of the locality. In particular, Phong Nam ancient village has many valuable works of culture, history, landscape and unique traditional life that need to be researched and preserved.

Phong Nam ancient village, located in Phong Le hamlet, Hoa Xuan ward (formerly Hoa Chau commune, Hoa Vang district), is one of the ancient villages that still retains historical and cultural values and has been little changed during the urbanization process.

Therefore, the government is determined to preserve the cultural and historical values of Phong Nam ancient village to become a strength and characteristic, a tourist destination, promote traditional cultural beauty, and contribute to the sustainable socio -economic development of the area.

However, the urbanization process also has a significant impact on historical works and relics; the rural landscape space is changed, many cultural characteristics of Vietnamese villages are gradually replaced; the architecture lacks uniformity and does not create a harmonious whole with nature... That is the biggest concern of the government and people of Phong Nam ancient village in particular, and Hoa Xuan ward in general.

*Village gate in Phong Nam ancient village. Photo: PV*

Phong Nam ancient village today still has many communal houses, temples, churches, ancient houses such as Than Nong communal house, Thai Giam temple, Tien Hien temple (worshiping 17 clans), Am Linh mausoleum, Con Than, Ba Giang temple... associated with festivals and ancient stories of the villagers.

Currently, in the village there are 5 ancient houses with 3-room architecture, yin-yang tiled roofs, earthen floors, wooden or stone pillars carved elaborately. In addition to the ancient houses, in Phong Nam village there are also nearly 125 three-room houses, some of which combine three-room houses and add a part of the house with floors and attics to make the house solid and adaptable to low-lying areas and storms.

The village also preserves handicrafts such as rice paper, Quang noodles, gai leaf cakes, bamboo weaving and agricultural production activities. In the village, there is Phong Nam rural market, where people still preserve good traditional cultural activities, connecting the community, which is a favorable basis for restoring and embellishing Phong Nam ancient village in the present period. In addition, the village also has a special festival, the shepherd procession festival at Than Nong communal house...

Need for synchronized conservation solutions

To preserve and promote the traditional cultural and historical values of Phong Nam ancient village, Associate Professor, Doctor, Architect Nguyen Anh Tuan and Doctor, Architect Phan Bao An proposed that the government should build a comprehensive and detailed planning model for Phong Nam village. This is the basis for implementing synchronous solutions such as collecting, researching, and restoring the historical and cultural values of Phong Nam ancient village, enriching the cultural and historical identity, and becoming a meaningful destination.

Specifically, the information system of ancient works in the area needs to be gradually restored, reconstructed and organized, and the landscape space should be arranged in accordance with the scale of the works; additional auxiliary works should be organized to serve tourists and facilitate service activities. At the same time, cultural festivals such as the shepherd festival should be restored, and festivals should be staged to perform for tourists and introduced to the people.

In addition, promote tourism activities with many rich and diverse products, suitable for many ages and needs of tourists; strengthen propaganda and promotion activities, arouse pride and awareness of protecting the cultural identity of the village in the community.

*Ancient houses and communal houses in Phong Nam ancient village.*

Regarding architectural solutions, landscape and technical infrastructure, it is necessary to re-plan the internal traffic system with static traffic solutions and suitable traffic directions... Thereby creating conditions for public and personal transport to quickly access from Da Nang city but ensuring connectivity within the ancient village area.

In particular, in terms of architectural form and planning, it is necessary to invest in re-planning the rural housing system with friendly housing models, suitable for climate conditions, with reasonable prices, meeting the living needs of the people, aiming to build a model, civilized, modern countryside in the future. At the same time, gradually renovate and embellish newly built architectural works that are not suitable for an ancient village space...

Associate Professor, Doctor, Architect Nguyen Anh Tuan added that, if in the year 2000, Phong Nam ancient village still preserved its traditional architecture, then after 20 years, when the major traffic route passed through, the architecture, landscape and urbanization speed of the village changed very quickly, the number of housing projects increased many times, along with a huge impact on the landscape of the ancient village. Even valuable architectural works are being seriously damaged. Therefore, it is necessary to soon have a solution to preserve Phong Nam ancient village, from there to replicate it to the ancient villages in Da Nang city.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/tim-giai-phap-bao-ton-lang-co-phong-nam-3308414.html