Monument restoration seen from the story of the Japanese Covered Bridge

Restoration of 400-year-old building

The Japanese Covered Bridge is on the list of national historical and cultural relics, so restoration must comply with the Law on Cultural Heritage and Circular 15/2019 of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism regulating the preservation, repair and restoration of relics.

Speaking with Lao Dong, Mr. Tran Dinh Thanh - Deputy Director of the Department of Cultural Heritage (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) said that the ministry and the Department of Heritage have appraised the project documents, design and implementation process of the restoration. The Department also coordinated with the People's Committee of Quang Nam province to organize seminars and conferences, inviting many domestic and foreign professors to contribute their opinions on the relic restoration project. All information about this project has been made public locally, including the implementation content, design, and implementation process. The Department also coordinated with the professional agencies of Quang Nam province and Japanese experts in the process of developing design plans and implementing construction.

While most of the criticism of the new look of the Japanese Covered Bridge comes from the "online community", some experts in the field of heritage and relics expressed their agreement with the results of the Japanese Covered Bridge restoration project.

Architect Tran Duc Anh Son affirmed that the restoration of the Japanese Covered Bridge has complied with technical requirements. “I agree with the “renovation and demolition” option that the Japanese Covered Bridge restoration project has chosen, after organizing an expert workshop to evaluate and select the option. The restoration work has been carried out methodically, scientifically , seriously, achieving good restoration results, returning to Hoi An a Japanese Covered Bridge with its true appearance and form, but more solid and sturdy” – Architect Tran Duc Anh Son wrote on his personal Facebook.

“After more than 400 years of existence in the harsh weather conditions of the Central region, the Japanese Covered Bridge has deteriorated and been severely damaged: the foundation has sunk and tilted; many wooden structures are termite-infested and rotten; the brick wall system is peeling off... causing the overall shape of the Japanese Covered Bridge to be somewhat deformed; the architectural connections are weakened, causing the structure to collapse, especially when storms and rains attack.

Therefore, choosing the "low-level renovation" option to thoroughly handle the foundation: adjusting, reinforcing, and strengthening to increase load-bearing capacity; dismantling wooden components to replace rotten parts; replacing broken roof tiles, reinforcing the surrounding walls with bricks at both ends of the bridge; replacing damaged wooden parts on the bridge deck and railings is necessary. If choosing the "partial renovation" option, it will not completely solve the chronic diseases of the Japanese Covered Bridge, like the previous 6 renovations.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hieu - Head of Research Department of Van Thien Y Joint Stock Company said: "The results of this project to restore the Japanese Covered Bridge have really delighted heritage workers and heritage lovers across the country."

Mr. Hieu believes that relics in Vietnam have rarely been in the cleanest, most intact state, but have often had to make friends with moss, mold, cracks, dust, rotten wood, cracked stones, and crumbling walls, to the point that people have gotten used to it and consider those old, dilapidated things to be the soul and style of a relic. Therefore, if there are any strange changes, there will certainly be a strong reaction.

However, Mr. Nguyen Van Hieu believes that the public's attention to the Japanese Covered Bridge has a positive point in showing concern for cultural heritage. And if there are more successful restoration projects like the Japanese Covered Bridge or the tombs in Hue, it will bring a more correct perspective to the people on the restoration and conservation of heritage and relics.

How do you perceive heritage restoration?

This is not the first time that domestic public opinion has spoken out about the appearance of relics and cultural heritage after restoration.

In 2022, the old French villa at 49 Tran Hung Dao Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi became the center of controversy because it suddenly became "new, losing its mossy antiquity" after the completion of the restoration work. However, similar to the case of the Japanese Covered Bridge, heritage and architecture experts at that time affirmed that the restoration work of this villa "is a model in heritage restoration". The restoration unit carefully studied the remaining documents, especially the paint color which "was mixed closest to the original".

Heritage experts say that after restoration, a building always "looks newer" than its previous old appearance, and over time its ancient features will be restored.

“The seemingly new colors of the Japanese Covered Bridge after restoration will “remain” after only a few rainy and sunny seasons. The important thing is that the core values of the Japanese Covered Bridge in terms of history, culture, art, as well as its emotional and long-term use values still exist with the community, the nation and humanity, and will not be lost anywhere” – Architect Tran Duc Anh Son analyzed.

Through that, it can be seen that the restoration of relics and heritages in our country has been carried out carefully and effectively by experts and State management agencies, listening to public opinion. However, also from the story of the Japanese Covered Bridge, should the relevant units choose to announce the results of the restoration process in images, documents, through press agencies or social networks before the official launch, and at the same time explain so that the public can better understand what is about to be witnessed, instead of waiting for public opinion to complain and then speaking up to explain.

Source: https://laodong.vn/van-hoa-giai-tri/trung-tu-di-tich-nhin-tu-chuyen-chua-cau-1373724.ldo