The beauty of French architecture in the heart of Hai Duong city

Walking through the streets of Tam Giang, Bac Kinh, Son Hoa or Pham Hong Thai, it is not difficult to see old houses with strong French style. In the photo: The house in the "cross flower garden" area, the intersection of Bac Kinh - Nguyen Du streets

Those ancient bass note

Although time has covered the old yellow walls with dust, the houses with French architecture in the heart of Hai Duong city are still there as historical witnesses, contributing to the cultural identity of the Eastern city. The soft curves, sophisticated patterns, and Western classics combined with the pure Vietnamese lifestyle have created a unique beauty for the streets of Hai Duong today.

Walking through streets like Tam Giang, Bac Kinh, Son Hoa or Pham Hong Thai, it is not difficult to come across old houses with strong French style, built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Despite the many changes of the times, the mark of French architecture is still boldly imprinted in every door, brick, and ancient arched window.

Mr. Doan Huu Bich has spent more than half of his life in the old French house on Tam Giang Street.

House number 29A Tam Giang street of Mr. Doan Huu Bich's family has three rooms and two attics, built in French architectural style before 1945, still has intact rows of tiles, wooden doors and inlaid Chinese characters "Duc Loi" on the roof.

Mr. Bich, 94 years old this year, from Phu Xuyen ( Hanoi ), bought this house in 1972 because he worked in the Hai Duong electricity industry. Having spent more than half of his life in the Eastern land, he always cherishes every detail of the house. "This house can be repaired if it is broken, but this architecture should not be destroyed because it is balanced, ancient and beautiful," he said. Many couples come to his house to take wedding photos with this ancient architecture.

Every detail of the floor tiles and the door is still kept intact by Mr. Bich.

Not far away, house number 17 is a typical example of the fusion between French architecture and Vietnamese culture. The facade of the house is decorated with three words "Duc Nhat Long", the floors are inlaid with seal script, and the arched doors are typical of the French style. The current owner is Mr. Doan Van Tinh, who has lived here with his family since the 60s of the last century. The family has always kept the original condition from the roof tiles to the brick floor despite signs of deterioration due to time.

House number 85 Pham Hong Thai of Mrs. Pham Thi Xuyen's family stands out with French architecture.

At the intersection of Nha Tho and Pham Hong Thai streets, house number 85 stands out with its warm yellow tones - a popular color in French colonial architecture. Built in 1903, the house was designed by a French landlord and is now 120 years old.

Ms. Pham Thi Xuyen, the current owner of the house, said that this house was rented by her husband's parents, then bought from the State. Despite its prime location, the family still decided to keep the original architecture, refusing to renovate it for business purposes.

In house number 85 Pham Hong Thai street, the original tiled floor from the time of construction is still preserved.

Preserving ancient traces

After occupying the Eastern Citadel in 1883, the French began to reconstruct the urban space. They demolished the military citadel and built a system of civil and administrative works in the European architectural style.

The Governor's Palace (now located in the headquarters of the Hai Duong Provincial People's Committee), the Consul's Palace (the Provincial Party Committee's office and guest house), the Luc Lo Department (former Department of Transport), the Treasury (Provincial Social Policy Bank)... all have the appearance of French neoclassical architecture. These buildings are located mainly along the Sat River - the main waterway of the administrative area at that time.

Hai Duong Church on Tran Hung Dao Street is a building in ancient French architecture.

Some old French mansions are still in use today such as: Department of Transport (old), Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Provincial Social Policy Bank, Hai Duong Church...

The most typical is the Governor's Palace, now located in the headquarters of the Hai Duong Provincial People's Committee, which harmoniously combines Western neoclassical architecture with traditional Vietnamese features such as boat-shaped roofs, battlements, dragons facing the moon, screens, and three-door gates... creating a unique and solemn whole.

The Governor's Palace, now the headquarters of the Hai Duong Provincial People's Committee, harmoniously combines Western neoclassical architecture with traditional Vietnamese features.

According to architect Nguyen Van Thuong, Deputy Head of the Architecture Department (Provincial Literature and Arts Association), many ancient French buildings have not received proper attention. Some have been demolished. “Office buildings are easy to preserve, but private houses need specific support policies,” he emphasized.

The presence of French architecture not only contributed to changing the urban appearance but also left a deep impression on the memory of Thanh Dong people. Whether public works or private houses, all reflect a special period of East-West cultural exchange in Hai Duong history.

Over time, many old French houses have been “Vietnamized” to better suit local living conditions and climate. But somewhere, people still recognize the sophistication and elegance of this architectural style: thick walls, tall and wide windows, curved arches, and symmetrical motifs.

On the roofs of ancient buildings, there are often Chinese characters inlaid with porcelain.

Preserving French architecture is not just about keeping a few walls or tiled roofs, but about preserving urban memories and preserving cultural sediments for future generations.

WOODEN SPRINGS

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/ve-dep-kien-truc-phap-giua-long-do-thi-hai-duong-412051.html