Architecture Vietnam

Vietnamese modernist architecture was inspired by French art deco designs

Our forthcoming book "Southern Vietnamese Modernist Architecture" focuses on modernism, but we also set the context for the development of modernist architecture in Vietnam by outlining the architectural history and the architectural heritage of southern Vietnam. In particular, the transition of architecture from colonial neoclassical designs to modernism in Vietnam proved to be a very interesting time for architecture, resulting in some remarkable projects. The Indochina Bank building (now the State Bank of Vietnam) at Eight Võ Văn Kiệt Street was one of the last of the neoclassical buildings (1928). Designed by French architect Felix Dumail, it is augmented with Asian design touches at the roof cornice, but its interior design is a stunning decorative style of art deco. Designs like this encouraged young Vietnamese architects to explore modernist architecture beyond classicism.

Vietnamese modernist architecture is not lazy or formulaic

Most architects of my generation [Mel speaking here] designed modernist architecture because the architecture schools taught mid-century modernism. But many modernist architects were lazy at it — it was much easier to design a minimalist box than to create an ornate classical box. But Vietnamese modernist architecture is not lazy. Each side of the Vietnamese architects’ boxes often had a different design that accommodated the different sunlight conditions, or the site context, or the functional needs. And these designs were complex compositions of ins and outs, sunscreens, and decorative elements (not ornamentation). Alexandre Garel’s beautiful architectural photography here of the courtyard facade of the 1960 addition to the École Taberd (now the Trần Đại Nghĩa Specialist High School) shows the grid of vertical sun-breakers along the double wall created by an exterior corridor. The street facade along Hai Bà Trưng Street is very different. Vietnamese architect Huỳnh Kim Mãng designed this structure, as well as the completely-different auditorium building along Lý Tự Trọng Street.