Should the model of the Quang Trung multi-story building be preserved to be used as a tourist attraction?

(Baonghean) - The Quang Trung apartment complex is not only home to many generations of Vinh city residents but also a testament to a difficult period and the good relationship between Vietnam and Germany.

However, for many years now, due to serious deterioration, the authorities have decided to relocate residents from this apartment complex to make way for a new high-rise building project. This project started in 2013, and to date, some blocks of the complex have been demolished to make way for the new high-rise buildings.

The demolition of old houses and the massive construction of high-rise buildings in the city have led to a lack of reflection on the fact that the Quang Trung residential complex is not simply a construction project, but also a cultural heritage site representing a model of residential organization during the subsidy period, and a part of Vinh city's history.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Construction Do Muoi laid the first brick at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Quang Trung residential complex (May 1, 1974). Photo: internet.

As is well known, from 1974-1975, in the context of economic hardship, after emerging from two fierce wars, the emergence of high-rise buildings in the northern provinces was like castles in fairy tales. The Quang Trung apartment complex was built and became a typical example of the living space in Vinh City during the subsidy period. It also symbolized the spirit of friendship between Vietnam and the German Democratic Republic during the socialist construction period. And above all, this residential area is closely linked to the lives of many people who have lived there for decades. Most of them were civil servants and officials, who not only held high positions but also had to have many achievements to be able to live in these apartment buildings.

We cannot deny that owning a room in these apartment buildings was once a dream for many. It was so attractive that many families, even those with spacious and stable homes in the city center, sold their land to move into these apartment complexes. And there is a generation born and raised here who, for them, see these complexes as no different from a traditional rural village. They are people with many experiences of urban communal life during the subsidy era – the days of queuing for water, waiting for each other to use the toilet, or fencing off balconies to raise chickens, or partitioning bathrooms to raise pigs…

But within that communal life, the spirit of community and the sharing of joys and sorrows were incredibly strong. It was a life full of hardships, but also many joys and sorrows. Nowadays, although the buildings are dilapidated and have to be demolished and rebuilt, some people will inevitably feel nostalgic and fondly remember the time they lived in these buildings, a time when they worked tirelessly for an ideal, for the country.

Time flies by, and the high-rise buildings that a generation once admired and dreamed of have become old and dilapidated. The walls are yellowed and peeling, the railings rust, and the plaster refuses to adhere to the walls. The small rooms, once ideal, are now too cramped and unsuitable for modern family life. Life in these apartment complexes has become insecure due to various reasons stemming from the cramped conditions and the buildings' deterioration. Meanwhile, renovation and repair are extremely difficult due to the interconnected architecture, and some families are unable to make decisions because of their relationships with other households.

Therefore, demolishing dilapidated apartment buildings to ensure the lives and safety of residents is a necessary measure. Removing unsafe buildings and replacing them with new, more beautiful, spacious, and safer ones is a step forward, a positive change in urban areas.

Quang Trung apartment complex during construction (1974). Archival photo.

However, any progress needs its foundation built upon the old, because that is the past, history. This makes us think and consider whether it is necessary to erase everything, to the point where Vinh city seems to have never had a symbolic architectural style from the subsidy era? A style of architecture that, as Mr. Luong Ba Quang, Chairman of the Nghe An Architects Association, assessed: "is a style of architecture that puts people at the center, unlike current apartment complexes that prioritize profit."

If we consider the Quang Trung residential complex as a cultural heritage site, then how should we preserve it? Simply maintaining the complex intact is certainly not the answer. However, there are many other ways to preserve this heritage.

First and foremost, it is necessary to preserve all documents related to the construction and use of this apartment complex, from design plans, contracts or certificates for the households living there, documents related to renovations and improvements over the years, and also documents related to the demolition and removal of the buildings.

A view of a building in the Quang Trung residential complex today. (Archival photo)

It is also necessary to remodel the entire residential complex at a certain scale in order to preserve it so that, when needed, it can be repositioned within Vinh city for a specific period. And it would be even better to retain a part, perhaps a building or a section of a building where many families lived, as a historical space from the subsidy period.

In doing so, the goal is not only to preserve the basic structure of the houses, but also to maintain as much as possible the layout and interior furnishings of the rooms. Artifacts are being collected from various families who once lived there, to preserve the communal space as it originally was. It's like a small museum from the subsidy era, containing typical items and artifacts such as rice ration books, shopping vouchers, and household tools and utensils that many people still keep.

Perhaps in the future, this space will attract more visitors who want to learn more about the subsidy period in Vinh.

Sy Hao