Restoring old French-style villas: Preserving Hanoi's past

Anh Kiet - Quang Tan

Jan 29, 2024 / 11:37 AM

There is an exhibition to showcase the villa's restoration process so that the public can understand how the villa was repaired.

The newly restored ancient French-style mansion on 49 Tran Hang Dao Street - 46 Hang Bai Street opened to the public at the weekend.

The old French-style villa covers an area of 174 square meters on a 993 square-meter plot. It is one of Hanoi's few old French-style villas with a large courtyard.

The restoration is part of the city's urban beautification policy and the cooperation agreement between the Hanoi People's Committee and the Ile-de-France Region.

It has been abandoned for a long time, and many of its furnishings have completely deteriorated. Photos: Quang Tan/The Hanoi Times

The restoration is carried out with technical assistance from the French territory.

Experts have decided to remove the mortar. The inner wall of the staircase has been left completely exposed so that everyone can see the bricks taken from the Imperial Citadel in Hanoi.

An expert introduces the visitors to the villa's restoration process.

As well as photos and explanations, the public can also see the original materials used in the project.

A series of photographs by the photographer Francois Carlet Soulages traces the transformation of the villa, from its abandonment to the studies and research carried out by scientists and the restoration process.