2 Vietnamese Modernism

Southern Vietnam, A Center of Modernist Architecture
The vast quantity and quality of Vietnamese modernist buildings designed and constructed throughout southern Vietnam between 1945 and 1975 made Vietnam an unrecognized center of modernism in the world. This presentation by author and architect Mel Schenck recognizes the accomplishment of the Vietnamese people in developing their own modernist architecture that reflects Vietnamese identity based upon their traditional architecture.
Unlike most places in the world, the Vietnamese people embraced modernism and it became the vernacular architecture for dwellings throughout southern Vietnam.
Beautiful architectural photography by Alexandre Garel supplements the text here as published in our book “Southern Vietnamese Modernist Architecture.” (ISBN 9780578516585)
This presentation was originally delivered by Mel Schenck to an audience at the American Center in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on 28 October 2020. It was the second part of a three-part series presenting modernism and contemporary architecture in Vietnam.
The original Facebook video produced by the American Center has been edited to delete the introductions. The presentation runs for 58 minutes, followed by 26 minutes of questions and answers.

[@ccie4101]

It was a false narrative concerning the re-construction of the Independence Palace. My father's recommendation was to rebuild the Independence Palace's damaged wing in addition to making a few cosmetic changes to the existing facade. He said that rebuilding the palace from scratch based on a totally new design would be very time-consuming and costly as well for which South Vietnam as a war-torn country could ill afford. Most other architects (KTS To Cong Van, KTS Tran Van Duong etc.) who were asked to make recommendations also agreed with my father. These documents can be found in the National Archives No.2 (Trung Tam Luu Tru Quoc Gia So 2)

[@ArchitectureVietnam]

I agree with you, and I have seen those documents through another researcher. However, subsequent to these recommendations, the old building was demolished and there was a design competition held. KTS Ngô Viết Thụ's entry was selected and constructed.

[@ccie4101]

@@ArchitectureVietnam So when did the design competition begin? My father’s recommendations were submitted on 31 July 1962, which included the architectural drawing of the Independence Palace with the modifications that he recommended. Anyway, his team would not have participated in the competition because it would take them a lot of time to study the proposal.

[@ArchitectureVietnam]

@@ccie4101 I presume the decision to demolish the remaining parts of the palace was made shortly thereafter. Then the task would have been to decide what to build as a replacement. The details about a design competition are murky at this time for me, and I hope to find more documentation about it soon.