Wood and the journey of preserving architectural heritage

As a material closely associated with Vietnamese architectural traditions, wood is not only present as a building material - but also carries cultural depth, soul and historical memories. In the context of heritage conservation becoming a challenge, on June 25, at the Hanoi Old Quarter Cultural Exchange Center (50 Dao Duy Tu, Hoan Kiem District), a discussion "Wood - The hands or soul of the craftsman" took place.

The seminar "Wood - The hands or the soul of the craftsman" brings in-depth, emotional and inspiring perspectives on wooden architecture - from the practice of the profession to the philosophy of conservation, and marks the launch of a training cooperation program on wooden architecture. The event attracted a lot of attention from architects, artisans, researchers and young people who love conservation.

Co-organized by Wood Hub Hanoi, Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi Old Quarter Management Board, Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports , and Architecture Magazine - Vietnam Association of Architects, the seminar gathered experts in the fields of design, conservation, and architectural training, notably the main speaker - Architect Suntan Viengsima (Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, Thailand), one of the leading architects in Southeast Asia in the field of wooden architecture.

Experts exchange and discuss at the Seminar.

Architect Suntan Viengsima is pursuing a series of in-depth studies on traditional techniques, tools and construction methods. In his Ayutthaya conservation projects, he directly surveyed and deciphered the mortise and tenon techniques, the joints without nails, demonstrating the high level of ancient carpenters.

During the discussion, Architect Suntan Viengsima also cited many projects of restoring heritage architecture using wood in Thailand, where craftsmen not only retained the old materials, but also retained the spirit and cultural breath of each house, communal house, and pagoda - from the shape to the way of receiving light, ventilation, or organizing living space. He also shared his philosophy that: working with wood is not only a creative journey with the spirit of an artist, but also requires meticulousness, precision and deep understanding like a scientist .

“Let us work with wood as artists – but work with wood as a science,” he stressed. Wood is not simply a material – it is a living object, to be understood both emotionally and intellectually.

Architect Suntan Viengsima shared at the seminar.

In Vietnam, wooden architecture is one of the great heritages but also the most challenged. From Hanoi's Old Quarter to the ancient villages in the North, many valuable structures are deteriorating due to lack of alternative materials, lack of skilled workers and, more importantly, lack of proper conservation thinking.

Experts attending the discussion hope that traditional wooden architecture will not only be seen as a part of the heritage that needs to be preserved, but also as a living material that can continue to be present in contemporary life. Creating spaces where wood is used, understood and maintained as a natural part of the living environment is the most practical way to preserve it. Because heritage – especially architectural heritage – cannot just be in a museum, but needs to live with, interact with, and develop with today's community.

Panorama of the talk show "Wood - The hands or the soul of the craftsman".

From the sharing at the seminar, it can be seen that: preserving wooden architecture is not a matter of repeating the old, but a process of filtering, understanding, and connecting materials, history, and people today. In the context of rapid urbanization and innovation of living space, wooden architecture – if understood and used correctly – can become a “bridge” to help Vietnamese culture continue in modern life.

The event also opens up opportunities for training cooperation between domestic architectural schools and international experts such as Thailand and inspires the younger generation, especially students of architecture, design and construction, to understand wood as a living heritage rather than simply a material./.

• Culture, Sports and Tourism Newsletter No. 354: Preserving Architectural Heritage in the New Context

• Admiring educational architectural heritage through a creative artistic perspective

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/go-va-hanh-trinh-bao-ton-di-san-kien-truc-20250625213651259.htm