The Hanoi Department of Architectural Planning will soon submit a draft
regulation on managing the French Quarter in Hanoi to the municipal
People’s Committee.
The draft, built with the assistance of the Urban Workshop Institute
(Institut des Metiers de la Ville – IMV) in the Ile de France region,
aims to preserve and promote the values of the French Quarter.
In addition to proposing regulations on managing and setting up a
“virtual” model for the whole quarter and a 1/500 miniature model for
French streets in the south of Hoan Kiem Lake, the draft also puts
forward measures to ensure the effective management, conservation and
development of the works.
It also mentions strict
regulations as well as options for works to be built to ensure that new
buildings will not adversely affect the general character of the
quarter.
The draft suggests the ranking of over 400
French villas according to three levels: special heritage that needs to
be protected, noteworthy heritage that should be protected and heritage
of moderate importance.
At a seminar held in Hanoi
on November 13, French and Vietnamese researchers spoke highly of the
values of the French Quarter in historical, urban and architectural
aspects.
The urban value of the French quarter is
reflected in the quality of the community space with a chessboard-styled
traffic network, grand boulevards with green trees on two sides and
wide crossroads. Meanwhile, its architectural value is the harmonious
combination between Vietnamese and French architectural styles.
According to studies, the French Quarter includes three areas
stretching from Hoan Kiem Lake to Thien Quang Lake. The area lying east
of Hoan Kiem Lake, or the administrative centre, comprises many works
with special values while the area located west of Hoan Kiem Lake
features the Hanoi Opera House. The third area includes quiet villas
next to Thien Quang Lake.
The French Quarter was
build by French colonists in the late 19 th century, creating an image
of Paris in Hanoi. At present, with the notable exceptions of the Opera
House, the Building of the Governor of Tonkin (now the Government
Guesthouse), and Metropole Hotel, many villas in the French Quarter have
degraded seriously./.