The river-based life of people in Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: sggp.org.vn) HCM City (VNS/VNA) - HCM City needs to assess the features of its cultural andarchitectural identity so that it can create viable urban public spaces,experts said at a recent seminar.
The seminar, which discussed solutions for the development of public cultural spaces,attracted architectural and cultural experts as well as local leaders. It wasorganised by the municipal Party Committee's Propaganda Department, the Councilfor Theory, Literature and Arts Criticism and the Association of Architects.
Public cultural spaces are common places for community activities that allresidents have the right to freely access and use such as squares, parks,pedestrian streets, surface water, spaces along the riverbank, and sidewalks.
They play an important role in strengthening social cohesion and improving thequality of life and physical and spiritual health of residents.
“The public space shows the city’s cultural identity and civilisation,” generalsecretary of the city’s Association of Historical Sciences Nguyen Thi Ha said.
The city government should develop solutions on public space development tobring the most practical benefits to the community in a humane way, she said.
The city has been developed around rivers and canals, so its typical identityis a river-based culture.
Building public cultural spaces should promote the preservation of traditionalintangible cultural heritage practices. The design for public cultural spacesshould combine tradition and modernity, experts said.
Existing water bodies such as Sai Gon River or Thi Nghe Canal have been anintegral part of the city’s development, making them ideal spaces to promotecultural public activities, architect Pham Phu Cuong said.
Nguyen Tan Van, former chairman of the city’s Association of Architects, saiddeveloping public spaces along rivers and canals would create a unique identityfor the city.
Sharing the same idea, architect Nguyen Anh Tuan of the city's Department ofPlanning and Architecture, said that the landscapes along rivers and canalshave the potential to become the backbone of urban cultural activities.
“The city should create public spaces associated with trade, entertainment andcultural activities on rivers and canals.”
More efforts and solutions are also needed to prevent pollution and improve thelandscape along rivers and canals, he said.
Dr. Le Hong Phuoc from the HCM City University of Social Sciences andHumanities said the city should create a public space for don ca tai tu (Southern folk music) which has been recognised by UNESCO as an intangiblecultural heritage.
Don ca tai tu performances could be organised at existing public spaces in thecity such as Book Street on Nguyen Van Binh street in District 1.
The city should also set up a street to serve as a place for performingtraditional arts, such as Huyen Tran Cong Chua street in District 1, he said.
Urban planning calls for 7sq.m of public space per capita but the currentpublic space in the city is just 1.06sq.m per person.
Most existing public spaces are located in inner districts, while there are noor only a few public spaces in outlying districts.
More trees and water surface, and lights for existing public parks are needed,experts said.
The city should also learn from other countries’ experiences in building publicspace and consult leading architects.
Hậu said clearing illegal encroachment on pavements and roads in the city isneeded. However, the city should research street planning to manage street vendors on pavements and roads, instead of clearing all of them because “streettrading is a typical feature that attracts tourists".
Phan Nguyen Nhu Khue, head of the municipal Party Committee's PropagandaDepartment, said the city was considering building public spaces for culturalactivities on Nguyen Thuong Hien street and an area around Ho Con Rua (TurtleLake) in District 3.
At Ho Con Rua, it plans to organise don ca tai tu performances every Saturdaynight, art performances and entertainment programmes for children every Sundaynight, and musical fountain, water puppetry shows and exhibitions on otherdays.
The city will also develop an annual lantern festival in District 8.
Proposed solutions, ideas and suggestions at the seminar will be recorded tostudy in depth. These will help the city prepare a clear roadmap for buildingpublic spaces, he added./.
The seminar, which discussed solutions for the development of public cultural spaces,attracted architectural and cultural experts as well as local leaders. It wasorganised by the municipal Party Committee's Propaganda Department, the Councilfor Theory, Literature and Arts Criticism and the Association of Architects.
Public cultural spaces are common places for community activities that allresidents have the right to freely access and use such as squares, parks,pedestrian streets, surface water, spaces along the riverbank, and sidewalks.
They play an important role in strengthening social cohesion and improving thequality of life and physical and spiritual health of residents.
“The public space shows the city’s cultural identity and civilisation,” generalsecretary of the city’s Association of Historical Sciences Nguyen Thi Ha said.
The city government should develop solutions on public space development tobring the most practical benefits to the community in a humane way, she said.
The city has been developed around rivers and canals, so its typical identityis a river-based culture.
Building public cultural spaces should promote the preservation of traditionalintangible cultural heritage practices. The design for public cultural spacesshould combine tradition and modernity, experts said.
Existing water bodies such as Sai Gon River or Thi Nghe Canal have been anintegral part of the city’s development, making them ideal spaces to promotecultural public activities, architect Pham Phu Cuong said.
Nguyen Tan Van, former chairman of the city’s Association of Architects, saiddeveloping public spaces along rivers and canals would create a unique identityfor the city.
Sharing the same idea, architect Nguyen Anh Tuan of the city's Department ofPlanning and Architecture, said that the landscapes along rivers and canalshave the potential to become the backbone of urban cultural activities.
“The city should create public spaces associated with trade, entertainment andcultural activities on rivers and canals.”
More efforts and solutions are also needed to prevent pollution and improve thelandscape along rivers and canals, he said.
Dr. Le Hong Phuoc from the HCM City University of Social Sciences andHumanities said the city should create a public space for don ca tai tu (Southern folk music) which has been recognised by UNESCO as an intangiblecultural heritage.
Don ca tai tu performances could be organised at existing public spaces in thecity such as Book Street on Nguyen Van Binh street in District 1.
The city should also set up a street to serve as a place for performingtraditional arts, such as Huyen Tran Cong Chua street in District 1, he said.
Urban planning calls for 7sq.m of public space per capita but the currentpublic space in the city is just 1.06sq.m per person.
Most existing public spaces are located in inner districts, while there are noor only a few public spaces in outlying districts.
More trees and water surface, and lights for existing public parks are needed,experts said.
The city should also learn from other countries’ experiences in building publicspace and consult leading architects.
Hậu said clearing illegal encroachment on pavements and roads in the city isneeded. However, the city should research street planning to manage street vendors on pavements and roads, instead of clearing all of them because “streettrading is a typical feature that attracts tourists".
Phan Nguyen Nhu Khue, head of the municipal Party Committee's PropagandaDepartment, said the city was considering building public spaces for culturalactivities on Nguyen Thuong Hien street and an area around Ho Con Rua (TurtleLake) in District 3.
At Ho Con Rua, it plans to organise don ca tai tu performances every Saturdaynight, art performances and entertainment programmes for children every Sundaynight, and musical fountain, water puppetry shows and exhibitions on otherdays.
The city will also develop an annual lantern festival in District 8.
Proposed solutions, ideas and suggestions at the seminar will be recorded tostudy in depth. These will help the city prepare a clear roadmap for buildingpublic spaces, he added./.
VNA
