Preserving ancient architecture in Con Dao

Ancient architectural works on Ton Duc Thang Street create a unique beauty in Con Dao.

Ancient urban imprint

Le Duan Street is only about 500m long but has dozens of ancient architectural works. The house of Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Thu, one of the first families to move to Con Dao after liberation, still retains its mossy, ancient features. The house has an area of ​​87m2, is built on 2 floors, with a sloping, tiled roof. "After liberation, my husband and I came here from Can Tho to live and the district gave us a house in this row of ancient houses on Le Duan Street as a place to live," Ms. Anh Thu added.

According to Ms. Thu, the row of houses on Le Duan Street was previously built by the French to distribute goods and food to French soldiers. After Con Dao was liberated, these houses were kept intact to be divided into housing for people from other places who came to Con Dao to live, or those who fought in Con Dao and volunteered to stay on this land. “After nearly 50 years, the house has leaked in many places, but to comply with the request of Con Dao district to preserve the ancient house, the family only renovated some of the interior for convenience, but the exterior structure of the ancient house still retains its original character. With French architecture, it is cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Up to now, my family has lived in this house for 3 generations,” Ms. Thu said.

Opposite Mrs. Thu's house is the architectural work of the Island Lord's Palace, a tourist attraction. Mrs. Pham Thi Tam, Deputy Director of the Provincial Museum - Library, said that the Island Lord's Palace was started in 1862 and completed in 1876. This place has gone through 53 generations of island lords over the past 113 years, including 39 lords during the French colonial period and 14 lords during the American occupation. The area of ​​the Island Lord's Palace is about 1.86 hectares, including the main building, ancillary rooms and a garden.

Ms. Pham Thi Tam said that not only are there vestiges of the colonial prison system, but in Con Dao district there are also traces of urban life during the French colonial and American puppet periods.

Attract tourists

Mr. Phan Trong Hien, Chairman of the People's Committee of Con Dao district, said that in 1862, along with the establishment of Con Dao Prison, the construction of detention camps and guard stations, the French colonialists also built offices and other service facilities such as the Steel Wire Department, the Wind Steel Wire Department, the Hospital, the Treasury Department, the Stork Department, the House for officials of the colonial government... Currently, the campus of the ancient town in Con Dao still has 52 architectural works located on Le Duan, Nguyen Hue, Ton Duc Thang streets... "These ancient works have been converted into residential houses for people, hotels, and offices of organizations but are still preserved intact. Preserving these works is the joint effort of the local government and people", Mr. Hien informed.

According to the People's Committee of Con Dao district, Con Dao ancient town belongs to the protection area 2 of the relic according to Decision No. 2163/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister on approving the Adjustment of the Master Plan for conservation, restoration and promotion of the value of the Con Dao National Special Historical Relic. The relic works that have been converted for use must comply with the principle of not changing the architectural form and external landscape. The interior can be renovated to suit the new required function, but when repairing, it must be permitted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Article and photos: QUANG VU

 

Source: https://baobariavungtau.com.vn/kinh-te/202504/gin-giu-cong-trinh-kien-truc-co-o-con-dao-1038843/