Quan Chuong Gate, one of 21 gates of the Thang Long Citadel in Ha Noi, was originally built in 1749 and was then rebuilt in 1817. It has since become one of the most famous structures in the city's Old Quarter. The first phase of renovation of the gate was recently completed, although the upgraded appearance of the structure has stirred controversy. Le Thanh Vinh, director of the Institute for Relics Conservation, was responsible for the project and shared his thoughts with Culture Vulture.
Why did the gate require renovation?
The gate is a very special vestige in the Old Quarter. It not only represents the former system of architecture of Thang Long Citadel, it's also an important feature of today's Old Quarter. Before the project began in August 2009, the gate was seriously degraded. There were many cracks in the structure, and there were swells of up to 30cm from the surface in some places along the wall, which was heavily covered in moss. It could have collapsed anytime.
How has the renovation carried out?
The Relic Management Office of the Ha Noi's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in conjunction with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, implemented phase one of the Quan Chuong Gate Renovation Project with financial assistance from the US Embassy.
We carried out the process quickly but with the utmost care to stop further degradation, ensure long-lasting stability of the gate and preserve its historic and cultural features. All cracks and swells were completely treated.
In the previous renovation in 1994, many original bricks had been replaced by recently baked bricks. This time, we replaced these improper materials with a kind of brick similar to the original materials. The water drainage system and the wooden doors were fixed. We removed all the moss and gave it a new coat of paint.
The renovation was not a large-scale project and was completed within a short period of just 11 months. It solved the root problems of damage and degradation to the gate.
But removing the moss and painting the gate has taken away the historic appearance of the gate. A lot of people have protested this decision. Why was this done?
I would like to stress that we have got rid of all the layers of moss and wild grass by using chemical TB57. We use the original paint colour to cover the clean surface. The new paint coat is exactly the same colour as the original surface without moss, which seems alien to people at first, but when people get used to the colour, they will understand that that was the original colour of the wall.
What will you do in the next phase of the project?
We will further examine the foundation and fix any damage. We will further deal with the drainage system, the roadway passing through the gate, electrical wires hanging over the gate and adjoining housing that has encroached upon the gate. — VNS