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Recently, the 129-year-old Hang Dau Water Tower was officially "awakened" by the cultural space of the Pavilion Exhibition: "Water Installation and the Heritage of the Hang Dau Water Tower". This is an artistic experience featuring light installations made from recycled materials and a sound installation system using water.
The Hang Dau water tower in Hanoi is 129 years old (Photo: Truong Van Vi)
The Hang Dau Water Tower (commonly known as the Hang Dau Water Station) is located at the intersection of six streets: Hang Than, Hang Luoc, Hang Giay, Hang Dau, Quan Thanh, and Phan Dinh Phung. Built in 1894, it is one of Hanoi's oldest architectural structures, constructed by the French.
The Hang Dau Tower is cylindrical, 19 meters in diameter, 3 stories high, with a conical roof and a lightning rod in the center. The tower has a large steel water tank with a capacity of 1,250 cubic meters.3It sits atop eight stone walls. Currently, the Hang Dau outpost has essentially retained its original state.
The Hang Dau Water Tower is open to visitors for the first time. (Photo: Truong Van Vi)
Decoding the craze for "reviving" the Hang Dau Water Tower.
From the moment it was announced, the event attracted widespread attention from locals and tourists. As part of the Hanoi Creative Design Festival 2023, the exhibition is completely free with no entrance fee. The art space at Hang Dau booth is open daily in three time slots: morning from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM; afternoon from 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM; and evening from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
The event attracted considerable attention from tourists (Photo: Truong Van Vi)
Because it had never been open to the public before, many people lined up from 5 am out of curiosity to explore the inside of the Hang Dau Water Tower. However, you can register early through the Hanoi Creative Design Festival 2023 website. After successful registration, you will receive an electronic ticket in the form of a QR code sent to your email.
To ensure a complete experience, visitors participating in the event will queue from the Hang Dau Flower Garden area. Then, during the tour, visitors will go in groups of 20-30 people into the Hang Dau Water Tower.
Tourists line up to visit the inside of Hang Dau Post Office.
A combination of heritage, architecture, and art.
In contrast to the bustling atmosphere outside the six-way intersection, stepping into the Hang Dau Water Tower, visitors feel as if they have entered a tranquil and enchanting space with its wooden walkway, vibrant green and red colors, and the sound of water. The harmonious blend of heritage, architecture, and art offers many interesting experiences for visitors exploring the art space at the Hang Dau Water Tower during its first public visit.
A harmonious blend of heritage, art, and architecture.
The exhibition was created by architect Cao Thế Anh, painter Nguyễn Đức Phương, and construction company Phùng Công Minh. The exhibition is inspired by the six natural water sources. According to East Asian beliefs, the six water sources symbolize the six natural water sources: river water, stream water, spring water, rainwater, groundwater, and seawater.
The exhibition space inside the booth includes: a sound installation that recreates the sounds of water in nature, and a lighting installation with images that emphasize the impact of urbanization on the natural environment.
The exhibition is inspired by the green water.
The artists created stylized, floating lotus leaves, vibrant and ethereal, within the pavilion. They were made from recycled nylon – a material that is severely impacting the aquatic environment. The mottled patches of color are part of a lighting arrangement. Through these works, the creative team aims to present to the public a reality about the issue of urban water resources.
Visiting Hang Dau toll booth, tourists are satisfied both visually and aurally. The soothing sound of trickling water has a healing frequency, calming human emotions according to psychology.
Stylized lotus leaves in vibrant colors.
The colorful panels are made from recycled nylon (Photo: Truong Van Vi)
Upon entering the exhibition space, visitors will follow a single circular path made of recycled wood, following the diameter of the Hang Dau Water Tower. Interestingly, the materials are entirely recycled, including recycled plastic, making them very lightweight. This wooden path is highly mobile, easily removed and reattached without screws or nails, thus not affecting the structure of the Hang Dau Water Tower.
Impressed by the art space at the Hang Dau Water Tower from the moment the event was announced in the media and press, Ms. Hoang Thi Bich Lien (61 years old, Hanoi) shared: “I am very happy to be able to go inside the Hang Dau water tower today. I have passed by here many times but only seen it from the outside; today I finally got to visit. Reviving Hanoi's ancient heritage is very meaningful, helping people learn more about these structures.”
Sound effect of trickling water (Photo: Truong Van Vi)
The path is made of recycled wood (Photo: Truong Van Vi)
In particular, the Hang Dau toll booth is just one of many projects included in the Hanoi Creative Design Festival 2023, held from November 17th to 26th, 2023. This series of events helps people travel back in time to learn about the historical landmarks of the capital city.
