Talking balconies

Si Tran currently lives and works in Ho Chi Minh City. He is a graphic designer at Bratus Studio. Si Tran has a passion for architecture, especially the balconies in this city. Sharing with Travellive, he explained that because his job requires him to stare at a computer screen 24/7, he needs to go outside to find a way to balance his life.

"Driving around and admiring the streets makes me feel more positive, and it's also from here that I discover the beauty of the city's architecture, the marks of time that, for someone who wasn't born here, are both intriguing and impressive," Si Tran said.

The idea of ​​capturing balconies through his own lens had been brewing in his mind for years, but only now has Si begun to put it into practice. The photo series of 50 Saigon balconies was taken from June to September 2022. For Si, preserving the architecture of these balconies means capturing the beauty of the city where he lives.

Si explained that Saigon balconies are like a recurring motif, found in every alley and corner of the city. Although the architecture may be similar, each balcony tells a different story depending on how the homeowner plants trees, hangs clothes, cares for them, or neglects them.

"Because of that unique charm, I want to capture images of balconies in Saigon in general, and in particular, places I can visit," Si shared.

For someone passionate about architecture, Si believes that Saigon balconies share many similarities with those of other Asian countries like Thailand and Taiwan. However, what makes Saigon balconies unique is the blend of people from all over the world, the unpredictable weather, the generous lifestyle, and the familiar street corners and alleyways.

"They create a very unique character that's hard to put into words. But when we think of Saigon, we often think of that very unique character," Si said.

A distinctive feature of typical balconies in Saigon is their modern (Modernist) architecture, using washed stone as the main material, featuring wrought iron railings and decorative vents, balcony doors and windows with iron frames and glass panes, and especially, a large number of plants. The sight of homeowners tending to their plants on their balconies in the early morning or late afternoon sun is a common one when strolling along the streets of Saigon.

"For me, every balcony has its own unique beauty. I even like demolished balconies or those that have been patched up because they are very realistic and easily encountered in everyday life," Si said.

To create a photo album of 50 balconies, he had to choose balconies in open, unobstructed locations, free from power lines, lampposts, signs, or other structures. Weather was a crucial factor affecting the quality of the final product. Si said that he photographed some balconies multiple times because the weather wasn't always good when he went out with his camera; sometimes just cloudy skies or excessively strong sunlight could ruin the balcony's beauty.

The second difficulty stems from the shooting angle and the available space. When approaching a balcony, Si usually stands on the other side of the street to work. There are times when he has to reluctantly pass up a balcony with unique architecture because the street is too narrow, especially in houses in alleys, where Si doesn't have enough space to capture the subject completely.

"The '50 Balconies' photo series is the first step in my journey to collect and archive balconies. I didn't put too much pressure on this project to have a conclusion, but rather wanted it to be a part of my life. The happiest thing about sharing the '50 Saigon Balconies' photo series is that many people share my habit and love for admiring balconies. The appreciation and spread of this beauty will help preserve it for longer," Si Tran shared with Travellive about his feelings after completing the photo series.

Anh Thi