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Built by the French in 1894, the Hang Dau Water Tower is located at the intersection of the old streets of Hang Than, Hang Luoc, Hang Giay, Hang Dau, Quan Thanh and Phan Dinh Phung in Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.
The water tower is built of stone blocks, cylindrical in shape, 19 meters in diameter, 3 stories high, with a conical roof and a lightning rod in the center. The tower has a huge steel water reservoir with a capacity of 1,250 cubic meters.3Perched atop eight stone walls, the tower is supported by a system of pipes leading up and down, fitted with iron valves. It has been renovated several times and retains its original form, but 17 windows on the first floor have been sealed.
Along with the Yen Phu water plant, the Hang Dau water tower was built to provide clean water to the people. Water from the plant was pumped up to the two towers and distributed through pipes throughout the city. According to historian Duong Trung Quoc, the French built the two water towers in Hang Dau and Don Thuy (at the end of Dinh Cong Trang street) to supply water to the ancient citadel area, where European officials and soldiers were concentrated, along with the residential area of the 36 streets and wards.
The Hang Dau water tower was built by the French in 1894.
After years of near disuse, the water tower has been renovated by architects and experts, resulting in the exhibition "Water and Heritage of the Hang Dau Water Tower." The project was undertaken by a design team including architect Cao The Anh, artist Nguyen Duc Phuong, and their collaborators. Inspired by the concept of water in East Asian culture, the exhibition offers a novel and creative artistic experience with sound and light.
The sound installation recreates the sounds of water in nature, and the lighting installation expands the visual perception of artifacts recycled from urban waste. Through this, the artists aim to convey to the public the role of water in life, the connection between humans and nature, and the impact of urbanization on the environment.
The art installation at the Hang Dau water tower is one of the activities within the framework of the Hanoi Creative Design Festival 2023.
The art installation at the Hang Dau Water Tower is one of the activities within the framework of the Hanoi Creative Design Festival 2023 (from November 17th to December 31st), organized by the Hanoi People's Committee and the Vietnam Association of Architects. In addition to this location, the group of architects and artists also presented art spaces at historical sites and landmarks such as the Gia Lam Railway Factory, Hanoi Railway Station, Long Bien Railway Station, and Long Bien Bridge during the festival.
