EXCLUSIVE: Bold postmodern Ha Long Bay museum completed in Vietnam
A vast collection of historical artefacts telling the story of northern Vietnam through the ages has been put on public display in a new museum in the country’s famous Ha Long Bay.
The VND900m (US$40m, €36.6m, £28.2m) Quang Ninh Museum was completed in late 2013 to mark the 50th founding anniversary of Quang Ninh province, and the exhibits have been installed over the last two years, with work now finally completed.
The museum is formed by three enormous black-clad blocks, whose reflective walls mirror the limestone karsts located in the bay behind. The volumes are linked by an overhanging walkway which looks out at the surrounding scenery, and the front façade bears the museum’s name in large white letters which are illuminated at night.
The postmodern design was created by Spanish architect Salvador Perez Arroyo and his Vietnam-based company S Design, who aimed to create a structure which would both harmonise and contrast with the UNESCO-protected surroundings, while “bringing added value to the lives of the users.”
“The museum is very special as it is located in a unique place and has to show the modern face of the country,” Arroyo told CLAD last year. “I decided to do one integrated building which acts as a collection of mirrors reflecting the landscape. In some ways, the inspiration comes from the most interesting science-fiction literature. The building is not the protagonist, but is designed to be an amplifier of the beauty around.”
Each of the museum’s three floors explores a different theme: the geomorphological formation of Halong Bay and the region’s flora, fauna and wildlife; the region’s history of culture and religion; and Quang Ninh’s eventual industrialisation. Exhibits include pre and proto-historic relics, including farming tools and jewellery dating back over 3,000 years, carved bronze drums from the region’s ancient Dong Son Culture and a 14th century stone turtle.
More unconventional exhibits include the skeleton of a 50 tonne Fin Whale, which hangs in the entrance foyer, a third-floor recreation of a traditional coal mine, and Vietnam’s largest extracted coal monolith, which weighs 28 tonnes and stands outside the entrance.
The complex also includes a cinema, library and conference centre.
The museum was funded by the provincial government to diversify leisure offerings for tourists, who commonly only visit Ha Long to cruise on the bay.
It joins privately-funded developments in Ha Long, including a recently-opened private island resort and a US$400m (£262m, €359m) theme park and leisure complex, which remains in development.
Vietnam is slowly making a name for itself as a destination for innovative and striking architecture. Vietnamese architect Vo Trong Nghia has unveiled several high-profile bamboo creations, while international studios Atkins and Arup are collaborating on the country’s tallest building – a 460m (1,509ft) tower featuring 25 separate rooftop gardens and an observation deck.
“This country is young and exciting,” said Arroyo. “The challenge is to push for more architectural experimentation. Vietnam is full of artists, and they need help to emerge and to be understood.”
Architecture design Vietnam Halong Bay Salvador Arroyo Quang Ninh museumVietnamese island resort opens in the heart of Ha Long Bay
Vo Trong Nghia designs bold bamboo extension to Vietnamese wellness retreat
ITPS masterplan US$400m leisure complex for Vietnam's Halong Bay
Atkins and Arup combine to create Vietnam's tallest skyscraper
Vietnam government's VND171bn science complex development breaks ground
Free-flowing, 'wall-less' wellness spa opens at Vietnam’s Naman Retreat
Couture style and bespoke Italian design at new Kent Lui-designed Reverie Saigon hotel
Vietnam hotel consortium lures upscale travellers
US$35m Vietnamese resort and spa debuts
Vietnams first large scale integrated resort launches
Spa for Emeraude cruiser
UAE’s first Dior Spa debuts in Dubai at Dorchester Collection’s newest hotel, The Lana
Europe's premier Evian Spa unveiled at Hôtel Royal in France
Clinique La Prairie unveils health resort in China after two-year project
GoCo Health Innovation City in Sweden plans to lead the world in delivering wellness and new science
Four Seasons announces luxury wellness resort and residences at Amaala
Aman sister brand Janu debuts in Tokyo with four-floor urban wellness retreat
€38m geothermal spa and leisure centre to revitalise Croatian city of Bjelovar
Two Santani eco-friendly wellness resorts coming to Oman, partnered with Omran Group
Kerzner shows confidence in its Siro wellness hotel concept, revealing plans to open 100
Ritz-Carlton, Portland unveils skyline spa inspired by unfolding petals of a rose
Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners are just one of the names behind The Emory hotel London and Surrenne private members club
Peninsula Hot Springs unveils AUS$11.7m sister site in Australian outback
IWBI creates WELL for residential programme to inspire healthy living environments
Conrad Orlando unveils water-inspired spa oasis amid billion-dollar Evermore Resort complex
Studio A+ realises striking urban hot springs retreat in China's Shanxi Province
Populous reveals plans for major e-sports arena in Saudi Arabia
Wake The Tiger launches new 1,000sq m expansion
Othership CEO envisions its urban bathhouses in every city in North America
Merlin teams up with Hasbro and Lego to create Peppa Pig experiences
SHA Wellness unveils highly-anticipated Mexico outpost
One&Only One Za’abeel opens in Dubai featuring striking design by Nikken Sekkei
Luxury spa hotel, Calcot Manor, creates new Grain Store health club
'World's largest' indoor ski centre by 10 Design slated to open in 2025
Murrayshall Country Estate awarded planning permission for multi-million-pound spa and leisure centre
Aman's Janu hotel by Pelli Clarke & Partners will have 4,000sq m of wellness space
Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort
Universal Studios eyes the UK for first European resort
King of Bhutan unveils masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed by BIG, Arup and Cistri
Rural locations are the next frontier for expansion for the health club sector
Tonik Associates designs new suburban model for high-end Third Space health and wellness club
BrunelloCucinelli has madehisfortune from cashmere and has used hiswealthto restoreandrevive theItalian hamlet he callshome. Wefindout more