The revival of a 500-year-old pottery village

(QNO) - Thanh Ha terracotta park in Hoi An city is fathered by architect Nguyen Van Nguyen.

Thanh Ha terracotta park.

Nguyen was born and grew up in Thanh Ha pottery village (Hoi An city, Quang Nam province). It is inherently an ancient pottery village founded over 500 years ago. Several artisans here used to be called to Hue Citadel to build the palace during the Nguyen Dynasty. The most flourishing period of this pottery village was in the 17th - 18th centuries, when its products were popular everywhere. However, the village became gloomy gradually. Consumers was no longer interested in its products; therefore, only few artisans remained their passion for pottery.

Nguyen Van Nguyen and his Ashui Award.

As an architect, Nguyen thought of how to raise the pottery village and the idea of a terracotta space put in Thanh Ha pottery village appeared in his mind. It took him 10 years to make his mind come true.

Thanh Ha pottery village is now well-known for its green and peaceful space, especially for the space of terracotta park with numerous beautiful and strange works. In early 2017, Thanh Ha terracotta park was named as the construction of the year at the Ashui Awards by the Vietnam Urban Planning and Development Association.