The Museum of Fine Arts in Ho Chi Minh City, former Saigon, Vietnam, It was originally a private house. The building dates back to the first decades of the 99th century, and was built as a high-luxury residential villa, known in its day as the “house of XNUMX windows.” Hui Bon Hoa, one of Saigon's wealthy Chinese businessmen, had this residence built along with the two neighboring houses.
colonial architecture
The architecture was commissioned from the Saigon office of the French company Brossard et Mopin, although it integrated Asian influence. This house and the next two on the same block were planned following geomancy. The villas are not aligned with the street, but follow an auspicious orientation according to Feng Shui.
The architecture that fused European and native design gave rise to residences adapted to the tropical climate and local culture. Like many colonial designs in the tropics, it has many openings, a peripheral gallery, high ceilings and a central courtyard that keep the residence cool in the hot and humid climate of Saigon. The mansion is notable mainly for introducing the Art Deco style to Saigon, as can be seen by the decorative border that surrounds the house below the eaves and in the geometric motifs on the moldings. It was also the building with the first elevator installed in the city, and which can be seen when you enter the museum.
The museum opened to the public in 1992, cPreserving original architectural elements such as the decorative hydraulic paving, explains director Mrs. Ma Thanh Cao. The art collection on display includes unique pieces of Vietnamese modern art, such as abstract paintings by Ta Ty (1922 – 2004), or lacquer paintings by the famous artist Nguyen Gia Tri (1908-1993).
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
The museum, in figures
Characteristic structure
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Content coordinated together with Cristina Nualart, Dr. History of Art.
