Many highly applicable research studies published in international journals indexed in Scopus/ISI Q1 have provided fresh and practical insights for young architects and enthusiasts alike, who share a passion for research, conservation, and restoration of architectural heritage to preserve the rich traditional values of the nation. Recently, Dr. An was honored to receive the 2023 Golden Pen Award from the Journal of Architecture and the Vietnam Architects Association.
Numerous achievements from applied research and international publications
Dr. Le Vinh An embarked on his career in cultural heritage conservation while still a university student. His research areas are diverse, including:
• Urban heritage,
• Architectural heritage,
• Conservation, restoration, and reconstruction of architectural heritage sites.
In 2009, he successfully defended his doctoral thesis on the reconstruction study of Dien Can Chanh Palace, the most significant palace of the Hue Imperial Citadel, which collapsed in 1947, and received a Doctor of Science and Engineering degree in Architectural History from Waseda University, Japan.
Dr. Le Vinh An received his doctorate from Waseda University, Japan
In 2013, he and his colleagues implemented the project "Application of Realtime-Rendering Technology to Reconstruct the Thi?u Phuong Garden in the Hue Imperial Citadel", which was a royal garden destroyed during the war. The project was successfully reconstructed and awarded first prize in the Thua Thien - Hue Province Science and Technology Creativity Competition.
In 2018, he and his colleagues developed a Design Planning teaching method for architecture students based on the CDIO (Conceive - Design - Implement - Operate) approach. This method won first prize at the "Best Architecture Design Teaching Method" competition organized by the Vietnam Architects Association and 40 architectural training institutions nationwide.
To date, he has published numerous articles on the conservation and reconstruction of architectural heritage in international journals and in the journal of the Vietnam Architects Association, contributing significantly to the conservation of the nation's architectural heritage.
From 2008 to the present, Dr. An (second from right, front row) has been a member of the Japan Architectural Research Association
With these significant contributions, Dr. An was awarded the "Golden Pen" title by the Vietnam Architects Association in 2023, and PTIMUM invited him to present at the "International Conference on Innovation in Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering - CIVILENG 2024" in Rome, Italy in October 2024.
Conserving cultural heritage is about preserving the essence of the nation's identity
After many years of researching and conserving heritage, Dr. Le Vinh An understands the importance of these activities for the spiritual life, cultural identity, and socioeconomic development of the nation both now and in the future. He believes, "Heritage belongs to the nation, inherited from our ancestors. Each heritage embodies emotional, cultural, and material values. Preserving cultural heritage is about perpetuating the eternal essence of the nation. Cultural heritage is tangible evidence of the achievements that the Vietnamese nation has attained throughout its history, passing on these noble traditions to future generations."
Dr. An presenting at the 12th Asia Architecture Conference in South Korea, 2018
Dr. An also asserts that when discussing the conservation of cultural heritage, core concepts related to this field cannot be overlooked, including:
• Conservation (accumulation of heritage),
• Restoration (maintenance of the physical existence of heritage), and
• Reconstruction (interpretation and understanding of heritage).
Additionally, heritage protection involves activities to prevent heritage infringement and is a prerequisite for conservation efforts.
Regarding architectural heritage, Dr. An considers it tangible cultural property, the core part of Vietnam's cultural heritage passed down through generations. Tangible cultural properties encompass both tangible - existing architectural heritage sites today, and intangible - issues related to the creation and existence of heritage. Therefore, conserving architectural heritage requires simultaneous attention to both aspects and should be considered in a hierarchical relationship of Conservation - Inheritance - Promotion - Development.
Dr. An and his colleagues have proposed the new concept of "Architectural Heritage DNA" with a potential structure to provide a simple formula for assessing the Authentic Values of preserved architectural heritage sites. "Restoring architectural heritage is often understood as activities to maintain the physical existence of architectural heritage. This responsibility lies with state management agencies responsible for heritage management, possessing sufficient technical expertise in restoration and reconstruction. However, this is only the tangible aspect (material factor), whereas the intangible aspect (non-material factor) of heritage is limitless, including all research activities, heritage promotion, and education and training, perpetuating sustainable knowledge and experiences for future generations," Dr. Le Vinh An explained.
Many international-scale conservation and restoration plans
Devoting himself to conserving and restoring architectural heritage, Dr. Le Vinh An and his colleagues have been tirelessly pursuing various research plans to contribute to restoring the integrity of heritage, preserving its inherent values, and passing them down intact to future generations of Vietnam. In the near future, Dr. An and his colleagues plan to publish scientific research works on Vietnam's architectural heritage, including:
- Using the Passive Design Function formula to develop "Heritage BIM" software (HeBIM) for architectural design applications in traditional architectural forms such as palaces, communal houses, pagodas, and traditional houses.
- Conducting a series of comparative studies between Vietnam's architectural heritage and that of East Asian and Southeast Asian countries; synthesizing research, constructing, and publishing a formula for identifying the brand of "Vietnamese Architectural Identity"; and publishing a handbook-guideline on heritage conservation, restoration, and reconstruction.
Dr. An supervising the reconstruction project of Ng? Môn Gate in Hu? in 2014 (pictured)
and conducting heritage research with Japanese colleagues in Hiroshima, Japan in 2009
Dr. An's efforts, along with those of the lecturers of DTU Architecture Faculty, in architectural training, research, and heritage conservation, have been recognized and supported by many international experts. These efforts include many presentations at international conferences that have been particularly useful and practical for architecture students, such as:
- Presenting a report on "Introduction to the Characteristics of the Hue Monument Complex - Vietnam's First World Cultural Heritage and Future Tourism Development Directions" at the International Conference on "Establishment of an International Association for the Conservation and Development of Cultural Heritage in Mekong River Basin Countries" organized by the UNESCO World Heritage Institute, Waseda University (Japan) in collaboration with the Royal Silpakorn University of Thailand, the Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Center in 2018.
- Presenting a report on "Feng Shui Principles of Hue Citadel - From Macro to Micro Approaches" at the International Workshop on "Developing a Comprehensive Network for Protection and Development of Cultural Heritage in Mekong River Basin Countries" held at the Bagan World Cultural Heritage Site, Myanmar in 2019.
As a university with extensive experience in training architects (and construction engineers), DTU also has many cooperative connections with universities in Mekong River Basin countries and Japan. Dr. Le Vinh An hopes to contribute to enhancing the quality of training, providing society with skilled architects who have sufficient knowledge and skills to design unique works, and participate in heritage conservation and reconstruction activities for the long-term benefit of the nation and the community.
(Media Center)
