Hang Dau water tower (photo: hanoimoi.vn)

 

Hang Dau water tower stands at the intersection of several streets in Hanoi’s Ba Dinh district.

Built in 1894, it’s one of the oldest architectural works in Hanoi – older even than Long Bien bridge, which was built in 1898.

On the top floor of the 3-story cylindrical tower is a steel water tank with a capacity of more than 1,200 cubic meters.

Hang Dau water tower was the first station of a water supply network that also included Quan Thanh water tower, and Hang Dau station.

In the 1960s, when the Yen Phu Water Plant was upgraded and equipped with modern clean water distribution technology, Hang Dau water tower was closed down. Since then, it has sat quietly in the middle of bustling streets. In November, it was reopened as an exhibition space.

Painter Nguyen Duc Phuong, architect Cao The Anh, and some of their colleagues have turned Hang Dau water tower into a mysterious space enclosing the sounds of water, dramatic lighting, and installation art. The space has 12 chambers. The exhibition "Water and Heritage of Hang Dau Water Tower" occupying the 6 outer chambers represents 6 natural water sources – the sea, springs, rivers, streams, underground streams, and rain.

In each chamber is an ancient jar which enhances the exhibition’s water sound system. Visitors follow a one-way circular path made of recycled wooden boards which is lit by a system of LED lights.

Painter Phuong said: “My exhibition has two parts, visual and auditory. For the visual part I used recycled materials, particularly nylon. I wanted to make the point that urban waste is a problem. For the auditory part, I wanted to bring people back to the natural world of water.”

To ensure the integrity of the water tower, the artists only added decorative features which did not affect the 130-year-old structure. Visitors can see the original water pipes and valves, now rusted but still intact.

Architect Thanh said: “When we surveyed Hang Dau water tower, it was very dark inside. We followed the spirit of this year's Hanoi Creative Design Festival – awakening heritages through light – and used new lighting to highlight the cylindrical structure of the water tower and its equipment and materials.”

The upper space contains suspended artworks made of colorful nylon. During the day, sunlight shines on these works, creating beautiful color effects. Some visitors shared their reactions.

"The entire inner space of the water tower is an installation work of sound and light. I felt like I was in a cave. It’s a creative way to revive the water tower.”

"I find the artists’ message about water very interesting. This place has been refurbished to display art pieces made of recycled materials. It’s fantastic. Similar programs should be organized in the future.”

"It was a great way for the artists to reuse nylon to convey a message about environmental protection. Visiting the water tower will improve people’s understanding of culture, history, and environmental protection.”

The "Water and Heritage of Hang Dau Water Tower" exhibition will continue until December 31, as part of the Hanoi Creative Design Festival 2023. Renovating Hang Dau water tower into an art space open to visitors has revived the building and brought Hanoi’s heritage and arts to the public.