Rough, gnarled, grey and green trunks vanish into the distance, playing witness to the passage of time in an old lychee garden spanning approximately 5,000 square metres near Hanoi, Vietnam. In this enchanting sanctuary, a 50-year-old orchard lay forgotten. Home to various fruit trees, pine trees and bonsai, it became the focus of a transformative project by local architecture firm ARB Architects and revered folk artist Xuân Hinh - the creation of the Đạo Mẫu Museum (The Mother Goddess Museum).

Amid this timeless garden, one might sense a modern monochrome design while standing in isolation, but delve deeper and the sensorial experience unfolds; a mystical landscape infused with sacredness. Behind the chaos of the lychee garden lies a ‘surreal’ space waiting to be uncovered. Drawing inspiration from the deep-rooted spiritual traditions of Vietnam, the museum is a tale of preservation, innovation and the seamless integration of tradition into contemporary life.

The architects, in their quest to preserve the essence of the landscape, draw parallels to the Vietnamese reverence for the ‘Mother’ figure. From ancient myths to the present, Mother Âu Cơ and the symbolic Mother Rivers have been integral to the nation’s spiritual tapestry. The Đạo Mẫu worship, deeply ingrained in the culture, signifies a desire to break free from societal biases and constraints, emphasising a unique combination of religion and beliefs.

The homeowner, Xuân Hinh, a renowned folk Cheo clown artist, partnered with the Vietnamese architects and embraced a challenge to preserve the essence of traditional architecture while aligning it with the evolving era. Memories of temple ceremonies, the image of dark red tiles covered in moss and the faint scent of incense fuelled the vision for the museum’s design. A unanimous decision resonates throughout the initiative; a commitment to preserve everything “present on the ground” such as the old trees, houses, fences and gate pillars. The old house, with its reasonable proportions, becomes a canvas for transformation into an exhibition space, adorned with artefacts depicting Đạo Mẫu.

This commitment to preservation extends to the very earth beneath our feet, symbolised by the Vietnamese understanding of the earth as a mother. The challenge became an opportunity for the architects to design and build while minimising the relocation of existing trees and creatively reusing construction waste. As the mezzanine of the old house is dismantled to make space for the exhibition, and bonsai trees find new homes, the lychee garden stands alone as a testament to nature’s resilience. Scattered pine trees, now forming a pine garden and the carefully preserved gate pillars create an architectural dialogue that speaks to both tradition and the evolving landscape.

Considering the immersive nature of the Đạo Mẫu ceremonies, the architects needed to design spaces within the project’s structure for spiritual activities and worship ensuring a serene atmosphere. Inherently, it has never been vivacious. If one pays attention, one will realise that in absolute silence, sound and light can be perceived. Recognising this interesting characteristic, the architects create a quiet stage of depth and complexity (layers of space).

As one steps into the museum, a multi-layered sensory experience unfolds. The ambient light, filtered through the slanted tile roofs, gently fills the space with a warm glow. This play of indirect lighting, a characteristic feature of Mother Goddess temples, creates an ethereal ambience, blurring the boundaries between old and new, traditional and contemporary. The challenge was to allow consciousness to touch upon the many layers of spirituality, bringing negative light into the interior to blur these boundaries. The solution is an intricate design that creates multi-layered spaces, with the old house transformed into a museum space and the main shrine at the core for worship. Nestled within the layers of tile walls and inner gardens, this design ensures that direct light from the inner garden transforms into an indirect glow, reaching into the core space, and creating an immersive experience.

The dominant material, traditional clay tiles, takes centre stage in this museum architecture project. Collected from hundreds of old houses, these tiles become more than just building material, they are symbolic of preserving the cultural fabric of the region. The worship of Mother Goddess, a timeless tradition, finds new expressions with each generation. The older generation adheres to the traditional Hầu Đồng rituals, while the younger generation embraces it as both a spiritual practice and creative material.

Through the museum design, old tiles find new life, breathing a renewed meaning to ancient beliefs. The architects, unintentionally becoming inspirers for preserving cultural values, reimagine using tiles for walls instead of roofing. The result is not just an architectural concept but a reflection of the ongoing urbanisation impacting rural villages. This unintended role extends to sustainability. Reusing old tiles becomes a symbolic gesture, not just stealing time for the project but also for preservation. The project becomes a bridge between the past and the present, a silent witness to changing landscapes and the importance of safeguarding heritage.

“The idea of using old tiles comes from my memories every time I watch a votive dance ceremony,” reflects Nguyễn Hà of ARB Architects to STIR. This quote encapsulates the essence of the project which is a harmonious blend of tradition and contemporary expression rooted in memories, cultural significance and the desire to preserve inherent beliefs. The architects’ deep personal experiences with places and everyday life have permeated through their approach to Vietnamese architecture. Therefore, they see tradition as an element that naturally exists in contemporary life.

The use of old tiles from demolished houses is just one of the observations—they wanted to experiment with the application of traditional materials in a different way of expression. The idea originated from the image of steeply sloping roofs extending down to the steps of ancient temples, similar to large wall surfaces, creating a lasting concept for the project.

The ongoing urbanisation has significantly impacted rural villages, bringing about changes in village architecture. Many families no longer wish to maintain the traditional tiled roof structures of the past. Instead, they opt for more modern and durable constructions. This phenomenon has influenced architects' desire to preserve old forms through contemporary architecture.

They unintentionally became a source of inspiration for revival, employing familiar materials cherished by Vietnamese farmers. When people learned that they needed tiles for the construction of the museum, they contacted the architects to offer tiles, as many homes had piles of them stored in their backyards after dismantling their roofs. Reusing old materials is also their approach to sustainable architecture. The inception of new spaces evoked a sense of agelessness as if everyone had been part of them for hundreds of years.

Escalating urbanisation in Vietnam is bringing about a dual impact; ending poverty while simultaneously losing land, fields, green spaces and the community bond of villages. Therefore, the Đạo Mẫu Museum, too, preserves the transition of green spaces, between the city and the suburbs, between urban and rural areas. This project is not an architectural venture. It is a place that gathers and continues the traditional culture of the Red River Delta region.

In this blend of tradition and progress, the Đạo Mẫu Museum stands as a silent testament to the enduring spirit of cultural values and shall remain timelessly charming. Through the repurposing of old tiles, the museum breathes new life into ancient beliefs, creating a bridge across generations. As it becomes a sanctuary for the echoes of traditional culture, the museum invites us to pause, reflect and marvel at the resilience of heritage in the ever-changing landscape of time.

Project Details

Name: Đạo Mẫu Museum
Location: Soc Son, Hanoi, Vietnam
Year of completion: 2023
Design team: ARB Architects