From the foundation, rebuild the lost palace
Recorded by Lao Dong Newspaper reporters on September 3, inside Hue Citadel, a large number of workers and machinery are busy constructing the project to repair, restore and embellish Can Chanh Palace.
Unlike repairing a structure that is still relatively intact, Can Chanh Palace poses a more complex requirement when most of the above-ground architecture is no longer there. After nearly 80 years since it was destroyed, the important traces left are mainly the foundation.
Currently, the construction site is entering the stage of installing the wooden frame system. Large ironwood columns are successively brought up, adjusted and linked to other components. From a surface that only has traces left, the frame of a palace that once existed in the Forbidden City is gradually becoming clear.
The stone base system is arranged under large wooden columns, both creating a support for the project and contributing to protecting the structure from the impact of humidity, termites and unique climate conditions in Hue.
According to the design, Can Chanh Palace is restored with the main hall consisting of 5 compartments, 2 double porches; the front hall consisting of 7 compartments, 2 single porches and a 9-compartment porch. The total floor area of the main building is more than 1,400m2.
The entire frame system currently consists of 90 ironwood columns, of which the main structure has 80 columns, along with many other components being manufactured and installed.
Solving a difficult problem
Can Chanh Palace was built in 1804 under the reign of King Gia Long, and is one of the most important works belonging to the Forbidden City. This was once the place where the king visited the court, received envoys and organized important ceremonies of the Nguyen Dynasty.
In 1947, the electricity was completely destroyed, leaving only the foundation. Therefore, the biggest challenge of the project is not simply rebuilding a large-scale structure, but how to make the restoration based on science, minimize speculation and ensure the authenticity of the relic.
Mr. Hoang Viet Trung - Director of the Hue Ancient Citadel Relic Preservation Center - said that because the project has been destroyed for a long time, the restoration process must be based on many different sources of documents, including historical documents, architectural documents, images, drawings and traces remaining at the scene.
The research process not only serves to determine the external shape of electricity but also to clarify the structure, proportions, frame system, materials and characteristic architectural characteristics.
For a palace project, the selection of materials is also an important issue. Wood frames, roofs, partitions and decorative components must all be calculated to suit the restoration requirements. According to the approved project, wood frames, roofs, partitions and trellises use group II ironwood.
After completion, the wooden frame, roof and wooden partitions will be lacquered with gold. The East and West sides are restored using gold-plated silver lacquer technique.
Another notable point is that the project is equipped with a time-lapse recording system. This is the first project at the Hue Ancient Capital Relic Complex to apply this form to record the construction process from the first steps to completion.
The Hue Ancient Citadel Relic Preservation Center and the construction unit are making efforts to accelerate progress, striving to complete Can Chanh Palace in November 2027, sooner than the initial plan.
