Ngo Viet Thu
Encyclopedia
Ngô Viết Thụ
was a Vietnam
ese architect
; he designed the Independence Palace
(also known as the Presidential Palace, 1961–1966, later renamed Reunification Palace
, April 30, 1975) in Ho Chi Minh City
.
Mr. Ngô Viết Thụ was born on September 17, 1927, in Thừa Thiên
, Vietnam. He married Vo Thi Co and had eight children. One of his children, Dr. Ngô Viết Nam Sơn, is also an architect and planner graduated from U.C. Berkeley and U. Washington, currently working in the United States and in Vietnam.
He studied architecture at the École Superieur d'Architecture in Đà Lạt, before transferring to study at the École des Beaux-Arts
in Paris
. He graduated and then won the First Grand Prize of Rome (Grand Prix de Rome) in 1955, the highest recognition of the Beaux-Arts school in Paris, and was then sponsored by the Academy of France to conduct research of architecture and urban planning at the Villa Medici
s (Rome
) from 1955 to 1958.
In 1962, he was the first Asia
n architect to become an Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Architects
(together with J.H. Van den Broek, Arne Jacobsen
, Steen Eiler Rasmussen
, Hector Mestre, Amancio Williams
, Hernan Larrain-Errazuriz, Emilio Duhart H., Jerzy Hryniewiecki, and John B. Parkin).
He also designed Huế University
Campus(1961–1963), Atomic Research Center in Đà Lạt (1962–1965), Thủ Đức University Campus (1962), Hương Giang 1 Hotel in Huế (1962), Phủ Cam Cathedral (1963), the Vietnam Airlines Headquarters (1972), the Agriculture University in Thủ Đức (1975), Sông Bé Hospital (1985), Century Hotel in Huế (1990).
He had associated with international architects in the design of University of Medicine of Saigon (Chief of Vietnamese Team, associating with CRS from Houston), International Art Center in Paris (collaborating with architects Paul Tournon and Oliver Clément Cacoub)
Besides being perhaps the best-known contemporary Vietnamese architect until today, he was also an innovative painter. Two of his most famous paintings were "National Landscape" (displayed at the main dining room of the Reunification Palace) and "Speed" (private collection).
was a Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
ese architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
; he designed the Independence Palace
Reunification Palace
Reunification Palace formerly known as Independence Palace , built on the site of the former Norodom Palace, is a landmark in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It was designed by architect Ngô Viết Thụ and was the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War...
(also known as the Presidential Palace, 1961–1966, later renamed Reunification Palace
Reunification Palace
Reunification Palace formerly known as Independence Palace , built on the site of the former Norodom Palace, is a landmark in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It was designed by architect Ngô Viết Thụ and was the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War...
, April 30, 1975) in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
.
Mr. Ngô Viết Thụ was born on September 17, 1927, in Thừa Thiên
Thua Thien-Hue Province
Thừa Thiên-Huế is a province in the North Central Coast of Vietnam, approximately in the center of the country. It borders Quang Tri Provice to the north and Da Nang City to the south, Laos to the west and the South China Sea to the east. The province has 128 km of coastline, 22,000 ha of...
, Vietnam. He married Vo Thi Co and had eight children. One of his children, Dr. Ngô Viết Nam Sơn, is also an architect and planner graduated from U.C. Berkeley and U. Washington, currently working in the United States and in Vietnam.
He studied architecture at the École Superieur d'Architecture in Đà Lạt, before transferring to study at the École des Beaux-Arts
École des Beaux-Arts
École des Beaux-Arts refers to a number of influential art schools in France. The most famous is the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, now located on the left bank in Paris, across the Seine from the Louvre, in the 6th arrondissement. The school has a history spanning more than 350 years,...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. He graduated and then won the First Grand Prize of Rome (Grand Prix de Rome) in 1955, the highest recognition of the Beaux-Arts school in Paris, and was then sponsored by the Academy of France to conduct research of architecture and urban planning at the Villa Medici
Villa Medici
The Villa Medici is a mannerist villa and an architectural complex with a garden contiguous with the larger Borghese gardens, on the Pincian Hill next to Trinità dei Monti in Rome, Italy. The Villa Medici, founded by Ferdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany and now property of the French...
s (Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
) from 1955 to 1958.
In 1962, he was the first Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n architect to become an Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Architects
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
(together with J.H. Van den Broek, Arne Jacobsen
Arne Jacobsen
Arne Emil Jacobsen, usually known as Arne Jacobsen, was a Danish architect and designer. He is remembered for contributing so much to architectural Functionalism as well as for the worldwide success he enjoyed with simple but effective chair designs.-Early life and education:Arne Jacobsen was born...
, Steen Eiler Rasmussen
Steen Eiler Rasmussen
Steen Eiler Rasmussen was a Danish architect and urban planner who was a professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, and a prolific writer of books and poetry...
, Hector Mestre, Amancio Williams
Amancio Williams
Amancio Williams was an Argentine architect and among his country's leading exponents of modern architecture.-Life and work:...
, Hernan Larrain-Errazuriz, Emilio Duhart H., Jerzy Hryniewiecki, and John B. Parkin).
He also designed Huế University
Hue University
Huế University is a university located in Huế, the former imperial capital of Vietnam; this university is one of the important regional universities of Vietnam...
Campus(1961–1963), Atomic Research Center in Đà Lạt (1962–1965), Thủ Đức University Campus (1962), Hương Giang 1 Hotel in Huế (1962), Phủ Cam Cathedral (1963), the Vietnam Airlines Headquarters (1972), the Agriculture University in Thủ Đức (1975), Sông Bé Hospital (1985), Century Hotel in Huế (1990).
He had associated with international architects in the design of University of Medicine of Saigon (Chief of Vietnamese Team, associating with CRS from Houston), International Art Center in Paris (collaborating with architects Paul Tournon and Oliver Clément Cacoub)
Besides being perhaps the best-known contemporary Vietnamese architect until today, he was also an innovative painter. Two of his most famous paintings were "National Landscape" (displayed at the main dining room of the Reunification Palace) and "Speed" (private collection).