BAT TRANG CENTRE FOR CERAMIC ARTS : BUILDING WITH THE GROUND

Abstract

Craft villages are an integral part of the traditional Vietnamese landscape. They represent not only centers of production but also act as important cultural institutions that preserve and celebrate traditional knowledge and skills. However, their existence is increasingly being threatened by both internal and external forces.

The pressure to increase production and lower costs in order to compete with foreign competitors is resulting in the loss of traditional skills, as quality is sacrificed for quantity. The increased volume of production has also resulted in unprecedented amounts of waste. Existing methods of waste processing are unable to deal with the volume of waste. Heavy pollution is the result, with several rivers already unable to sustain any life. Due to the scale of their businesses, most craft villages are also unable to adopt more efficient and less pollutive methods of production.

The deterioration in quality of life and increasing economic stresses are also leading to social change in the villages as the young population move out to the cities in search of other employment, leading to the loss of skills and the gradual demise of the craft traditions. The thesis proposes a new approach to development that addresses these environmental and social concerns and aims to foster a more meaningful experience of the village for visitors.