WMF placed Minh Mang’s Tomb on the Watch in 1996 and again in 2000. Working with the Thua Thien-Hué Provincial Peoples Committee and the Hué Monuments Conservation Center (HMCC), WMF developed a pilot conservation project for one of the structures, the two-story Minh Lau pavilion.
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WMF placed Minh Mang’s Tomb on the Watch in 1996 and again in 2000. Working with the Thua Thien-Hué Provincial Peoples Committee and the Hué Monuments Conservation Center (HMCC), WMF developed a pilot conservation project for one of the structures, the two-story Minh Lau pavilion.
Three terraces rise gradually around the pavilion, paved with green and yellow glazed bricks and planted with flowers. Four staircases approach it, each flanked by stone dragons. High humidity had caused a multitude of structural issues: the building materials were failing, termites had infested the wood, and fungus was growing quickly. The pavilion was dismantled and repaired from the foundations up. The floor, ceiling, and columns between were restored and moisture-proofed.
Since 1997, WMF has also supported the restoration of several other structures on site, including the Stele Pavilion, Hien Duc Mon Gate, and Ta Tung Tu building. Environmental conditions had weakened the structural integrity of the buildings and damaged the decorative elements that defined the site. After documenting existing conditions, WMF supported restoration of the walls and roofs, the characteristic green yin-yang tiles, and the foundations where necessary. Waterproofing treatments were applied throughout to ensure the sustainability of the restoration work.
