Requirements of urban and rural architecture in Vietnam

Requirements of urban and rural architecture in Vietnam (Internet image)

Regarding this issue, LawNet would like to answer as follows:

1. Requirements of urban and rural architecture in Vietnam

According to Article 11 of the Law on Architecture 2019, the requirements of urban and rural architecture are as follows:

* Urban architecture must meet the following requirements:

- Harmonize with overall spaces, architecture and landscapes of the sites intended for construction of architectural structures; connect the architecture of the existing sites, newly developed ones and border crossings between urban and rural areas, and admire natural scenery;

- Use colors, materials and decorate the outer faces of architectural structures in an aesthetic manner without causing any adverse impact on human eyes, health, environment and traffic safety;

- Refurbishment of an existing residential home and construction of a new one must be combined concordantly to produce an architectural structure which fits into natural and climatic conditions, and detached residential homes must be aligned with the general architectural layout in a specific region;

- Public construction works and urban utility facilities built along streets must be aesthetic, useful and safe to humans and means of transport;

- Signs, markers, advertisement billboards, lighting systems and decorative items used in urban areas must meet regulations and outdoor advertising planning requirements as well as fit into the overall urban architectural plan;

- Statues, sculptures, sculpted reliefs, fountains and other decorative construction works must be designed to fit into landscape, meet requirements concerning public access and aesthetics;

- Traffic amenities must be designed in a consistent manner to meet requirements concerning public access, aesthetics and characteristics of urban areas.

* Rural architecture must meet requirements referred to in points a, b, c and e of clause 1 of Article 11 of the Law on Architecture 2019 and the followings:

- Ensure that traditional architectural and cultural values are inherited; indigenous building materials and advanced engineering methods are preferred for use;

- Meet standards applied to residential homes, living spaces and cultural spaces so that rural architectural structures are adjusted to natural conditions, customs and habits of ethnic groups;

- As for areas prone to natural disasters, strengthen use of architectural designs for public works and residential homes at rural areas in order to meet requirements as to adaptation to climate change and prevention and control of natural disasters.

2. Regulations on management of architectural structures of value in Vietnam

Regulations on management of architectural structures of value in Vietnam are valid under Article 13 of the Law on Architecture 2019 as follows:

- Architectural structures of value which have already been ranked as historical – cultural relics shall be managed under law on cultural heritages.

- Architectural structures of value which are not covered in clause 1 of Article 13 of the Law on Architecture 2019 shall be reviewed and assessed on an annual basis or inventoried for official purposes by provincial-level People's Committees.

- Provincial-level People's Committees shall consult with provincial-level architectural advisory councils and other related entities or persons about compilation of the list of architectural structures of value stipulated in clause 2 of Article 13 of the Law on Architecture 2019 before reaching their approval decisions.

- Owners and users of architectural structures in the list of architectural structures of value shall have the following rights and obligations:

+ Receive benefits from protection, conservation, repair, rehabilitation and operation of their architectural structures;

+ Receive the state subsidies for costs incurred from protection, conservation, repair and rehabilitation of their architectural structures;

+ Protect, conserve, repair and rehabilitation of architectural values of these structures; ensure safety for access to, use and operation of these structures;

+ Avoid changing the exterior architecture, textures and vicinity of their architectural structure of their own free will;

+ Whenever detecting any sign of decrease in quality or unsafe texture, inform local authorities in a timely manner.

- The Government shall be vested with authority to promulgate specific regulations on assessment and classification of architectural structures of value; processes and procedures for compiling, evaluating, approving and adjusting the list of architectural structures of value.

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