Architect Le Hiep (left) presented the design of the Bac Son Martyrs Memorial to Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet - Photo archive
News from the family said architect Le Hiep passed away at 8:55 p.m. on October 4 in Hanoi , at the age of 84.
The thrilling story of building the Bac Son Martyrs Memorial
Architect Le Hiep's real name is Le Dinh Hiep, born in 1942 in Thanh Hoa ; graduated from Hanoi University of Architecture, he was retained at the school as a lecturer.
During his lifetime, he once talked with architect and architectural critic Vu Hiep about his destiny to become the author of an important architectural work: Bac Son Martyrs Memorial.
In 1992, when architect Le Hiep was working part-time with some students at home, a sculptor came to ask him to help draw the architectural part for a competition. It turned out that it was a competition to design the Martyrs' Memorial on Bac Son Street, in Ba Dinh Square.
Architect Le Hiep (right) and Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet at the construction site making a 1-1 scale model for the Bac Son monument - Photo archive
After finishing the sculpture for the sculptor, he sat down to rest, conveniently picked up a pen and drew on a piece of paper according to the idea that had just appeared, a negative block shaped like a temple inside a solid box.
The students saw it and exclaimed, "Ah! Great, teacher! If this were to be entered into a contest, it would be strange if it didn't win a prize." So the teachers and students immediately started drawing and making models.
But by then the competition deadline had passed, so Mr. Le Hiep had to ask the Hanoi University of Architecture to convince the organizing committee to accept his entry and get it accepted. As a result, Le Hiep's entry won second prize. But the second prize option was chosen by Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet himself to be implemented.
The memorial began construction on April 7, 1993, and was inaugurated on May 7, 1994, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory. The construction is made of concrete and steel, with an exterior covered with ivory-white marble, resembling a giant candle lit up in the blue sky.
Bac Son Martyrs Memorial - Photo: NAM TRAN
Architect of monuments
From the success of Bac Son monument, architect Le Hiep continued to be the author of many monumental works such as: Tuyen Quang Provincial Memorial, Tuyen Quang Provincial Museum, Mong Cai Martyrs Cemetery (Quang Ninh),
Nhan Mountain Memorial (Phu Yen), Monument to heroic martyrs of Bac Ninh province, Uncle Ho Temple in Pac Bo (Cao Bang), Memorial site of Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet (Vinh Long)...
According to architect Vu Hiep, when talking about memorial architecture, we cannot help but mention architect Le Hiep, the author of memorials that have become classics, especially the Martyrs' Memorial on Bac Son Street, Hanoi.
Architect Tran Huy Anh said, with the Bac Son Martyrs Memorial, architect Le Hiep has carved into the space of Hanoi a deep sense of gratitude to the heroic martyrs who sacrificed for the independence and freedom of the nation, that memory will last forever.
Architect Le Hiep is also a teacher who has trained many generations of architects, participated in the association's work for many years and passed on to the next generation of architects. Architect Le Hiep also participated in the interior construction of the Ho Chi Minh Museum.
He was awarded the State Prize for Literature and Arts (2001), the National Architecture Prize in 1996, 1998, 2008, 2012, 2014.
The funeral of architect Le Hiep will be held from 7:30 a.m. on October 9 at Funeral Home No. 5 Tran Thanh Tong, Hanoi.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/kien-truc-su-le-hiep-nguoi-thiet-ke-dai-tuong-niem-liet-si-bac-son-qua-doi-20251005215653332.htm
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