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Nestled on the Son Tra Peninsula, InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort seamlessly blends untouched nature, the rustic charm of northern Vietnamese villages, and a variety of architecturally rich elements infused with the soul of Vietnam.
Experience the allure of Vietnam at the top-rated resort in Asia.
Renowned architect Bill Bensley finds sheer delight in exploring and innovating ideas for every project. Located 13 km from Hanoi on the left bank of the Red River, the Bat Trang pottery village serves as Bill Bensley's source of inspiration for adorning the resort walls.
This place conceals everything he seeks, with thousands of pottery samples, flower vases, statues of Buddha, all tucked away in every small alley and pottery kiln he visits. Even the image of Bat Trang artisans molding black clay cakes, hand-shaped before air-drying, is vividly recreated on the walls of the Citron restaurant.
Every visit by Bill to the Bat Trang pottery village involves strolling on meticulously paved brick paths or getting lost in muddy lanes leading to pottery kilns. He enjoys inhaling the scent of clay, feeling the warmth emanating from the kilns on his skin, and marveling at the billowing black smoke. The American architect humorously claims that only the smokestacks in the pottery village surpass his height.
Bill shares that Bat Trang makes him feel like peering through the colorful veils of the wizard of Oz. Typically, foreign tourists visiting Vietnam seek crowded temples or historical monuments, but few discover the unique allure that Bill Bensley found in this place.
He revels in the lime-washed walls with 'cut concrete' inscriptions, the sound of porcelain clashing, stacks of red-brown bricks, vibrant ceramic statues, and more. Every detail that catches Bill Bensley's eye reflects simple yet artistically profound beauty found only in Bat Trang. He has purchased numerous woven baskets, ceramic tools, and more out of sheer admiration and fondness.
According to Bill Bensley's research, Bat Trang pottery village dates back to the early days, originating from the Stone Age. The village is blessed with abundant white clay from the surrounding 72 hills. When King Ly Thai To took control of the country in 981 AD and moved the capital from Hoa Lu to Thang Long in 1010, this place became a workshop producing essential utensils made of pottery.
Through folklore, Bill also learned about three virtuous individuals sent by the Ly dynasty to China during the Northern Song dynasty (960-1127), who openly discovered new enamel coating techniques. Due to significant delays caused by storms in their return journey, these three individuals learned enamel coating techniques from Chinese potters and brought them back to teach the locals in Bat Trang. The enamel coating technique expanded further after the Song dynasty's defeat by the Mongol invasion in 1279. Many Chinese potters migrated to Vietnam, bringing the secrets of enamel coating and high-temperature pottery firing.
Wandering around the pottery village, Bill Bensley is captivated by flower-shaped porcelain bowls, porcelain tea pots, and intricately painted flower vases. Many pottery items are coated with various types of glaze, including a crackle glaze developed by generations of Bat Trang potters.
The Bat Trang pottery technique spreads across Vietnam. When Bill Bensley traveled from the North to the South for design inspiration, he encountered a lamp base, an incense burner with painted flowers, and a dragon winding around in ancient temples. The markings indicated that these 16th-century artifacts originated from Bat Trang. The rich history and intriguing cultural elements led Bill Bensley to decide to incorporate Bat Trang ceramic into the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort.
According to VnExpress
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Reference: Travel guide Mytour
MytourNovember 28, 2014
