Laterite - Building material of Asia

Laterite...what is it?

Laterite has commonly been referred to as a soil type as well as being a rock type.

Rich in iron and aluminum and is commonly considered to have formed in hot and wet tropical areas. Nearly all laterites are of rusty-red coloration, because of high iron oxide content. It is typically cut into blocks and dried.

 Konark Sun Temple in India

The technology probably spread from India east to Burma, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. The material can be polished or left in a rough texture and sometimes stuccoed over. At Ankor Wat its used as a base material then clad with sandstone. In northern Vietnam its used instead of brick.                                                                                                           

Laterite brick walls near Hanoi.

Video of Laterite course in My Son, Champa temple.

Since laterite is porous it is light weight yet strong. It is used as a base course for roads, bearing walls and for aquifers. In its clay form it is cut in many sizes then dried and used. This makes it a very versatile building material.                                                                                                     

Laterite walls in East Mebon Siam Reap Cambodia.

The Ancient Imperial City of Hue

Imperial City - Hue, Vietnam

25 years of civil war between Gia Long and the Tay Sons finally ended with Gia Long as Emperor of Vietnam. Gia Long....nephew of the Last Nguyen Lord who was executed by the Tay Sons, now ruled what is modern day Vietnam. The year was 1802 and Gia Long set about securing his dynasty and country. Many citadels were built but Gia Long made Hue the capitol and made a square design for the citadel based on Chinese design rather than French design as the others were based on.

During the war Gia Long had received help from the French. Even tho Vietnam remained independent of the European powers, this help from the french would ultimately lead to french colonization of Vietnam in later years.

Statue of Gia Long over the site of his first citadel in Saigon.

Areal view of the city and Imperial city within to the right.

In 1947 the last Emperor Bao Dai abdicated. This lead to a ruinous period of neglect and partial destruction of the old city. Fighting between the French and Viet Minh as well as the TET offensive in 1968 between the forces of the North and South and the USA took its toll on the old city.

1968 TET offensive destruction.

Kien Trung Palace built by Emperor Khai Dinh currently being rebuilt.

The old city was added to by successive emperors for about 120 years. Tu Duc was essentially the last independent Emperor. His death in 1883 led to internal strife in addition to colonization pressure from France. The French laid siege to Hue and looted the city although they did allow the Nguyen Emperors to remain as a figurehead government until Bao Dai's abdication.

In the 1990's The Hue Monument Commission started a restoration program of the Citadel, Tombs and Monuments in and around Hue. Work is ongoing but great progress has been made. Tourism is around 2 million visitors a year. The history, architecture, food and close location to DaNang and Hoi An is what attracted me. The architecture in and around Hue is a mix of Asian and Western influences. The French left their mark in the cuisine and architecture. Hue has some of the best food in Vietnam and still retains its Viet heritage and charms.

 Above: Main Gate

Right: East gate 

Short video of Hue