The solution to local climate adapting of French colonial public buildings in Indochina

Abstract

Between colonial conquests in Indochina, France created the first exchanges in culture, politics, economy, et cetera, especially architecture. Later, this exchange gradually gave way to the “French identity” expressed through the original conversion of Western architectural styles to colonial ones. This trend steadily changed, and the French were forced to reconsider technical solutions and forms of expression in urban areas and in local architecture in the colonial countries of Indochina to give the proper orientation more appropriate for colonial architecture in this particular area. This study also provides an overview of the characteristics of French colonial architecture in the three Indochinese countries: Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.