Localism in Modern Architecture: Public Buildings in Downtown Saigon, 1950–1975

Abstract

The concept of “Adaptive Vernacular Architecture” builds on established theories of vernacular architecture worldwide and seeks to reframe Modern Architecture in Southern Vietnam not as a passive reception of international modernism, but as a distinctive form of adaptive vernacular expression. This architectural phenomenon demonstrates a strong capacity to harmonize with local natural, cultural, and social conditions while retaining a clear architectural identity in the context of modernization and globalization. The research also revisits the historical development of this period by examining the factors that contributed to the pronounced vernacular characteristics evident in public buildings of Modern Architecture in Southern Vietnam between 1950 and 1975. In doing so, it provides clearer evidence of the intentional integration of vernacular elements and contributes to a systematic knowledge base that can inform future strategies for the conservation and adaptive reuse of modern public architecture.