Community's architecture of ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands Vietnam and the issues of cultural appropriations

Abstract

The cultural identities of ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands of Vietnam are extremely diverse and unique, reflected in many aspects including in community architecture such as Rong House, Dai House, and other cultural building typologies. Some of this unique expression has been widely exploited in the design and construction of many architectures throughout the country, especially in urban areas of the Central Highlands.

This increasingly common 'cultural appropriation' sometimes negatively affects, distorts, or overshadows the mainstream and core cultural values. The study synthesizes cultural values expressed in some typical community architecture in the Central Highlands, thereby assessing the degree of error of these values’ interpretation in the architecture of recently built cultural buildings in the Central Highlands region. Based on identifying the negative and positive aspects of this appropriation, the study discusses some appropriate behaviors in the design and construction of cultural architecture in general and community architecture in the Central Highlands and surrounding areas.

Key word: Cultural appropriation (CA); community architecture; ethnic minority; Central Highland Vietnam.