Hommel Beer Factory
BIA HOI CULTURE'S ORIGIN: FROM A COLONICAL DRINKING TO A CULTURE OF URBAN DWELLERS

Introduction
Before the French colonization, Vietnam had a long history of rice alcohol production. The beer industry was created in 1892 by Alfred Hommel, founder of Hommel Brewery (Brasserie Hommel) in Hanoi. Along with the Larue Brewery (Brasserie Larue) in Saigon, the Hommel Brewery was one of the two biggest breweries in Indochina.
Beer was the drink that seemed most suitable in the Indochina climate. At first, beer was mainly consumed by the French, then it became more and more popular with local Vietnamese people.
Besides water, the ingredients used by the Hommel Brewery were malted barley and hops imported from Europe and a proportion of rice (preferably denitrogenated). The difficulty was not in the purchase of ingredients of first quality, but in purifying water used, acquiring expensive brewing equipment, and adapting it to the hot and humid climate of Hanoi. Another challenge for the production of bottled beer was transportation. The brewery came up with the idea of producing a draft beer called bia hoi sold in kegs instead of bottles. Over time, bia hoi became a staple of Vietnamese culture and it remains so to this day.
Name: Brasserie Hommel / Société de la Brasserie Hommel / Société des Brasseries et Glacières de l'Indochine / Hanoi Brewery / Hanoi Brewery Company / Hanoi Beer-Alcohol-Beverage Corporation (Habeco)
Location: 183 Hoang Hoa Tham, Ha Noi
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Chronological timeline
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Agents
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Investigations
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Architectural and Urban preliminary assessment
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Perspective / Thematic / Narrative point of view
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Bibliography
Cu Gioanh Knitting Workshop: Narrow street, little alley…with a big factory in there.
Cự Gioanh knitting factory was founded by a Vietnamese entrepreneur Trinh Van Mai (Cự Gioanh), which is an uncommon case in the colonial period. The establishment of the factory is a sequence related to textile from Hà Đông to the Old Quarter. Playing an important part in the development of the knitting industry in Hanoi, its products reflected the process of modernization in the lifestyle and fashion of Vietnamese in the colonial period. The factory then was nationalized in 1959 and continued to produce various kinds of clothes for domestic and export. After equitization and becoming a part of Haprosimex, the factory was awarded the title Hero of Labor. 10 years later, the factory went bankrupt due to the corruption and the negligence of its chairman.
Name: Cu Doanh Knitting Workshop/ HAPROSIMEX Thang Long
Location: 44-46 Hang Quat street, Ha Noi/ Km 12, Road 32, Phúc Diễn ward, North Từ Liêm District, Ha Noi
INTRODUCTION
MASTER PLAN
