FOR THE MAKING OF VIETNAMESE ARCHITECTURE

In the recent decade, Vietnam has emerged as a nation of impressively high economic growth. Rapid urbanization process has brought about a new look for many cities with the proliferation of infrastructure and construction projects of various types.

Vietnamese architects and planners and their international counterparts have joined together in this movement that offers vast career opportunities. Questions remain, however, as to whether this development can have profound achievements.  Starting from today, how will Vietnamese identity be expressed through architecture and planning? How can creation and career development of Vietnamese architects and planners be promoted? Since these questions have concerned generations of architects and planners in Vietnam, the topic "For the making of Vietnamese Architecture” is intended to stimulate discussion and debate among attendees who have a passionate love for architectural and planning profession and desire to find new design philosophies that contribute to the development of Vietnamese architecture and planning with unique identities.

1st Topic in the first session: The future of existing cities and new cities in Vietnam

The process of Vietnamese urban development is entering an exciting new era.  Within the next twenty years, urbanization rate will increase by up to 50%.  Existing cities will grow more rapidly, leaving the legacy of post-war decay and destruction behind them. Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh, historic and economic centers of the country that have been leading this growth, are both facing typical problems of overloaded cities, including inadequate infrastructure, limited housing supply, environmental degradation, and uncontrollable urban sprawl to city fringes. This topic is always a challenge for the urban planning specialist and especially worth discussion to find appropriate models for Vietnamese megacities that not only extend spatial development but also improve quality of life.

On the other hand, small cities and new towns at industrialized and urbanized regions have more advantages for their start of development. However, they still repeat mistakes of the past that include outdated urban planning approaches and inappropriate development lacking identities and not responsive to the new context. Different types of cities specializing in industry, tourism, ecology, or bearing local identities have not been effectively implemented in Vietnam to this date. Many large development projects currently have their master plans prepared by international consultants, but how do they cooperate with local planners and architects having local knowledge to form the next generation of Vietnamese cities in the 21st century?

Sub-Topic One: Assessment and Opinions about the Planning and Development of Mega-Cities such as Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh.

Sub-Topic Two: Midsize Cities for Living and Tourism in Vietnam; the 21st century cities.

2nd Topic of the second session: The landmark architecture in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City: The spread of Formalism or an Era of New Ideas?

High-rise architecture and complex buildings are being developed in larger scales and impressive designs. Is there a threat, however, of a generic “New Formalism" that will dominate the skyline of the major cities and new development areas?  These issues can be found in the most expensive properties in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh cities and even high rises in smaller cities. We need to do a survey of high-rise buildings that are going to be built in the next five to ten years in order to find the scenario of architecture and urban landscape development of Vietnamese cities in the near future. In this same spirit, we need to have a discussion about this trend of high-rise development to evaluate its sustainability, its values in urban form, and its responsiveness to the identities and history of Vietnamese cities.  Does this trend in high-rise development signal an era of new ideas or simply a duplication of yesterday's tired old ideas? What are the opinions of the international architects working in Vietnam about this? We anticipate a provocative debate that will open a new era of design for Vietnamese architecture.

Sub-Topic One: Identification of architectural trends in high-rise building projects in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh Cities.

Sub-Topic Two: How are Mixed Use Development Projects being implemented in the most valuable properties of these cities?

More information, please contact:
HCMC Association of Architect - 88 Mac Dinh Chi Street, District 1, HCM City, Vietnam
Tel: 3829 1908 / 3827 3035 - Fax: 3822 5657
Mobile: Mr.Viet Thang - 0918.281.348 - Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Ms.Phuong Nam - 0918 975 572 - Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it