11-3 Out of respect for Vietnam’s history and culture

Having weathered the turbulent tides of history for over 200 years, Vietnam continues to experience vibrant development, supported by the significant economic achievements resulting from the Doi Moi (“Renewal”) policy implemented since the late 1980s.
There is a myth in Vietnam that the country evolved from the 100 children born of the union between a dragon and a fairy. The history and culture of Vietnam, nurtured by the quiet passion and harmonious intellect of its people, possess great depth; the two projects introduced below are being carried out with respect for that history and culture.

Hanoi, located in the Red River Delta in northern Vietnam and once known as Thăng Long (Rising Dragon), was designated as the capital in 1010 by Emperor Lý Công Ún (Taizu) of the Lý Dynasty, which went on to rule for a long period, and subsequently served as the political and cultural center for over 800 years. It was designated as the capital. The name Thăng Long derives from a legend in which a golden dragon was said to have been seen rising from the ground at that location. From the late 19th century onward, as the federal capital of French Indochina (comprising the present-day nations of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos), it boasted Asia’s largest and most opulent collection of French-style architecture. Many historic buildings that convey the charm of that era still stand today, forming a valuable urban landscape.

From Heisei 19 to 20 (2007–2008), the Vietnamese government held the “Vietnam National Museum of History Design Competition.”Nikken Sekkei was selected as the winner, and design work is currently underway. This history museum is located at the westernmost end of the “New City Center Plan 2020,” a development plan for the western West Lake area of Hanoi, and serves as a key project that will lay the foundation for the success of the entire New City Center Plan.
The overall appearance of the History Museum, lying quietly upon the lake’s surface, blends with its reflection to evoke the image of a dragon reclining peacefully.Incorporating principles of feng shui, the water of the artificial lake—which makes the History Museum appear to float—was considered essential to “creating a landscape that blends with the lake,” a design approach characteristic of buildings in Vietnam’s hot climate. Naturally, the design also takes into account the use of natural energy from the water.

This massive museum, with a total floor area of approximately 88,000 square meters, was designed using just a single type of structural element as its foundation. Much like the “Kura-zukuri” style of interlocking basketwork structures found throughout Asia, the structural framework is formed by assembling, stacking, and layering countless concrete components shaped like eaves. These countless, multi-layered eaves also serve to comfortably protect the large interior space from the heavy rain and intense sunlight typical of Asia’s monsoon climate. The interior is laid out so that all functions can be viewed along the building’s central axis, creating a spacious and open environment that, despite its large scale, remains easy to navigate.

In this design, while incorporating the latest architectural technologies, we have made it a key objective to bring the traditions and forms of Asian culture into the modern era, and we hope that this will contribute to the development of Vietnam’s unique architectural culture.

Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, features an urban grid planned during the French colonial era. Like Hanoi, it is a city that still retains a strong sense of its historical character even today.Having grown as the political, economic, and cultural center of southern Vietnam against the backdrop of the Mekong Delta, Ho Chi Minh City has become Vietnam’s largest megalopolis, with a population of 6 million.

However, due to rapid population growth in recent years, Ho Chi Minh City faces numerous urban challenges, including overcrowding in the city center, traffic congestion, deteriorating living conditions, soaring land prices, and urban sprawl.Furthermore, it is projected to become a megacity with a population of 10 million in 20 years, raising concerns that these urban problems will worsen significantly.

In Heisei 18 (2006), in light of these circumstances, the Ho Chi Minh City Government and People’s Committee commissioned Nikken Sekkei to develop a citywide urban master plan covering the entire city’s 2,000 km².Furthermore, in Heisei 19 (2007), an international urban design competition was held for the Central Business District (930 ha) in the city center, and Nikken Sekkei’s proposal was selected as the first-place winner. Subsequently, zoning plans and architectural management guidelines based on this proposal were formulated.

Ho Chi Minh City faces the geographical challenge that more than 50 percent of its urban area lies on low-lying ground less than 2 meters above sea level, limiting the amount of land available for sound urban development. Taking these topographical conditions into account, these urban plans propose the creation of a multi-core, decentralized urban structure connected by transportation infrastructure.Furthermore, to steer the momentum of urban growth in a positive direction, land-use policies and guidelines were strategically and meticulously developed.
Furthermore, based on thorough surveys and research, we proposed the implementation of an urban transportation system with a low environmental impact. The benefits of this urban transportation system extend beyond the efficient use of energy and the reduction of air pollution to include the creation of an attractive urban landscape and the fostering of a vibrant atmosphere.
In addition, for the first time in Vietnam, design guidelines have been formulated to preserve and revitalize the historic landscape.
　
This plan aims to develop Ho Chi Minh City—once called the “Pearl of the Orient”—into a city where the environment, landscape, and economy are in harmony.

(References)
Shuji Nunno + Asian Urban Architecture Research Group (2003), *History of Asian Urban Architecture*, Showa-do
Akihisa Masuda and Shoichi Ota (2006), *Hanoi: Architecture—Paris Born in Vietnam*, Hakuyosha
Sadao Ogura (2002), *Vietnam: A Journey Through History* The Asahi Shimbun Company
Hirotsugu Tomoda (2003), *A Guide to Vietnam’s Townscapes*, Iwanami Shoten