Further strengthening the position of "the heart of the capital"

Demolition of the “Shark Jaw” building, relocation of agencies, units, and houses in the area east of Hoan Kiem Lake to implement the planning and renovation policy of the Hoan Kiem Lake area and Dong Kinh - Nghia Thuc Square (Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi) is one of the decisions that has received special attention from many people. Dr. Architect Nguyen Quoc Tuan - Head of the Faculty of Architecture - Construction, Phuong Dong University had an interview with Kinh te & Do thi Newspaper about this content.

Hanoi is conducting research on planning and renovating the space in the area east of Hoan Kiem Lake and renovating, embellishing and reconstructing the Dong Kinh - Nghia Thuc square area in the direction of having more public spaces. What do you think about this planning orientation of Hanoi?

- In my opinion, this policy is very correct. Expanding public space, green space, and people's activity space in the Hoan Kiem Lake area is really necessary. This has been the desire of many experts and Hanoi people for many years, in the context of Hoan Kiem Lake space and its vicinity becoming increasingly cramped due to urbanization and the increase in construction density and land use coefficient.

I am glad that the city has boldly and strongly raised this issue, with the determination to implement it immediately in the coming months. If we look more broadly, to the East, we still have the opportunity to connect green spaces/axes from Hoan Kiem Lake to the space of August Revolution Square and the Opera House, to the West to the Cathedral and the system of historical relics - pagodas - temples around it. This connection expands the lake space, connects cultural - historical values, coordinates important and attractive tourist locations, spreads the spirit and culture of Hanoi, deepens and consolidates the position of Hoan Kiem Lake - the heart of Hanoi.

The current status of land management and use in the planning research area (Dong Kinh - Nghia Thuc Square area; Space area east of Hoan Kiem Lake...) has many agencies, units, households, and some valuable architectural works. Sir, what should be noted in the planning work?

- I understand that Hanoi City has researched, arranged, and specifically cleared two areas: Dong Kinh - Nghia Thuc Square with the demolition of the "Shark Jaw" building, synchronously renovating the square landscape, and the park - square area east of Hoan Kiem Lake with 12 agencies and 47 households that need to be relocated according to the latest information.

I am interested in two projects: the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports headquarters is a building with a beautiful facade in a classical style, reminiscent of the Mediterranean. It is necessary to carefully evaluate the architecture of the building because this style is not common in Hanoi. From there, carefully study the conservation solution to adapt the building to the space and function of the new park, and evaluate the impacts from the technical items of Station C9 of the Nam Thang Long - Tran Hung Dao metro line on this building.

Second, in the planning of the park east of Hoan Kiem Lake, there should be a space to mark the location of the Bo Ho Lamp Factory, the first electricity facility in Hanoi established in 1892, creating the foundation for the formation and development of the capital's electricity industry later on.

Because the Hoan Kiem Lake area and its surroundings have a high similarity in landscape architecture, to ensure the overall spread of connection with the surrounding space. According to you, what factors should be considered in the design plan?

- We can consider creating green axes based on the ability to connect Ly Thai To flower garden, the park east of Hoan Kiem Lake, extending to Dien Hong flower garden, Co Tan flower garden, the Opera House, expanding and creating seamless connections with the National History Museum. We can also create an activity axis that has very strong potential in the north of Hoan Kiem Lake, from Dong Kinh - Nghia Thuc Square connecting through Hang Ngang, Hang Dao, to the bustling and vibrant market areas of Hanoi's Old Quarter.

On the west side of Hoan Kiem Lake, I know that Hanoi City is continuing to research to expand the space connecting the lake, through the statue of King Le, Nam Huong communal house to the Cathedral area, the square and the Great Church, along with the system of historical relics - pagodas - temples around, creating an axis of cultural, religious and memorial nature. The connections on the south side of Hoan Kiem Lake have not yet seen any outstanding factors, but I assess that there are 3 blocks with great potential that can be renovated, intervened to adjust functions, and improve operations to create more cultural and community values: the National Library area, Dinh Le - Nguyen Xi - Trang Tien block, and the area east of Trang Tien Plaza.

The spatial planning of the East of Hoan Kiem Lake mentions the exploitation of underground space. So, in your opinion, what should be considered in the planning and architectural work to connect with the underground space of Station C9, ensuring effective land use and meeting the needs of the people?

- According to the new spirit of Asia, economic development is rapidly transforming cities at a dizzying speed. We see the problems we are facing: how to build more competitive cities? How to renovate/renovate cities to improve the quality of life for everyone? How to preserve identity and heritage while ensuring that cities adapt to the development of new economic spaces and scales?

Many requirements are placed on our Capital in the new context, especially for the historical urban center, where we must skillfully and cleverly transform functional elements to create new quantity and quality, while there is not much space left to expand and accommodate those new elements. It is also necessary to protect and preserve the traditional values that create the unique characteristics, as well as the strengths and competitive advantages of the historical urban center, of the Capital.

In this context, underground space exploitation can be considered a relatively feasible solution, allowing more flexible rotation of some new functional and operational requirements. However, it requires the ability to plan, connect and optimize investment and development value, higher level of management and exploitation capacity, acceptance and formation of new usage habits among the People...

I hope that Hanoi will have the best solution within the constraints of Hoan Kiem Lake space, so that the historical urban space can adapt to the development of new economic spaces and scales, while still preserving its values and identity, and further consolidating the culture of Thang Long - Hanoi.

Thank you!