Hanoi People's Committee approved the proposal to demolish the "Shark Jaw" building (near Hoan Kiem Lake), proposed underground space in the existing square area and expanded space after demolishing the building.

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The "Shark Jaws" building. Photo: Hoang Ha

Immediately, the above information attracted public attention because from the time this project was built until its completion, there were many opinions that it would destroy the landscape of Hoan Kiem Lake.

Speaking with VietNamNet, Dr. and architect Dao Ngoc Nghiem, Vice President of the Vietnam Urban Planning and Development Association, said that the "Shark Jaw" building has undergone two renovations, near Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square, the old town...

Mr. Nghiem said that when the building was built, there were many conflicting opinions. At that time, there were more than 200 articles published about this project.

Through investigation, the project is said to be "an illegal combination of the old tram station and the unlicensed Ho Bo Department Store". There was even a time when the project was covered with pineapple fabric, and many places were broken into pieces to expand.

The building's designer, architect Ta Xuan Van, when talking to the press, once shared that he "cried" when he saw the building being transformed.

That was in 1993, the project was almost finished, Mr. Van went on a business trip to Vinh, when he returned to Hanoi, he saw his "brainchild" was wrapped tightly in pineapple fabric, many places were broken into pieces to expand.

“I sat down and cried, feeling indignant because I didn’t understand why people treated the architectural work and its designer so brutally,” Mr. Van shared with the press in 2019.

But then, according to Mr. Van, the incident caused more public opinion when people arbitrarily painted the building black.

It is known that in Notice No. 64/TB dated August 19, 1996, Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet requested: "The Hanoi People's Committee must strictly handle the investor of this project, re-establish discipline in city construction management, and force the investor to modify the architecture of the project (in terms of shape and height to match the general landscape). Administrative handling or legal prosecution if deemed necessary to uphold discipline and order."

However, after many years, the building still exists, most of the area is used as a business investment space, opening restaurants.

In the 1990s, this building was the Hanoi tram operating station. After a period of business restructuring, the “Shark Jaw” building is now managed and operated by Transerco.

It is expected that after demolishing the "Shark Jaws" building, relevant agencies will study the construction of about 3 basements and propose specific functional uses.