As the capital of Vietnam for almost a thousand years, Hanoi is considered one of the main cultural centers of Vietnam, where most Vietnamese dynasties have left their imprint. Green Tech City being planned by SOM in Hanoi district has been applauded by local authorities, including the Head of Planning, the Chief Architect and the Mayor of Hanoi.
The mega structure
Green Tech City in Hanoi, designed by world acclaimed Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) which is the mastermind behind some of the tallest buildings in the world, has been chosen as the winning proposal by Blenheim Properties. The plan includes two villages that will be redeveloped into a larger mini city about the size of London’s Hyde Park. The plan also includes a riverfront park, housing in spades, and a new cultural hub which are all designed to incorporate the latest environmental technologies. A sustainable city for 20,000 people will be created that will reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption while enhancing and greening the local culture and urban heritage. The local traditions and green urban character of Hanoi are maintained by the master plan. The plan also engages and enlivens the strategic green landscape corridor envisioned at the city scale along the adjoining river and applies state-of-the-art technology to reduce energy consumption and develop a smart infrastructure.
What makes it mega?
As the first green-tech corridor, SOM redevelops two existing villages to create a larger mini-city, covering an area of 145 hectares. The masterplan will create a completely new district, embracing sustainable principles and serving a community of 20,000 people. In order to create urban micro climates, the best orientation of streets and buildings were determined by the help of wind and solar analyses, this way the natural conditions of the city were utilized completely, allowing maximum comfort with a reduction in the energy cost. The most important component of the plan include several green technologies like canal water cooling, tri-generation plants, waste recycling and rainwater harvesting. Along with the riverfront park, an abundance of other green spaces will be developed that includes a lake-front district, public gardens, children’s play areas, sports and recreation fields, and a wetland center. There will be a complete urban development in the city, which will include schools, multiple types of housing, medical clinics, sports arenas, and public facilities. A new civic piazza, the Cultural Forum, will be the heart of the city, establishing itself as a community meeting place with an auditorium, TV studio, art gallery, library, and cafés.
Eco Credentials:
The firm sticks around its green design for the Green Tech City and has proposed specific technologies for minimizing the new corridor’s emissions. Canal water cooling, heating and cooling from renewable energy, waste recycling, and rainwater harvesting are also part of the green technology being implied. Contemporary technologies for building the mini city are being employed for eco-friendly architecture which is suitable for both climate and culture of Vietnam.
Floods will be managed by the water system, preventing the surrounding areas from rainwater runoff. The fragmented system of existing agricultural water channels on site is reorganized into an interconnected network of landscaped waterways. These will provide continuous bands of public green space defining intimate outdoor spaces for each neighborhood. Natural environment will be harnessed to create comfortable urban micro-climates. Also the infrastructural requirements would be minimized along with operational energy costs.
