Vietnam urban areas have gained a new face over the past 10 years. However, urban development faces challenges both in planning and seeking solutions to designing and building sustainable cities in the process of rapid urbanisation and globalisation while preserving their identities and values. Vietnam Business Forum excerpts expert opinions on how to enhance the efficiency of the “green architecture” model in urban planning and development, a modern and practical global architectural trend.
It is essential to minimise corollaries of the urbanisation process
Mr To Nhu Toan - President of the Van Phu Investment JSC
The Hanoi master plan from now till 2030 and with a vision to 2050, recently approved by the Prime Minister, is a very important basis for planners, real estate investors in particular, to map out development strategies in line with macro development policies. Besides, I think the Vietnam Real Estate Association plays an important role in forming and directing the property market, one of the most important factors in urban space development. Besides, each company must acquire and apply new environment-friendly technologies and materials, and prevent or minimise adverse impacts of urbanisation process on the society.
Technical advice must be based on real life
Mr Nguyen Lap Son - General Director of Hanoi Design and Consulting JSC (HADECON)
While Vietnam’s economy is facing serious challenges in sustainable development, technical consultants of Vietnam should be fully aware of their responsibilities and base technical advice on real social development. Technical advice must be linked to practical life. However, to meet growing social demand, consultants must have a strong sense of working responsibility and provide high quality advice. So, they must frequently update and improve their working skills, and apply advanced technologies and quality-guaranteeing processes to their consulting activities.
Urban planning and construction must be synchronously coordinated
Mr Nguyen Dinh Tuyen - Director of DOMINO Construction, Architecture and Interiors JSC
Urbanisation is a complicated process involving a lot of factors, including changes in urban structure, migration, changes in economic structure, society and environment. Current urban planning should be placed under a more macro perspective, and the city needs a chief architect to have a unified, overall plan. In addition, stakeholders in the urbanisation process must pay attention to the very rapid development of social factors in order prevent projects from becoming obsolete. Besides, urban planning and construction must be coordinated to end the current impromptu development.
Cultural research is needed to choose best urban identity
Mr Le Quang Dao, President of VCC Engineering Consultants JSC
The identity of a sustainably developed city is essential to increase its charm. Hence, cultural research is needed to choose best urban identity. Modern urban technology must be included in the planning to serve the purpose of energy conservation and efficiency. The “green structure” construction solution does not mean creating walls of trees on the surface of grey concrete, but seeking out overall solutions from the start of urban planning. All processes from choosing location, shaping, using material, equipment and technology must meet environment friendly, energy saving, and recyclable waste criteria. Each project is a cell of the urban zone, so many green works and green spaces will create a green city.
Close collaboration among architects, investors and authorities is essential
Architect Nguyen Dinh Thanh - General Director of Hanoi Urban Architecture Consultancy JSC (UAC)
Most urban zones in Vietnam lack order and synchronisation. Hence, to build a sustainable urban zone, we need to have concerted coordination among architects, investors and authorities to work out a good management system and raise public awareness about sustainable development. In urban planning, studying urban architecture and landscape is an important task, in addition to space and land planning. Stakeholders need to have clear strategies and persuasive theories to introduce to the public to build a complete body. The public also needs to have a good understanding of green architecture and sustainable urban development.
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