The area around Nguyen Hue has undergone a major transformation in the last year or so. In keeping with these drastic changes, there will soon be another upgrade to the walking street, as one of the city's most recognizable landmarks is planning a modern addition to its French colonial structure.
City officials announced on Tuesday that the municipal People's Committee building, which stands at the top of Nguyen Hue just behind the new statue of Ho Chi Minh, is set to receive an upgrade, reports Zing.
While the new addition will feature modern architecture, it's important to note that the existing building won't change at all. Instead, Japanese architecture firm Nikken Sekkei will construct a few contemporary add-ons alongside the French colonial structure within that city block, which is bordered by Le Thanh Ton, Ly Tu Trong, Dong Khoi and Pasteur Streets.
Nikken Sekkei was one of 11 competitors shortlisted in a design competition held earlier this year, in which the public was allowed to vote for their favorite design.
Seven of the 11 submissions on the ballot opted to preserve not only the People's Committee building but also the 1888 Bureau du Gouvernment structure just behind it, a positive step toward safeguarding one of Saigon's historical buildings. Nikken Sekkei's design was one such design. As such, the original structure at 59-61 Ly Tu Trong - just behind the People's Committee building - will be moved in sections to bring the 1888 building in line with the back of the People's Committee offices, slightly southwest of its current location.
City officials unanimously agreed upon the new design, which will take up over 18,000 square meters on the block with a maximum building height of 30 meters. Once complete, the building will house the municipal People's Committee, City Council, the office of the city's National Assembly delegation and the Departments of Transportation, Interior, Information and Communications, Industry and Trade, and Natural Resources and Environment.
