British architecture firm Atkins, in collaboration with British engineering group Arup, has started building a new skyscraper on the bank of the Saigon River in Ho Chi Minh City, as reported from Architectural Digest.
In an article from Global Instruction Review, the Vincom Landmark 81 will be located in Vinhomes Central Park and will have a height of 460 meters.
As seen in the article from Global Instruction Review, Bertil de Kleynen, director of architecture for Atkins in Asia Pacific said, "Our challenge was to create a unique and dynamic landmark tower design to support Vingroup's vision for a high-end mixed-use development. The tower is integrated into the public realm that addresses sustainable design challenges at various interfaces of the project."
The article from Architectural Digest added that once completed, the 1,509 foot structure will be the tallest tower in Vietnam. The article reported that it will exceed the height of Willis Tower in Chicago having 1,451 feet and the Petronas Tower in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia having 1,483 feet.
"This project marks a significant progress for Atkins in Vietnam and reinforces our track record in landmark projects on a global scale," mentioned Bertil de Kleynen, as seen in an article from Dezeen.
In addition, the article from Dezeen added that the Vincom Landmark 81 will rise from a square footprint as 25 thin sections of various heights. The article added that it will have shorter elements topped with roof gardens around the edges and taller parts of the glass-clad structure located in the center.
The glass-encased skyscraper will be completed in 2017 and it will consist of luxury apartments, serviced offices, a marina, and a 241,000 square meter shopping center at the base of the tower, as mentioned in the article from Global Instruction Review. The article added that the five-year project will include villas, a golf course, an entertainment park, an eco-park and a cable car service and it costs $870 million.
Once the tower is complete, Global Instruction Review predicted that apartments will be sold from buyers outside Vietnam.
To support the prediction, an article from Thanhnien News reported that Amendments to the Law of Housing took effect last July 1. The article explained that the law allows foreigners with valid visas and international organizations operating in Vietnam to buy up to 30 percent of an apartment building or 250 houses in a ward.
The article added that most foreigners are interested in buying homes in South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and Singapore.