Expanding the square with cultural depth

Along with the determination of the city government are the efforts of individuals and businesses joining hands to socialize the appearance of Hanoi to become more spacious and beautiful, commensurate with the stature of the thousand-year-old capital after more than 70 years of reconstruction.

Along with Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square, which has just completed the first phase of renovation and beautification after the Ham Ca Map building was demolished, Hanoi is also about to start the investment project to build a square - park east of Hoan Kiem Lake after completing the site clearance work. The total planned area for this project is about 2.14 hectares (the area of ​​Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square after expansion is nearly 1.4 hectares).

Expansion must include cultural depth.

The person assigned to design this project is a prestigious name: Architect Hoang Thuc Hao, and his 1+1>2 Architecture Company.

The Resurrection Tree, an installation by contemporary artist Tia - Thuy Nguyen at Co Tan flower garden - Hoan Kiem

Photo: NVCC

In the professional world, Hoang Thuc Hao is a name with a lot of weight. Possessing nearly 50 large and small awards at home and abroad, Hoang Thuc Hao is the first Vietnamese architect to win the SIA-GETZ 2016 award for outstanding Asian architect, and is also the first Vietnamese to be awarded two major awards by the International Union of Architects (UIA). Including the Robert Matthew award in the category of Humanistic and Sustainable Environment (2023) with respectful comments from the Jury: "Hoang Thuc Hao is one of the few Vietnamese architects with a clear community mindset in combining the natural environment and the living environment with strong community and cultural connections".

In Hanoi, he has 3 outstanding projects, all of which have won the two international awards mentioned above: Nguyen Luong Bang Street Hanging Village, Son Tay Jackfruit Village, Bat Trang Ceramic Museum. To focus fully on this important project, Architect Hoang Thuc Hao refused to speak and will respond with his own design.

"In my opinion, the expansion of the space around Hoan Kiem Lake needs to be placed in a long-term planning vision, with the substantial participation of experts. This is not only a problem of landscape architecture, but also a problem of preserving cultural heritage while still having to meet the new needs of urban life. Only a deep, multidisciplinary and visionary study can help balance two seemingly contradictory requirements: preserving identity and creating new vitality for the center of Hanoi," Architect Le Quang (Germany) hopes.

Writer Nguyen Viet Ha, an Old Quarter resident and author of many essays about the land and people of Hanoi, wondered: "What I expect is not the two words "expansion". I am more interested in its cultural depth. Expansion, if not careful, can lose and dilute the soul that is inherently a unique attribute of the Old Quarter. To me, the concept of the Old Quarter is not only limited to its own space but also includes the ecosystem surrounding it. The square - park belongs to that ecosystem, so it also needs to have the same language as it so that the dialogue between the past and the present becomes harmonious and meaningful."

City government invites artists to join

Hanoi once piloted the "Ceramic Road" using the socialization method with the cooperation of artists, businesses..., helping to transform the dusty "dyke street" on the banks of the Red River into a somewhat unique visual highlight. With the constructions around Hoan Kiem Lake and specifically here at the core point of the "turtle's navel" (as writer Nguyen Viet Ha said), design plans need to be carried out more carefully and delicately.

Bat Trang Ceramic Museum (Hanoi), an impressive design by architect Hoang Thuc Hao, who was assigned to design the square - park area east of Hoan Kiem Lake.

Photo: NVCC

In April 2025, designer Thuy Nguyen (often known for the famous fashion brand Thuy Design House, and also a contemporary artist with the stage name Tia - Thuy Nguyen) had an interesting initiative: A 70-year-old ancient acacia tree, after being knocked down by Typhoon Yagi, was turned into a large-scale installation called The Resurrection Tree . The work was completed in 6 months, using more than 6 tons of steel wrapped around the fallen tree trunk, placed in Co Tan flower garden (Hoan Kiem ward), creating an impressive view in the public space that is poor in visual highlights of Hanoi.

The initiative of this designer, who is also a contemporary artist whose works have been exhibited domestically and internationally, has given a suggestion to the city government. After the Revival Tree , the author was invited by the People's Committee of Hoan Kiem District (now Hoan Kiem Ward) to join, still using the socialization method to contribute to the city's impressive visual highlights. Thuy Nguyen said that she and artisans from craft villages are completing an installation work that is expected to be placed in the 19.8 flower garden right next to the August Revolution Square in front of the Hanoi Opera House. "There are many other public spaces that need the accompaniment of creative artists to help the city have more public art works that create visual appeal, contributing to perfecting the necessary elegant style of a capital city," she shared.

Along with the expansion and renovation of the park - square around Hoan Kiem Lake as well as along To Lich River with the determination and internal strength of the Central and City governments..., Hanoi also needs the cooperation and companionship of artists, businesses... in non-profit projects so that the problem of building the square is also a "poem".

Museum Island (Berlin, Germany) seen from Berlin Cathedral

Photo: Ha Minh

"In many countries, public space projects are always carefully prepared: the city conducts in-depth research, invites experts, organizes competitions to have many approaches. Unlike the absolute concept of "right - wrong", planning and architecture is a gradual construction process, which can be tested, made mistakes and adjusted.

The experience of Berlin (Germany) shows that: the area of ​​the museum island was debated from 1998 to 2019 before it was completed, and there were still people who praised and criticized it differently. But that diversity of views is the nature of public space: freedom, democracy and it is impossible to please everyone." Dr. Le Quang (Federal Republic of Germany)

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/mo-rong-quang-truong-bang-chieu-sau-van-hoa-185250925221637316.htm