Southeast Asia Building – May-June 2018

V

ietinBank Business Centre is Foster + Partners first project
in Vietnam and pioneers an ambitious sustainable agenda,
while demonstrating the emergence of Hanoi as an
international financial centre. The development comprises two
landmark towers, which are strategically located between central
Hanoi and the airport, and form a striking new gateway to the city.
As well as providing a new headquarters for VietinBank, one
of Vietnam’s largest banking groups, the 300,000-square-metre
mixed-use scheme includes a range of leisure facilities. The
taller tower, at 68-storeys, will provide an energy-efficient new
headquarters for the Bank, while the second, 48-storey tower will
house a five-star hotel, spa and serviced apartments. The towers
are connected by a seven-storey podium building, which contains a
range of shops, cafes and restaurants and is topped by roof gardens.
The upper levels of each building have been sheared diagonally to
create V-shaped peaks, which face away from the adjoining podium
to address views of the city and surrounding landscape. Rising from
a triangular footprint, the two wings of the towers are braced by a
central green spine, formed by a series of connected atria, which
contribute to the building’s ventilation strategy.
The scheme has a progressive environmental agenda and is
designed to mitigate the effects of the area’s high levels of humidity
using a low-energy, desiccant wheel. The system draws in humidity,
separating the water from the atmosphere and exhaling hot, dry air,
which can then be cooled by ground water and released back into
the buildings. This is the first time this technology has been applied
in the region on such a large scale. A serrated facade, made up of
projecting fins at 4.5-metre intervals, provides both shade and a
unit of measurement for cellular offices around the perimeter of
the floor plate.

“This is our first project in

Vietnam, designed as a mixed

use landmark – positioned

between the airport and the

city centre – as the gateway to

Hanoi. It will provide modern

flexible working spaces for

Vietinbank alongside a luxury

5-star hotel and hospitality

spaces for visitors and locals. A

true exemplar of sustainability,

the design responds to the

climate and traditions of Hanoi,

and symbolises the rise of Hanoi

as an global

centre for

finance.”

• Luke Fox, Head of
  Studio and Senior
  Executive Partner,
  Foster + Partners

MAY-JUNE 2018 SEAB 55

ARCHITECTURE + INTERIOR

PROJECT DATA

Project: VietinBank Business Centre

Location: Hanoi, Vietnam

Client: VietinBank

Architect Firm: Foster + Partners

Type: Mixed-use development (Office & Hospitality)

Gross Area: 295,000 square metres

Height: 365 metres

Floors:

First tower: 68 storeys

Second tower: 48 storeys

Estimated Completion: 2019

Photos: © Foster + Partners