Thu Thiem designers prep for final

HCM City (VNA) - Three foreign companies have been selected for the
final round of a competition on the design of Ho Chi Minh City 's Thu Thiem new urban area.

Launched by the Thu Thiem New Urban Area Authority five months ago, the competition sought designs for a central plaza, a crescent park and a Saigon River pedestrian bridge.

The Thu Thiem new urban area covering 657ha of land and 123ha of water is
located about 300m from downtown HCM City to the east of the Saigon
River .

The 13ha central plaza would be Vietnam 's largest gathering place.

The plaza and the 12ha crescent park both overlooking the Saigon River
will be linked with HCM City 's downtown by a pedestrian bridge.

Seventy-eight architecture companies from 25 countries entered the
competition to design these three projects.

The jury board with many well-known architecture professors and experts
from the US , Spain , China and Vietnam selected three companies for
the final round, but the winner has not yet been chosen.

The three companies are DESO Defrain-Souquet Architecture from France,
Hager International Ag. From Switzerland and Edaw Co. from Hong
Kong-China.

The French company's design features vast flower beds both on land and on
water from the Thu Thiem's central plaza to HCM City 's downtown.

The project designed by Switzerland 's Hager International is
highlighted by beautiful landscapes linking the city downtown by a roofed
bridge.

Nguyen Anh Tuan, head of Thu Thiem New Urban Area Authority, said the
designs would be submitted to HCM City 's People's Committee this week.

"The city will then choose one design for construction", Tuan
said.-Enditem