HCMC launches administrative center design contest

HCMC launches administrative center design contest The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has launched a contest for designing its central administrative area in District 1, with a first prize of US$14,400.

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Authorities said it will spend about VND1.2 billion (US$56,604) on contest expenses.

The central administrative area is expected to be built in the area surrounded by Le Thanh Ton, Pasteur, Ly Tu Trong, and Dong Khoi in District 1.

Candidates are required to have professional capabilities, prestige in the field of architecture, and have good knowledge of conservation.

Such candidates must be recommended by the Architecture Research Center under the HCMC Department of Planning and Architecture.

After the qualification round, the contest’s board of examiners will compile a short list of 7-9 candidates for the final round, during which the board will assess and select the best design.

The highest prize of the contest is VND300 million (US$14,400) and the wining design will be copyright protected.

The winner will be eligible to make more designs for the administrative center under contract.

The second prize is worth VND150 million, third prize VND100 million, and there is a consolation prize of VND50 million.

In addition, the organizers will offer VND20 million to each designer who fails to win any of the above-mentioned prizes.

In a related development, the pilot project for building a new urban administration model for Ho Chi Minh City is expected to be submitted to Political Bureau (Politburo) in March 2014 for consideration.

Under the model, HCMC will be re-organized to have four satellite cities revolving around a central area comprised of 13 districts.

This model will meet the city’s needs of social and economic development and contribute to the country’s administrative reforms, the city authorities said.

The project will be submitted to the government for review before being referred to the Politburo for consideration on March 13, 2014.

The project will then be submitted to the National Assembly for approval.

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