What do experts say about the demolition of the "Shark Jaws" building?

To plan and organize the architectural landscape space of Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square, Hanoi will demolish the "Shark Jaw" building and relocate some agency headquarters to make a park, expanding the public space in the area east of Hoan Kiem Lake (Sword Lake).

Supporting this policy, according to Dr. Architect Dao Ngoc Nghiem, former Vice President of the Vietnam Urban Planning and Development Association, expanding the space of Hoan Kiem Lake to create connections with surrounding areas has been an issue since 1995. However, after 30 years, this has not been possible due to lack of investment capital and land clearance costs.

Mr. Dao Ngoc Nghiem said that for the policy of researching planning and renovating the area east of Hoan Kiem Lake in the direction of increasing public space and open space, the authorities need to have a general picture. In the "picture", it must show how to expand to the east of Hoan Kiem Lake, how to the west, then the Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc square area, the area where milestone number 0 is located... Along with that, there must be a connection with underground station C9 of urban railway line No. 2, Nam Thang Long - Tran Hung Dao section (under Dinh Tien Hoang street).

Sharing the same view, Architect Tran Huy Anh, Standing Member of the Hanoi Architects Association, said that expanding public space around Hoan Kiem Lake is necessary because the Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square area is currently overloaded.

It is known that the "Shark Jaw" building was built in two years, from 1991 to 1993. The building has a prime location, the front facing Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square, the left facing Hoan Kiem Lake, the right facing Cau Go Street. The building has 6 floors, from the 2nd to the 5th floor are restaurants and cafes with many famous brands.

According to research, the "Shark Jaw" building is managed and operated by Hanoi Transport Corporation (Transerco). Transerco is a state-owned enterprise under the City People's Committee.

The Hanoi People's Committee has approved the proposal to demolish the "Shark Jaw" building and consider the design and renovation plan for Dong Kinh - Nghia Thuc Square.

Accordingly, Hanoi assigned Hoan Kiem district to coordinate with relevant departments and branches to establish a separate urban design project for the square area and street area north of Hoan Kiem Lake and south of the Old Quarter, in which the main content is the Dong Kinh - Nghia Thuc Square area.

After demolishing the "Shark Jaws" building, relevant agencies studied the construction of about 3 basements and proposed specific functions for the basement, including arranging cultural and commercial spaces on basement 1, and parking areas on basements 2 and 3.

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