The iconic ‘Shark Jaw’ building near Hoan Kiem Lake has been demolished, making way for a more open and modern public space.

The Dong Kinh-Nghia Thuc Square will feature three underground levels: a cultural and commercial space on the first floor, with the second and third floors serving as parking areas or multifunctional spaces.

A new vision for Hoan Kiem Lake

The Hanoi People’s Committee has set a target to complete the demolition by April 30, 2025, with the entire eastern Hoan Kiem Lake area slated for renovation by September 2, 2025.

The project area covers approximately 1.2 hectares, bordered by Hang Gai and Cau Go streets to the north, Hoan Kiem Lake to the south, Ho Hoan Kiem Street to the east, and Hong Van - Long Van Building to the west.

The ‘Shark Jaw’ building, managed by Hanoi Transport Corporation (Transerco), occupied 390 square meters with a total usable floor space of 1,600 square meters.

The eastern side of Hoan Kiem Lake, encompassing 2.14 hectares, borders Dinh Tien Hoang Street to the west, Ly Thai To Street to the east, Tran Nguyen Han Street to the south, and existing residential areas to the north.

The area houses 54 property owners, including 42 households and 12 organizations such as the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, Hanoi Electricity Corporation, Institute of Literature, and various municipal offices.

A modern public square with underground facilities

The renovation project will be funded by the mid-term public investment budget and executed in two phases:

Phase 1: Land clearance and construction of the above-ground square.

Phase 2: Building the underground facilities, including a cultural and commercial space on the first underground level, with parking or multifunctional spaces on the second and third levels.

The Hanoi People’s Committee has tasked the Hoan Kiem District People's Committee with drafting a master plan to redesign the square, including the placement of cultural structures, landscaping, traffic organization, and lighting systems.

Returning the charm to Hoan Kiem Lake

According to Trinh Hoang Tung, Deputy Chairman of Hoan Kiem District People's Committee, the revamped square will have a spacious and modern design, blending above-ground and underground spaces to better accommodate community cultural and artistic activities.

Dao Ngoc Nghiem, former Vice President of the Vietnam Urban Planning and Development Association, emphasized the importance of expanding public spaces around Hoan Kiem Lake.

He pointed out that the plan to restore Hoan Kiem Lake's cultural value has been in discussion since 1995, and it is essential to reduce urban pressure on the area by removing unnecessary buildings.

Architects involved in the project also proposed removing additional unsuitable structures to restore Hoan Kiem Lake’s historical and cultural landscape, creating a friendly and open environment.

N. Huyen