Building Saigon South

Book excerpt: In the Saigon South district of Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City, globally renowned architecture firm Skidmore Owings & Merrill designed a livable, human-scale urban environment in partnership with the Phu My Hung development group. SOM created the master plan that still guides growth and change in this part of the city, which has been accepted as an example of sustainable development to be imitated across Asia and throughout the rest of the world. Saigon South's neighborhoods accommodate residents of varying income levels and provide green public space for all. Verdant parks are placed alongside the area's natural water features. The master plan's emphasis on multi-use design allows for traditional shophouses as well as larger businesses, integrating all parts of life into a pedestrian-friendly district. Saigon South is an economically and civically vibrant district that showcases the city's cultural richness rather than the egos of the architects and developers.