Hanoi’s New Cultural Center

Hanoi, Vietnam, will soon be home to a striking new cultural center, with a design that includes six giant lotus flower petals blooming atop a building that will appear to float on a lake.

The center will be located in the western district of the Vietnam capital and will sit along a main arterial that connects the urban core with Noi Bai Airport. The project hopes to build a new cultural epicenter and offer a bold first impression for arriving visitors.

Interestingly, the building will also act as part of the city’s stormwater control system, assisting with drainage during heavy rains. It will also provide spaces for events, ceremonies and weddings. A 2,000-seat theater and performance space and an ice skating rink will round things out.

The design was created by an Australian architectural firm and aims to incorporate Vietnam’s national flower in a modern design. The design has been approved and construction should be complete by Lunar New Year 2019, which falls on Tuesday, Feb. 5, of that year.