Hanoi Smart City covers an area of 270 hectares with commercial, residential, cultural and educational developments and public buildings distributed around a central park and lake. The focal point of the masterplan is a 108-storey, 639-meter mixed-use super-high rise tower containing office, hotel, SOHO apartments, co-working business centre and retail mall with a GFA of over 133,000 square metres. 

Farrells' vision for the New Heart of Hanoi at the relatively undeveloped north side of the Red River sees a transit-oriented business and conference district that symbolises a gateway between the old district and the Airport. The design aims to harmoniously integrate modern architecture with traditional culture and symbols to showcase Vietnam’s urban style, unique identity and development potential as a world-class city.

The Site forms the heart of the Smart City with the proposed metro line between the Airport and City Centre placing intermediate stations along the length of Central Park for integrated transport and mixed-use commercial developments. Farrells’ emphasis on prioritising pedestrian connections and landscape as infrastructure creates active and human-centric paths and open spaces between destinations to achieve a sustainable and walkability Smart City.

The breathtaking scenic views of terraced rice plantation in Vietnam’s countryside inspired the retail strategy, podium design and unique shopping experience of weaving seamlessly from indoor to outdoor while fully embracing the Lake inside Central Park.  Outdoor terraces at lower levels afford al-fresco dining opportunities for restaurant, bar and café patrons to enjoy the natural surroundings while the upper level offers similar access to nature to inspire the co-working environment.  Within the shopping mall, residents in the community can stroll through the arcade to pick up daily essentials in their commute between home and work via the metro.

The landmark tower maximises panoramic views of Hanoi City Centre to the south and Central Park to the north with its triangular form pointing towards Red River and opening up to those arriving from the Airport.  This design concept not only reduces construction costs, and improves space utilisation efficiency, but also effectively decreases lateral loads from wind effects. The triangular plan affords three inviting entrances to the residential (hotel and apartments), office and retail components of the development, each with its own entrance plaza and garden to heighten the arrival experience.  Generous footpaths and open spaces lead to surrounding streetscapes and offerings for a healthy public realm that builds vitality and dialogue within neighbourhoods.

The tower’s sculptural outline reinterprets Vietnamese motifs and culture, rising out of the rice fields and wetlands like a blade of grass to meet the sky while the facade drapes around the building like a Non La dress with a sweeping gesture that breaks down the singular volume to form sky terraces overlooking the Park.

The sky terrace is integrated with hotel suites and amenities to create semi-outdoor green spaces at the pinnacle of the tower. The soft landscape on the receding floor levels forms planted "hills" that resemble the landscaped mountains around the city and countryside.  Upon reaching the sky lobby through dedicated shuttle lifts, guests will be presented with panoramic views in all directions, thus facilitating a multi-level arrival experience.