ole scheeren reveals symbiotic vision of nature and living in designs for vietnam's empire city

german architect ole scheeren has unveiled a spectacular ensemble of high-rise towers and public spaces known as ’empire city’, some of the tallest in vietnam‘s largest city, ho chi minh. the high-rise ensemble will include three skyscrapers soaring high above a mountain-shaped, garden-like podium, reaching a height of 333 meters.

empire city will contain the largest skyscrapers in vietnam,
all images © ole scheeren

empire city is described as ‘a symbiotic vision of nature and living within the space of the city’ at the centre of which its main structure and largest building will lie. the 88 tower will feature apartments, offices and a hotel as well as large areas open to the public including landscaped viewing platforms from the ground to the rooftop as well as an observation deck, called ‘cloud space’, at the very top.

empire city will consist of three skyscrapers with the focal point being the ’88 tower’

the the 88 tower will be connected to its’ sister buildings – which will contain offices and homes – by several floors of public viewing platforms. these floors will create a multi-level experience designed to evoke vietnam’s tropical jungles and offer panoramic views of the city and the nearby saigon river.

the 88 tower will contain multiple viewing platforms open to the public throughout

‘situated on a central peninsula of the saigon River, the project will generate an integrative environment that fuses natural landscape with the rapidly growing metropolis‘, scheeren explained in a statement. ‘as a result, new qualities of urban living will emerge in this mixed-use environment of work, life, culture, entertainment and public enjoyment‘.

the viewing platforms will be densely populated with a variety of local plant species and water features

the project is being developed by a multi-national joint venture of real estate firms from vietname, singapore and hong kong, known as the empire city limited liability company.

scheeren has described the project as an emblem for the future of the city’s development