Renovating old collective housing areas must ensure the harmony of interests of all three parties
The People's Committee of Dong Da District (Hanoi City) is collecting public opinions on the detailed planning project for the renovation and reconstruction of Trung Tu and adjacent collective housing areas at a scale of 1/500, within the administrative boundaries of Phuong Lien and Trung Tu wards. According to the proposal of Dong Da district (Hanoi city), 30 old 5-storey apartment buildings with 1,795 apartments in Trung Tu apartment complex will be rebuilt into a 45-storey building and a 25-storey building.
Talking with Lao Dong, architect Pham Thanh Tung - Chief of Office of the Vietnam Association of Architects - commented that Dong Da District's proposal to rebuild 30 5-storey buildings into a 45-storey building and a 25-storey building is the right direction. After the Capital Law (amended) took effect, Hanoi was "untied" in terms of height targets, opening up opportunities for urban reconstruction.
Previously, only a maximum of 20 floors were allowed. Now allowing up to 45 floors is in line with the development trend. With that height, just two buildings are enough to accommodate all the old residents. The remaining land area can be completely utilized for infrastructure development, public spaces, parks, schools, parking lots, etc., Mr. Tung analyzed.
According to architect Pham Thanh Tung, to successfully renovate Trung Tu area, the most important thing is to ensure the three benefits of investors, people and the State.
For investors, they need to have a reasonable profit mechanism. Currently, the profit margin is limited to more than 10%, although not high, but still feasible if exploited at the grassroots level for services and trade. Investors can have sustainable revenue from service facilities such as supermarkets, medical centers, restaurants, community spaces, etc. if well planned, he said.
For the people, their rights must be clear and practical. Previously, people could only live in a 20 - 25m2 prefabricated house, which was cramped and lacking amenities. Now, households on the first floor apply the K coefficient of 2, households from the second floor or higher have a K coefficient of 1.5. On average, each household on the first floor will be compensated about 70m2. In addition, with a prime location, the area after renovation will have high real estate value, a synchronous infrastructure system, and a significantly improved living environment.
On the State's side, renovating old apartment buildings is an important social security task. At the same time, it contributes to changing the face of urban areas, minimizing the risk of fire, explosion, collapse and infrastructure overload.
No additional personnel, no overload reproduction
A key point emphasized by Architect Pham Thanh Tung is not to "ship" the population to the old land. The two-story building plan must be calculated in sufficient time to arrange all existing residents, without creating new residents, to avoid putting pressure on existing urban infrastructure.
"Renovation is to reduce the burden, not to increase the population. If more people are added, the infrastructure will be overloaded," he said. At the same time, the construction must come with a synchronous infrastructure system, connecting transportation and green space. It is necessary to integrate smart underground floors, serving parking, commercial, community activities, and even cultural and sports spaces.
For cities like Hanoi, where land funds are increasingly limited, the compact urban model associated with public transport is inevitable. If successful, renovating Trung Tu apartment complex can become a model for other areas such as Giang Vo, Quynh Mai, Thanh Cong...
According to Architect Pham Thanh Tung, compact urban areas do not mean crowding, but are a model of organizing an effective living space, integrating housing, workplaces, schools, healthcare, business and entertainment in a close range. At that time, people will reduce their dependence on personal vehicles, contributing to reducing congestion, pollution and social costs. However, to achieve that goal, there needs to be great political determination and the synchronous and serious participation of the city's functional sectors.
