A landmark in the heart of the city.

About four months ago, few would have thought that the more than 4-hectare "prime" plot of land at 1 Ly Thai To Street, which had remained a "mystery" in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City for so many years, would soon be "unveiled." The explanation was welcomed by the people: the land would be repurposed and developed into a park, serving community activities instead of high-rise buildings.

The "Water Drop" symbol, the highlight of the park. Photo: HOANG HUNG

As soon as the plan was approved, the city received the support of investors with a total funding of over 263 billion VND for phase 1. Importantly, all the valuable old trees in the park were preserved. Old villas that were still functional were renovated and restored into exhibition spaces - museums, libraries, information centers, reception areas, memorials, or public utility areas… Thus, the city both preserved and enhanced the value of heritage while creating new “symbols” alongside clusters of modern, convenient services to serve residents and tourists.

In the 104-day construction race, from the initial idea and design approval to the selection of materials and equipment, and the team of engineers and construction workers, it has been shown that when there is a determination to "see it through" and "do it properly," based on gathering the right people and clearly defining the tasks, success will inevitably come. For example, regarding the overall design, to soften the sharp corners of this triangular plot of land, the designers rounded each edge and placed a circular square in the center of the park – with the Water Droplet monument – ​​creating balance in form and harmony between yin and yang. This also serves as an explanation for a painful and tragic chapter in the city's history; a reminder that we should not only find ways to overcome but also know how to prevent impending disasters.

Around the central square, covering an area of ​​over 1,800 square ^meters , where the Water Droplet Monument is located, the ground was lowered by approximately 4 meters, creating a "memory pit." The excavated soil was transformed and filled in to create a hillside garden space adjacent to the square, conveying the message: what is taken from must be returned to Mother Earth, maintaining harmony throughout the entire space.

With the project deadline set before the Lunar New Year, and despite the difficulties in mobilizing manpower and equipment during the holiday season, the contractor and the sponsor ( Sun Group ) have almost ensured continuous construction day and night, with over 500 workers at peak times. Meanwhile, three stone processing plants have operated continuously for 40 days to extract more than 2,500 ^{m³ of} raw stone, producing 1,350 ^m³ of finished products to serve the construction of an area of ​​over 23,000 ^m² .

Not to mention the daily race to gather enough high-grade Indian granite (30mm thick, while the market only commonly offers 20mm), assembling highly skilled artisans, including 25 artisans from Non Nuoc - Ngu Hanh Son stone carving village, along with 30 machine operators, working continuously in 3 shifts for 30 days, contributing to the creation of exquisite stone details, rich in traditional handcrafted value.

Reverence for nature and the world of "good people," coupled with meticulous technical expertise, speaks volumes about the quality of the construction, ensuring rapid completion, adherence to standards, and effective communication of the project's meaning and message. This achievement is not only worthy of recognition for a single project, but can also establish a benchmark and a practical requirement for other projects. This could potentially apply to the remaining eight projects under the Ho Chi Minh City leadership's initiative to "transform vacant land into parks and gardens."

And one of the distinguishing features of this project is its willingness to listen to the people's wishes and promptly find solutions that are fair, reasonable, and fully meet their expectations. Along with the corporate social responsibility of the business, the city government has etched a meaningful mark with this memorial to those who lost their lives due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

These include parks, exhibition spaces, community art venues, and areas for public physical training… They represent green spaces for the city, an effort to balance the natural environment. And they also embody the art of governance, an element that defines the dignity of a government by the people, for the people.

MAIN HEART

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/dau-son-giua-long-thanh-pho-post838507.html