Vo Trong Nghia Architects have unveiled their latest development for Ho Chi Minh City – three linked towers covered in bamboo. The architecture firm are known for their work that adds greenery to the increasingly urban environment of Vietnam.

Situated 3.5km away from the centre of the city, ‘Diamond Lotus’ is a set of three condominium buildings for 720 families, with a total floor space of 67,240 sqm across its buildings. The three volumes are appropriate for large-scale housing and the roof of each is connected to resonate with Vietnamese Feng Shui. 

The connected roofs provide the residents with a large green space, which is a rarity in this crowded city. The facades, however, are covered with planter boxes that control heat gain from the powerful tropical sunlight. Bamboo was chosen to be planted throughout each 22-storey building because of its structural flexibility against storms. While other developments are expediting the loss of greenery in the city, the ‘green bridge’ and green facade of this project are regarded as not only a dedication to the comfort of inhabitants, but also a contribution to the landscape, appearing as a ‘green screen’.

This project is dedicated to changing the perspective of Ho Chi Minh City’s citizens on environmental sustainability, and is the first green landmark appearing amid the density of the city.