.jpg "Photo: Tuoi Tre")
The 1,000th founding anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi will be marked by music and other cultural events from October 1 to 10
Photo: Tuoi Tre
Two possible designs for the planned Thang Long performing arts center in the new urban area west of Hanoi's West Lake have been submitted to the city's People's Committee for review.
The complex, on a site of 22ha, will include a symphony hall with a capacity of 1,200-1,500 seats, a multi-purpose performance theatre of 1,800 seats, and an open-air performance space.
In the first design, the theatre space would be divided into two buildings in the form of two bronze drums lying in a lotus pond. The buildings would be covered by a shared roof in the form of a tortoise's shell.
The second design would take inspiration from the red sails of a ship on Ha Long Bay, and the whole theatre would be built over water and surrounded with trees.
In this design, the symphony hall would be situated above the multi-purpose performance hall, and the buildings would be constructed of steel and glass, with solar power systems on the roof. Water drainage pipes would also be made of glass to help dissipate heat during summer.
The People's Committee will choose one of the two designs and exhibit the model and hold a groundbreaking ceremony at the site early next month, in time to celebrate the city's millennial anniversary.
Most of the city's concerts and musical performances are now held at the Hanoi Opera House, built between 1901 and 1911. But it has only 900 seats.
Another performing arts center, the 730-seat Au Co Arts Performing Centre on Huynh Thuc Khang Street, was put into operation earlier this year.
