ĐÀ NẴNG — Two partnerships of design companies – the OMG-Designers-Boydens-Hydroscan-Huni Architectes-Ney & Partners, and CPG Consultants-Landscape Jardins Asia-Consulus-Glopan, were awarded second prizes at the contest on planning and architectural design of the Hàn River banks.

The contest organising committee said there was no first prize winner and each second place contestant received a cash prize of VND575 million (US$25,500).

The central city of Da Nang announced that the contest launched in August drew the participation of 39 consultant and design groups, with the best seven reaching the final round.

The Hàn River banks design by a contestant. — VNS Photo Nguyễn Khôi

A group of A.S DeSo Architech Urbanists-S.A Hydratec-Tedi South-Atek Consultant Corp and Nikken Sekkei Civil Engineering company shared two third prizes of VND230 million ($10,200) each.

The city said the constest would contribute new ideas and designs for future urban development, as well as creating landscape and beautiful scenery.

In 2015, the Korean Jina design company was selected as a consultant to design and plan the banks of the 7.2km-long river, sandwiched between the city’s downtown and Sơn Trà peninsula, but its architectural design was deemed  unsatisfactory. 

A design of the Hàn River banks on display at a design contest of the Hàn River banks in Đà Nẵng city. — VNS Photo Nguyễn Khôi

In 2014, the Sơn Trà Peninsula Strategic Vision Plan designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) was given an award of excellence by the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

Earlier this year, the Dragon Bridge spanning the Hàn River won the 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award.

The lighting design on the bridge also received the Best Citation from the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) in 2014. — VNS