Vientiane is the capital and most visible face of Laos. As the country's development hub it plays a vital role as the centre of economics, politics and international diplomacy, and much more could be done to make the city more attractive, modern and civilised.
What is your vision about Vientiane ? Share your opinion please
well i know some will disagree with me because they would want vientiane to have its own trangquility uniqueness that it has right now but...
i for one would love to see tall buildings along both sides of lanxang avenue. this should be our main economic zone like wallstreet or something resembling the streets of tokyo.
i want atleast our capital city to become an metropolitan and to suit others have a city like luang prabang keep its natural and ancient apearence.
anyways bottom line for me is more tall buildings in our capital.
why tall buildings? there is so much place in Laos for so few people... there is no need for tall buildings. Did you see all the problem they have with donechan Palace Hotel? they cannot use the upper floors because water flow is not strong enough to reach them... and they have many more problems!
Personaly, the main problem i worry is trafic jams. Vientiane was a paradise capital city a few years ago, now, it's becoming same as most of big cities in the world: overcrowded, polluted, time losing place because of trafic jams.
Of course it's interesting to develop the city: build better building (but ecological building, using construction "naturaly cooled" that don't need aircon to be comfortable (aircon is costfull, pollute, noisy, make buildings ugly...) This can exist if you call good architects, densify a little bit but not too much. But the most important point is to develop public transportation : bus, tramway, and facilitate the use of natural transportation (walking, bicycle).... at least favourize motorbike against big pick-up, very often used to carry just a single person (so stupid, costfull and inapropriate). There is also a work of education of lao people about this.
If the autorities can do this job well, i mean regulate the development of the city to make it sustainable and responsible... and comfortable for people living there, it would be great.
I strongly believe that starting the development of a capital city NOW is a great opportunity, because we can benefit of all the experience of other capital cities in the world, that were developped during the past century : benefit from the good ideas, the most recent ideas and concepts, but also see all the problem caused by inapropriate decisions and constructions, and try to avoid them.
This need lot of thought, intelligence, engineering, political action and communication, but this can drive to one of the most wonderfull capital city in the world... even is laos remain a relatively poor country. it's a great chance for Laos, i hope lao autorities won't miss it.
-- Edited by paris_vientiane on Friday 11th of September 2009 09:18:58 AM
I fully agree with you Paris_Vientiane, Laos has the advantage of learning from the best practices and mistakes made by other city planners in the world. Vientiane is big enough to be developed into a wonderful and progressive city but hopefully without compromising its natural beauty. It could have one or two tall buildings though that can serve as a symbol of progress and financial stability, something like a trade center and would allow one to have the great view of the landscape. But I hope they will not build too many tall buildings as it will definitely change the skyline, which is currently beautifu already.
Government can impose guidelines to make sure architectural designs will be in harmony with the great culture of Laos and its natural beauty. Make sure also sewage system is big and adequate with proper waste management system, adequate potable water pipelines, wide roads with at least 6 lanes wide.
consider also delegating areas so that major shops, restaurants, bars, commercial complexes are close to residential areas but not within, so people have securityand peace.
I would say the area along the Mekong river which includes Ho Kham, Ho Phakeo, wat Simuang, wat Onteu and etc, should be preserved. No buildings should be taller than the temples in that area. This section should be called Old Vientiane.
I disagree with tall buildings along the Lane Xang avenue. Instead there should be government buildings, Museums, and educational/intellectual purpose structures. The buildings must have some traditional design.
