Masterise Homes – the developer of The Global City has announced the appointment of Foster + Partners for the masterplan. The practice will act as Architectural Advisors of the development, providing innovative and sustainable design solutions to create a truly global city in Ho Chi Minh City.

The Global City will be a diverse and sophisticated neighbourhood, integrating a full range of facilities for a future downtown city alongside residential units. The giga development, located in An Phu ward, Thu Duc city boasts excellent connectivity with easy access to highways, major roads, metro lines.

The 117,4-hectare masterplan will include high-rise and low-rise apartments, villas and social housing, schools, medical and administration facilities, a 125,000sqm grade- A shopping mall and other amenities to create a sustainable, mixed-use community.

Gerard Evenden, Head of Studio, Foster + Partners, said: “The Global City Masterplan is a fantastic new residential-led development, in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. The design seeks to strike a balance between biodiversity and human wellbeing within an urban context, seamlessly integrating the buildings with a range of flexible, landscaped public spaces and community facilities to create a holistic, sustainable masterplan for the future.”

Toby Blunt, Senior Partner, Foster + Partners, added: “The ambition and scale of the project is striking, and we are delighted to be working with Masterise Homes on this unique residential project, which brings together their progressive vision and our extensive experience in large-scale masterplans to create a distinct global city. This will be our first township in Vietnam, and we are excited to extend our footprint in the country.”

Youssef Akila, Head of Design Masterise Homes commented: “We are delighted to be partnering with one of the world’s most recognized names in architecture and design to realize our vision for The Global City. There is a natural synergy with Foster + Partners, whose ongoing commitment towards sustainability and green projects is aligned with our commitment to creating an iconic development with worldwide recognition, contributing to the community and promoting society sustainability. The Global City will be another milestone in our journey of bringing world-class excellence to Vietnam.”

A central green spine and two adjacent waterways run from the northern to the southern boundaries of the site. Each of the five neighbourhoods has its own distinctive character, which has been developed to meet the needs of the community who live there.

The majority of the high-rise residential buildings are located on the central boulevard, which also acts as a large public park, where residents and visitors can enjoy spectacular riverside views. Pedestrian bridges connect the boulevard with the surrounding neighbourhoods, improving walkability, and promoting physical wellbeing.

The neighbourhoods’ residential buildings are influenced by the vernacular of Ho Chi Minh City. The scale and use of materials, including brick and timber, reference local streets and complement the city’s existing palette. The design celebrates the area’s rich and varied street life.

This pioneering masterplan has been designed to enhance human connections and re-establish a positive relationship with nature. It offers many green, breathable spaces including parks, courtyards, and gardens. The development is linked throughout by lush landscaping, creating serene pedestrian walkways and significantly improving biodiversity, while providing residents with spaces to exercise, gather and socialise.