To date, a total of 14 domestic and foreign design units have registered to compete in a contest to design architectural plans for upgrading the existing headquarters of the municipal People’s Council at 42 Bach Dang into the Museum of Da Nang.

The museum will be moved out of the Dien Hai citadel site to 42 Bach Dang

Of the 14 entrants, there are 2 foreign design consultants, namely Studio Cooperative in Paris, France, and studioMilou Singapore. The remaining 12 units are from Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Noi and Thua Thien - Hue.

From 2 April until 5 May, the contestants are carrying out the design entries which are required to be submitted to the contest’s organisers no later than 6 May.

From 8 until 13 May, the design entries will be displayed. From 13 until 17 May, the participants will deliver oral presentations in front of the judging board about their designs. From 20 to 31 May, the announcement of results and the awards ceremony will take place.

The first prize of 350 million VND, a second prize worth 150 million VND and a third prize valued at 50 million VND will go to the outstanding entries.

The Department of Culture and Sports is the investor of the upgrade project, the Management Board of Da Nang Infrastructure Construction and Urban Development Projects is in charge of managing the project. The Construction Engineering Consultancy Centre under the municipal Department of Construction is responsible for organising the 4-month-long design contest.

The museum’s new location covers a total area of 8,686m², consisting facilities at 42 Bach Dang and 31 Tran Phu. The site borders Quang Trung to the north, the General Science Library to the south, Tran Phu to the west, and Bach Dang street to the east.

Once the renovation is completed, the new museum is expected to highlight both cultural and historical values, and especially, modern architectural features showing off the city’s images as a big economic hub in the central region.

It is suggested that the entries competing at the design contest should ensure that outdoor display spaces will have a harmonious connection with the soon-to-be-established square, with the Dien Hai Citadel being at the central position, along with the General Science Library, and the landscape along the western bank of the Han River. Also noticeably, there should be parking areas and pick-up and drop-off points for visitors and the museum’s staff.

The relocation of the existing museum out of the Dien Hai citadel site to 42 Bach Dang aims to give space for restoring and embellishing the citadel, and ensure larger space for the museum as well.