The People's Committee of Tay Ho District in Hanoi seeking public opinions on a detailed project to build a new opera house close to West Lake.

The opera house will sit on Dam Tri Lake, which is expected to become a new cultural symbol of the capital city.

An overall perspective of a new opera house on Dam Tri Lake, Tay Ho District. Photo: The Tay Ho District People's Committee

It is planned to be built on a 13,000-square-meter performing arts center and able to host around 3,500 spectators.

The performing arts center, which is designed to float at the center of Dam Tri Lake, is part of the planning for Quang An Peninsula in Tay Ho District.

The district's deputy chairman, Nguyen Le Hoang, said that though the center would be built on Dam Tri Lake, it would not have much impact on the water surface and would not encroach onto the West Lake.

“The center will be designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano, who has authored projects like The Shard in London and the Parliament House in Valletta, Malta. This place will be the venue for Hanoi’s main cultural events and the highlight of West Lake,” Hoang said.

He added that the district has hung up planning posters at four locations in ​​Quang An Peninsula and published information about the project on its portal.

“It is expected that the district will hold a conference this week to collect opinions from the local residents who would be directly affected by the project,” Hoang stressed.

According to the city's planning project, Quang An Peninsula would have green spaces, amusement and cultural parks, malls and hotels.