Where the German Embassy was once planned, a sustainable landmark now rises: the Deutsches Haus Ho Chi Minh City, designed by gmp von Gerkan, Marg and Partners Architects and driven by German innovation. It brings together German companies, AHK, GIZ, and others under one ultra efficient, tropical-proof roof.
🌱 Green highlights include:
– Double-skin façade with integrated sunshades – reduces heat and noise, controls daylight;
– Central water purification – clean drinking water on every floor, no plastic bottles;
– High-efficiency HVAC: 36% less energy than the regional average;
– LED lighting with smart control systems;
– Roof garden & solar panels;
– IBMS-based building automation;
– Hospital-grade indoor air quality.
🏆 Gold certified by the German Council for Sustainable Building (DGNB) – the first DGNB building in Vietnam.
Our visit was part of the Build4People delegation trip to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on 30 May 2025, including a highly ranking delegation from Phnom Penh Capital Hall, among them the Vice-Governor of Phnom Penh, H.E. Vannak Seng, as well as leading Cambodian urban planners and colleagues from Royal University of Phnom Penh as well as the German Build4People team members exploring green and smart city approaches of the Vietnam’s first mega city.
Our special thanks go to Elmar Dutt for his inspiring introduction to key features of this lighthouse project, to Peter Kompalla for arranging the site visit, and to Thuy Vu for guiding us to the BASF office, the German Business Association GBA, and the AHK-German Business Incubator all located at Deutsches Haus Ho Chi Minh City.
Our gratitude goes to our funding agency, as well, the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, who enabled Build4People to implement its innovative cross-cutting and transformative approach.