Ground has been broken on what will be Vietnam’s tallest building – the 460m (1,509-ft) Vincom Landmark 81 – featuring 25 separate rooftop gardens and an observation deck as part of the development.

A collaboration between Atkins and Arup, the 81-storey development will come up in Ho Chi Minh City’s Vinhomes Central Park. In addition to the rooftop gardens, many of which will be accessible to the public as visitor attractions, the multi-tiered tower will be comprised of a hotel, shopping centre, a number of serviced apartments and a rooftop bar.

The surrounding park has also been designed with a contemporary style, featuring natural lighting, sculptures and a marina which will sit on the nearby Saigon River. The 241,000sq m (2.5 million sq ft) development is expected to be completed by 2017.

“Our challenge was to create a unique and dynamic landmark tower design to support Vingroup’s vision for a high-end mixed use development,” said Bertil de Kleynen, director of architecture and landscape for Atkins in Asia Pacific. “The tower is integrated into the public realm that addresses sustainable design challenges at various interfaces of the project.”