Lotus of Saigon

In the midst of global warming the earths oceans have been rising at an alarming rate. A combination of high tides, heavy rains, overflow in the Saigon and Dong Nai rivers and land subsidence puts the city in the top 10 most vulnerable to sea level rise. Flooding is a common part of life in Ho Chi Minh city. 40 to 45% of the city stands less than a meter above sea level and land subsidence due to rapid groundwater extraction is making this worse. Over the next 100 years the costal sea rise of Saigon is expected to be up to 10 feet with flood heights being up to 50 feet.

The Lotus of Saigon is an Architectural sculpture that shows the threat of climate change. In Vietnamese culture, the lotus flower is the symbol of purity and optimism for the future. As sea level rises due to man-made climate change, the funicular flower structures will resemble a lotus flower floating on top of a lily pad.