The Academy for Architectural Culture and the Vietnam Architects' Association have jointly held here an architectural workshop entitled German House in HCM City .

As part of the ‘ Germany in Vietnam 2010’ programme, the workshop discussed architectural designs for a new German consulate, cultural centre, academic exchange and chamber of commerce – dubbed the "German House" – in HCM City .

Among those attending were 18 Vietnamese and six German architects.

Also located on the site will be the German Consulate and the Goethe Institute.

The final design has to reflect the roles of the various institutions, organisers said.

The German House will be located in District 1. The 3,400sq.m site will be bordered by Le Duan and Le Van Huu streets.

The environmentally friendly building will have an open design with a strong emphasis on greenery – in keeping with the city's future development plans, the workshop heard.

German Deputy Chancellor Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the German House would be a centre for diplomatic, trade, cultural and educational agencies.

Steinmeier added that Vietnam had valuable German-speaking human resources. He also said that in addition to the project to build a Germany university in Vietnam , the German government was looking to establish a German high school in HCM City .

Steinmeier expressed his wish that HCM City would create favourable conditions for German businesses and investors interested in developing urban railways, metros and airports.

An exhibition presenting the results of the workshop has opened at the Goethe Institute on Hanoi 's Nguyen Thai Hoc street . It will run until next Thursday./.