World Architecture Congress at Cityscape Asia examines sustainability techniques both traditional and modern
Asia is turning cool and green by introducing techniques - some new and others more traditional - to reduce the ecological footprint of modern buildings and cities, according to architectural experts.
Debates at the World Architecture Congress at Cityscape Asia later this month will have a green focus with a number of prominent international and regional speakers examining issues such as sustainability and energy efficiency in building the environment of tomorrow.
The World Architecture Congress at Cityscape Asia takes place from 15-17 April 2008 at Suntec, Singapore. The Cityscape Asia exhibition and conference are part of the global Cityscape portfolio, the world's biggest business-to-business real estate event brand.
"Asian countries, led by Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and India are introducing green building ratings along the lines of systems operating in Britain and the United States and the concept is catching on," said Michelle Boyd, conference director for the congress.
According to consultants Jones Lang LaSalle in a survey of 414 companies, 12% in Asia said they were willing to pay premiums of over 10% for "sustainable" buildings, compared with 3% in North America and Europe. Spending $264,000 on energy-saving for a 30,000 square metre office block in Sydney, Australia, could be paid back in cost savings in three years for example, says the consultancy.
Architect Manit Rastogi, Managing Director at Morphogenesis Architecture Studio, is creating some of India's coolest buildings, using recycled water, wells, wind tunnels and sun screens to chill work places and slash energy costs.
Rastogi, who learnt his architecture in New Delhi and London, will be speaking at the congress on a sustainable approach to modern Asian architecture. He says he is most influenced by how the average Asian has dealt with searing temperatures over the centuries.
"It might be more fashionable today with reports on global warming and climate change but it's always been part of Asian architecture," Rastogi says of energy saving cooling techniques.
Robbert van Nouhuys, Director of International Projects for ACLA Ltd., of Hong Kong, will be delivering a paper on sustainable urban design and the ecological footprint of a city. The ecological footprint measures how much land and water area a human population requires to produce the resources it consumes and to absorb its wastes.
Today, humanity's ecological footprint is said to be over 23% larger than what the planet can regenerate. In other words, it takes more than 14 months for the Earth to regenerate what is being used in a single year.
Van Nouhuys will also lead a workshop on architecture for sustainable cities examining how urban centres can become carbon neutral and how green building techniques can increase efficiency and reduce environmental impact. He will also explore the latest in green innovations and the quest to achieve zero energy consumption.
From the United States, Peter Weingarten, FXFowle's director of international architecture, will be presenting on increasing efficiency with green building solutions. He says many of his clients are interested in the energy-efficient of high-density vertical developments.
One such project is FXFowle's 85-storey, mixed use India Tower in Mumbai, which will use a solar chimney to generate electricity, provide on-site wastewater reclamation, and aims to be a gold certified green building
Designed to have the least possible impact on the environment, the tower will integrate innovative sustainable systems and technologies throughout including solar shading, natural ventilation, rainwater harvesting, and green interior finishes and materials to make it one of the greenest skyscrapers in India.
From Japan, details of a sustainable city based on the principles of eco-friendly infrastructure and energy consumption will be presented by Akihiko Hamada, Senior Executive Officer and Principal of Architectural Design for Nikken Sekkei.
The firm's "Cool City" concept incorporates the latest technology in transport, and urban development to produce a low carbon footprint. One of the world's largest architectural design firms, Nikken Sekkei says "Cool City" would consume 60% less energy than a conventional urban area.
Cityscape Asia 2008 also hosts the International Property Investment and Development Conference with more than 50 speakers including CEOs, managing directors and government officials examining the opportunities in Asia including real estate investment trusts, derivatives and an Asian investment property databank. Other speakers will focus on clusters and hubs for financial institutions, investment opportunities in airport cities and the impact of integrated resorts on the Singapore market.
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© Press Release 2008
