What is sustainable urban design & architecture?

Posted on April 3, 2012 by #GAN NING HUI PRISCILLA#

When we talk about Sustainable Urban Design & Infrastructure, what exactly does that mean?

Breaking down the phrase into its separate components, let me explain what the whole concept of Sustainable Urban Design & Infrastructure, and also the overarching concept behind this website.

Sustainable – pertaining to a system that maintains its own viability byusing techniques that allow for continual reuse.

Urban – characteristic of, or accustomed to cities

Design – here there is a specific reference to eco-design where architectural elements are deliberately managed to incorporate or encourage environmentally-friendly practices.

Infrastructure – again here, with a specific reference to environmental concerns, the engineering and construction of built environments are deliberately considered and structured so as to have an environmentally-friendly purpose or use that will reduce the ecological footprint.

What has been done?

Posted on March 30, 2012 by #GAN NING HUI PRISCILLA#

Agencies dedicated to research

Key urban infrastructure research skills and capabilities are focused on enhancing whole-of-life built environment performance while reducing our urban ecological footprint.

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

Conferences

World Sustainable Building Conference

A conference where professionals and interested parties involved in all

aspects of building, engineering, technology, urban planning and policy-making come together to share ideas, discuss latest developments, evaluate previous sustainable building strategies, and the next-generation building technology.

Green Build Asia Expo: International Exhibition & Conference on Sustainable Building, Design & Construction

Green Build Asia 2012 is the place where the building and construction industry and home buyers get updated on the latest and emerging materials, systems, technologies and features of green homes and buildings.

International Green Building Conference 2012 (to be held at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre)

IGCB will be the platform for discussing strategies and policies that will help to harness the tremendous potential of the Green Community to take the green building movement to the next level.

Government Support & Policy Planning

World Green Building Council

To facilitate the global transformation of the building industry towards sustainability through market driven mechanisms.

Singapore Green Building Council
US GBC
China GBC
Mexcio GBC
Indian GBC

About me

Posted on March 30, 2012 by #GAN NING HUI PRISCILLA#

I enjoy cycling or rollerblading around parks, and also make a note to visit new green developments around the island. Singapore has so many parks – urban, community, heartland and not to mention the many nature reserves and water spots. Although I cannot say to have been to all or even most, but I would say that on all my trips to Punggol Waterfront, Woodlands Waterfront, Lorong Halus Wetland, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Pulau Ubin etcetera, I’ve always enjoyed being close to the natural environment, and it is the sense of revitalisation and tranquility that keeps me going back for more, and searching for new spots to explore.

It is these trips to areas of nature that inspired my writing topic – we often see man-made structures in urban parks, and in recent years they have gotten increasingly aesthetic. However, beyond these purely aesthetic and “good-looking” functions, are there more reasons behind their architectural structure and design? What did the architects and engineers take into consideration when they designed this bridge?

And these very same questions we can apply them to our city landscapes too. Is there a special reason why a particular building uses wood instead of cement? Or why an open concept is preferred over a closed one?

So with this curiosity, and with my passion for exploring green spaces, I started writing about NATURE IN THE CITY: Sustainable Urban Design & Infrastructure.

Having been through 3/4 of this course, I have to admit that education truly plays a big role in environmental consciousness. Lately I find myself reconsidering printing out ALL my notes, and reconsidering switching off the fan when I’m not in the room. Getting to know about environmental issues in depth has really changed the way I think about ecology and the environment.

What can we do?

Posted on March 30, 2012 by #GAN NING HUI PRISCILLA#

Small Ways in which we can help:

1. Install or change our flushing system to that of a dual-flush, such that we may use the half-flush option for liquid waste.

2. Take care of nature

Especially at designated nature spots (e.g. nature reserves, parks) take extra care to reduce our ecological footprint and degradation of the place. Follow guidelines that are provided by the park authorities and do not deviate from the guidelines (e.g. use of trails, not fishing the animals)

3. Voice out and participate in government green initiatives

For example, when the authorities overseeing the Bishan Park transformation (Singapore Seeks Public Input on Urban Makeovers) they held interactive sessions to get a feel of what the residents feel and how they can improve the urban parks, with the people’s sentiments in mind.

Share your views on the NParks portal for feedback: City Garden – We Want To Hear From You!

World Class Buildings

Posted on March 26, 2012 by #GAN NING HUI PRISCILLA#

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“If a building is going to be called ‘world class,’ it’s vital that sustainability is integral to the design.”

– Martin Hunt, Head of the Built Environment

The best new buildings are designed to complement the landscape, both aesthetically and through the efficient use of natural resources […] interaction with their surroundings. Designed along “bioclimatic” principles, each building draws on the local climate and the lay of the land (geology, topography, and vegetation) to maximize natural shelter, warmth, light and ventilation, and—wherever possible—to harvest and conserve water and energy.