The 21st century became a moment of global epiphany, when humanity finally realized that we cannot harm the planet on which we live with impunity. Individuals are doing their part to minimize damage by sorting waste into colorful bins, using shopping bags from their parents' youth instead of plastic time bombs, and even simply unscrewing bottle caps before recycling. The founders of construction companies and design studios went much further. With their concern for the environment, they began to set trends in the real estate market. Not only modern residential complexes and office premises have succumbed to the trend of the new fashion. Eco-friendliness and awareness have gone much deeper.
Eco-hotel at the intersection of Asian and European cultures
📍 Parkroyal Collection Pickering, Singapore 🇸🇬
Singapore has absorbed European culture, but in no case is it going to abandon its native one. This approach to life, aimed at preserving one’s identity while simultaneously being open to the world, is very effectively conveyed in the architecture of this city-state. The company WOHA has created several hotel complexes that embody foreign trends and the progressiveness of a small-sized but gigantic financial center, which is Singapore. The restrained geometric shapes of Pan Pacific Orchard stand in stark contrast to smooth curves Parkroyal Collection Pickering, therefore the adherents minimalism, and aesthetes with a love for “softer” design solutions will be equally pleased with the work of the eminent architectural company.
For a more detailed acquaintance, we decided to offer you a second project. The abundance of greenery makes it more “juicy” and a vivid embodiment of our theme today. To implement it, we resorted to the use of advanced environmentally friendly technologies:
- rainwater collection system – the collected liquid is used to meet many of the hotel’s needs, including watering plants;
- energy efficient lighting - special lamps with motion sensors are installed throughout the complex, so that light is supplied only when it is really needed;
- water recycling system - water from spas and swimming pools is purified and then used for irrigation;
- vertical gardens - lush vegetation rises along the floors, so there are always beautiful landscapes and fresh air outside the window.
Many of the listed solutions are also implemented in Pan Pacific Orchard only in slightly different forms. Visitors note that thanks to staying in hotels, which are essentially concrete shells of nature, vacation really brings a feeling of lightness and inner harmony. The owners of such establishments, in turn, confirm that increased attention to nature is directly related to increasing profits - using a similar approach, even a hotel in the city center can be turned into a popular recreational center.
Green city in the middle of the desert
📍 Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, UAE 🇦🇪
The construction of a building using environmentally friendly materials and energy-saving technologies can rarely surprise anyone. But this whole green city is really something new. Masdar City has become a unique development that has no equal in the world. To be honest, the appearance of something like this could only be expected in the Emirates because over the past decades the state has managed to become a world leader in the real estate sector. Just look at Dubai with its ultra-modern skyscrapers, the tops of which are lost among the clouds.
So, Masdar City is a self-sufficient city with zero carbon emissions. Work on the project began back in 2006, and nothing remains until its completion. Great emphasis is placed on the use of solar and other renewable energy sources. The authors care not only about nature, but also about people. Unbearable heat is a common occurrence in the UAE, but residents of the city will not experience it. All buildings rise slightly above the ground. They are protected from the desert wind and sand by special terracotta walls. An innovative ventilation system is also provided, represented by a 46-meter wind tower, which supplies cool air from the upper balloons directly to the streets. Since we started talking about numbers, we can point out other interesting indicators:
- budget – $20 million;
- area – 6 km²;
- population – 50,000 people;
- business infrastructure – 1,500 business centers;
- year-round temperature – 15-20° C.
The project is truly unique and one of a kind. But we, and the company Foster and Partners, which is working on its creation, believe that it can inspire architects to make radical a turn of all urban planning standards towards environmental friendliness and conscious consumption. Throughout the history of mankind, our planet has suffered enough, so now, when scientific and technological progress allows us to take care of our home without compromising our usual activities, it’s time to do this.