Environmental Sustainability in the Heartlands
Countries may have found it hard to agree at the recently-concluded Climate Change Summit at Copenhagen, but in Singapore, the way forward towards sustainable development is clear.
In October 2009, HDB CEO Tay Kim Poh shared HDB’s vision on environmental sustainability with an international audience focused on green issues. He presented a paper at the inaugural International Green Building Conference – a conference organised by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) on green building technologies and green building designs.
During the presentation, he shared the bold plans that HDB has for its towns and estates by impressing the audience with how Punggol Town would be transformed into Singapore’s first Eco-Town. The plan includes the introduction of a new waterway traversing it, creating opportunities for new concepts and features for sustainable development to be realised along this development corridor.
In his address, Mr Tay also highlighted the key role HDB played in meeting the housing needs of Singaporeans by providing a high quality built environment, enhancing the economic value of HDB flats, as well as building active and cohesive communities within its towns and estates.
He reiterated HDB’s green commitment to contribute to Singapore’s overall effort to provide a green living environment through careful long-term planning and sound policies.
“Moving forward, HDB will continue to explore new ways to enhance the overall sustainability of its towns. As the largest developer in Singapore, we will actively promote environmental sustainability such as enhancing greenery, reducing energy consumption and promoting recycling efforts in our HDB heartlands,” said Mr Tay.
Award-winning Results
HDB’s greenery-related design for Central Horizon housing project recently won it the second prize in the Built Category in the SIA-NParks Skyrise Greenery Awards 2009.
This unique development, which features a curved podium block reminiscent of an old HDB block that once stood there, is the first housing project to have a sky garden on the 12th storey, complete with a network of landscaped walkways, lookout points, sheltered seating areas and trellises. There is also another roof-top garden atop the multi-storey car park, making Central Horizon an idyllic green haven.
Jointly organised by the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) and the National Parks Board (NParks), the award promotes sky-rise greenery in Singapore and recognises the greening efforts in high-rise developments by owners/developers, architects, landscape architects/designers, and landscape contract managers.
International Housing Conference
The HDB is celebrating 50 years of public housing in Singapore, and the International Housing Conference will be held from 26 to 29 January 2010 as part of its celebrations. The conference aims to bring together experts and practitioners to explore the issue of sustainable development, particularly in the area of housing. It will also look at the three aspects of sustainability – environment, social and economic – and will examine strategies and creative solutions in the planning, design and development of housing to ensure affordability and sustainability.