As a passionate high school student with family in China and a desire to travel around Asia, I had the unique opportunity to see how cities in Asia are moving towards sustainable design in the midst of growth. From the vibrant streets of Shanghai to the tranquil green spaces of Singapore, Asia is not only creating the future of sustainability, but leading it. Architects and urban planners across Asia are developing remarkable sustainable and innovative solutions in a way to reinvent urban settings.
Breaking Ground: Key Figures in Sustainable Design from Asia
- Kengo Kuma: Blending Nature with Modernity
- Overview: Japanese architect Kengo Kuma is a global leader in sustainable design, known for his commitment to integrating natural materials and local traditions with cutting-edge technology. His work reflects a deep respect for the environment, combining innovative techniques with sustainable principles.
- Notable Project: The Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center in Tokyo—designed with a focus on natural materials, this project uses bamboo, wood, and stone to create a harmonious space that blends with the urban environment.
- Why It Matters: Kuma’s focus on environmental sustainability, through the use of renewable materials and an emphasis on energy efficiency, offers a fresh take on architectural design, ensuring the long-term health of both the building and the surrounding environment.
- Norman Foster and The Rise of Asia in Sustainable Architecture
- Overview: Though Foster is British, his contributions to Asia’s architectural landscape—especially in sustainable design—have had a profound impact. His firm, Foster + Partners, has collaborated on numerous groundbreaking projects in Asia.
- Notable Project: The Hong Kong International Airport—which integrates sustainable technologies like natural ventilation and energy-efficient design.
- Why It Matters: Foster’s work in Asia is crucial because it demonstrates how sustainable design can be applied in rapidly growing urban environments, where space is limited, and environmental pressures are high.
- Vo Trong Nghia: Green Design in Vietnam
- Overview: A Vietnamese architect, Vo Trong Nghia is best known for his commitment to sustainable design in tropical climates. He incorporates local materials and traditional building methods, focusing on the environmental impact of his projects.
- Notable Project: The Bamboo Wings House in Vietnam—an award-winning design that uses bamboo as a sustainable building material, helping to reduce the carbon footprint of construction.
- Why It Matters: Nghia’s use of bamboo, a renewable and fast-growing resource, highlights the potential for sustainable construction techniques in Asia’s rapidly urbanizing regions. His work also promotes local craftsmanship, contributing to community sustainability.
- Balkrishna Doshi: Redefining Indian Architecture
- Overview: Indian architect Balkrishna Doshi is one of the foremost advocates for sustainable architecture in India, with a career spanning more than six decades. His designs focus on respecting the climate, culture, and resources of India.
- Notable Project: The Indian Institute of Management in Bangalore—famous for its energy-efficient designs that make use of local materials and passive cooling techniques.
- Why It Matters: Doshi’s work blends modernism with traditional Indian design elements, creating spaces that respond directly to local climates and cultural contexts. His approach to sustainable design has influenced the next generation of architects in India and abroad.
The Growing Influence of Asian Cities in Sustainable Urban Planning
In addition to individual architects and designers, entire cities in Asia are leading the way in sustainable urban planning:
- Singapore: A Green City-State
- Overview: Singapore has earned global recognition for its sustainable urban planning, often referred to as the “City in a Garden.” The city-state has integrated green roofs, vertical gardens, and energy-efficient technologies into its urban planning policies.
- Notable Project: Gardens by the Bay—an iconic example of sustainable architecture with its Supertree Grove, which uses solar panels and rainwater harvesting to power the park’s energy needs.
- Why It Matters: Singapore’s approach to urban renewal is a model for cities worldwide, showcasing how dense urban areas can be made more sustainable and livable with green spaces and environmentally conscious design.
- Shanghai: Leading in Smart, Green Design
- Overview: Shanghai, one of China’s most rapidly growing cities, has emerged as a leader in integrating smart technologies into urban design. The city is investing heavily in green infrastructure, renewable energy, and smart systems to reduce its environmental impact.
- Notable Project: The Green Building of Shanghai Tower—a skyscraper that incorporates energy-efficient systems, including wind turbines and a unique “green roof” that absorbs rainwater and provides insulation.
- Why It Matters: Shanghai’s development is a prime example of how large-scale urban projects in Asia can integrate smart, sustainable technologies to create resilient cities for the future.
Personal Experience: Lessons from Asia
I have family in China, and the last two decades have allowed for travel throughout Asia, and hence the first hand witnessing and experiencing of urbanization and development of cities all over. I have traveled to Shanghai and Hong Kong, and I am impressed with the extent to which sustainable technologies are built into both newer buildings’ and respective urban environments’ infrastructures. Singapore was no less impressive with respect to the combination of nature and modernity— all the vertical gardens and green roofs are lovely, but beyond that. It makes me rethink sustainability and design, and more so how I understand this term regarding ecologically sustainable conditions.
In my travels to Vietnam, I have had the opportunity to see how architects, like Vo Trong Nghia, are using bamboo as a sustainable building material. This is not a new practice, but it has been redefined for contemporary use. The blending of culture and sustainability is incredibly inspirational to me, and is significantly the main reason why I am passionate in engaging with sustainable design as an area of practice.
The Road Ahead: Diversity and Innovation in Sustainable Design
The increasing representation of Asian voices in the field of sustainable design signals a growing shift towards more diverse and inclusive innovation. These designers and architects are not only helping reshape the built environment but are also setting the stage for a new era of global sustainability.
