2023 Summer Issue of Urban Land - 27

MENTS
Design that blurs the boundaries
between work and leisure
space and encourages 24/7
usage is a more efficient and
sustainable use of limited
space, " says Buffonge.
Mixed-use developments
above transport nodes-a key
feature of Asian cities-contribute
to more efficient use
of space; however, some cities
are looking to advance this
further. The 2019 master plan
from Singapore's Urban Redevelopment
Authority envisages
transforming the central
business district into " a 24/7
mixed-use district so that the
CBD [central business district]
will not only be a place to
work, but also a vibrant place
to live and play in, " according
to Buffonge.
Sustainability considerations
also are influencing the orientation
and design of buildings
in the Asia Pacific region.
One striking example is the
Quayside office development
in Kowloon, Hong Kong. Developer
Link REIT opted to rotate
the building 45 degrees from
the road to maximize harbor
views and increase airflow
around the building. The building
also features shading fins,
which reduce the heat gain
from sunlight as well as the
need for mechanical cooling.
For property developers, the
oft-cited mantra that " what
can be measured can be managed "
is at the heart of their
sustainability work, meaning
that data, design, and technology
are intertwined. John
Haffner, deputy director, sustainability,
at real estate developer
Hang Lung Properties,
says, " Data analytics is critical
to everything around sustainability.
For the last few years,
we have focused on installing
more energy and water
meters, so we have the data to
enable us to benchmark and
improve performance.
" We have also established
a robust digital data collection
system for Scope 1 and
2 emissions. And we are now
collaborating with GIGA for
the RESET certification for an
office renovation. They can
provide us with carbon, circularity,
and health scores for the
materials we use. "
Carbon Capture
" While artificial intelligence [AI]
is hitting the headlines for its
potential dangers, more basic
forms are proving essential
technology for asset owners, "
Haffner says. Hang Lung is also
piloting the use of AI for building
optimization in its headquarters
in Hong Kong to drive
energy efficiency improvements;
the company expects
to cut electricity consumption
from the building's heating,
ventilation, and air conditioning
(HVAC) system by at least 10
percent.
" Buildings in the future will
have something close to realtime
optimization, " he says.
There are important carbon
savings to be realized in the
fabric of buildings. " Materials
are an important focus, " Haffner
says. " We don't use that
much steel compared to other
regions, so reducing concrete
is the priority, especially as
new buildings can be quite
overdesigned in this regard. "
New technology is helping
developers design buildings
that use less concrete than
is typical in the region. There
also is ongoing research into
concrete that can be produced
with a smaller carbon footprint.
For example, one of Undivided's
portfolio companies is
Structure Pal, which uses AI
to help design buildings using
less concrete. It claims to be
able to reduce the amount of
concrete used in a development
by 15 percent.
Meanwhile, Hang Lung
has been collaborating
with CLEANCO2, a proptech
startup affiliated with
China's Zhejiang University.
CLEANCO2 uses carbon dioxide
capture, use, and storage
(CCUS) technology to produce
low-carbon concrete, bricks,
and byproducts such as aggregate
for building construction.
Such products could be important
in reducing embodied
carbon from construction.
As well as using innovative
materials, there is a much
greater use of local and recycled
materials, says Buffonge.
" Not that long ago, developers
SUMMER 2023
URBAN LAND
27
While artificial
intelligence
is hitting the
headlines for
its potential
dangers, more
basic forms are
proving essential
technology for
asset owners. "
-JOHN HAFFNER,
DEPUTY DIRECTOR,
SUSTAINABILITY,
HANG LUNG
PROPERTIES
DEVELOPMENTS
2023 Summer Issue of Urban Land

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