President’s Design Award 2013 Special Report: In this second of a five-part series, we examine how design incorporates nature as well as sustainability.
Being sustainable
To create the Snapware Eco Flip bottle, the designers used borosilicate glass instead of the blow-moulded plastic. Using the recyclable material encourages healthy water intake. When disposed, the negative footprint on the environment is minimal.
Instead of manicured landscaping, architect Yip Yuen Hong designs raw concrete buildings with plants growing naturally around them.
Green living
At Satay by the Bay, Ling Hao and his design collaborator KUU have created a concrete roof canopy, then tufted it with plants. Rainwater collected from the nearby ponds is used to irrigate the green roof.
Architect Richard Ho tries to maintain sustainability in his works. All his projects are naturally ventilated. For him, architecture is an expression of life.
PARKROYAL on Pickering brings remarkable greenery – 15,000 square metres of sky gardens, reflecting pools, waterfalls, planter terraces and green walls – to a built-up, high-rise in the city. The hotel’s sustainable features yield a 30 per cent energy savings in the building operation.
Nature of all
For Harijanto Setiawan, floral designers need to appreciate and understand nature in order to bring out its true value. Floral design should be accessible to the community. He has seen everyone from youth to senior citizens appreciating floral design.
Gardens by the Bay is a wonderful example of a sustainable environmental and business model. The outdoor gardens are free to the public while the revenue from the food and beverage outlets and the conservatories create an economic eco-system. The gardens provides a “green lung”, making Marina Bay perfect for living, working and playing.
