Amidst the continuing growth and development of the cities, there is wide regard for how construction affects the way of living and environmental impact. That is why several measures are considered to build something out of the ordinary, keeping sustainability in the long run. Sustainability is not just about adding ‘green stuff’ to buildings but it is going beyond the process of maintaining and sustaining life through design approach. Hong Kong has been a catalyst for these sustainable developments by measuring up carbon footprint and reducing it.
Here are 15 sustainable buildings in Hong Kong:-
1. Hong Kong Children’s Hospital
Hong Kong Children’s Hospital features a lot of sustainable facilities that are present like automatic demand control of the chilled water circulation system and control of fresh air supply with carbon dioxide sensors. The greenery on the ground floor, terraces, and vertical greening fences aim to reduce the heat island effect and improve air quality.
2. The Central Government Complex (Tamar Government Complex)
This project was built on the waterfront merging with the hill profile of the city skyline background. Maximizing the use of natural daylighting and ventilation to its accord together with features like double-layer ventilated façade design, use of metal scaffolding, and thermal insulation. The building disposition as well to improve the micro-climate.
3. The Parkville
This housing complex in Hong Kong features solar lamps and facilities for wastewater collection, recycling, and treatment for reuse in toilet flushing. It is designed to receive adequate natural daylighting into living spaces. Semi-open basement, terrace garden, clubhouse with the landscape, skylight opening, and the like to enhance the natural ventilation and energy consumption.
4. Hong Kong East Community Green Station
Built to enhance environmental education and provide recyclables collection service in the local community. These green stations are designed with the application of low-E glazing on windows to use natural daylighting and at the same time minimize heat gain. It also features a green wall and courtyard garden.
5. Tai Lam Center for Women
Tai Lam Center for Women is the only security institute that holds adult female prisoners. The redevelopment of the center was an opportunity for the project to be sustainable in ways like installing renewable energy systems such as solar hot water systems and photovoltaic systems. A rainwater recycling system was also considered for landscape irrigation. VRV air conditioning system to maintain individual zone control of airflow in parts of the building.
6. Fire Services Training School
Completed last 2015, the Fire Services Training School at Pak Shing Kok, Tseung Kwan O integrated designs in architecture such as earth tubes to facilitate air ventilation in the building, solar hot water system, photovoltaic system, and a wind turbine system to maximize energy efficiency.
7. The Trade and Industry Tower
The 22-story office tower consists of a government office building and a community hall has a vertical green belt on the façade that comprises a series of vertical terraces climbing up the office tower to the roof garden.
8. Sing Yin Secondary School
It is expected that the Secondary School will save about 30 tons of carbon dioxide annually. Installations are promoting alternative and clean sources of electricity like using the Building Energy Management System, as a way to have flexible control of the building’s engineering systems.
9. Hysan Place
The redevelopment of this project led to the provision of urban windows to enhance natural ventilation and improve micro-climate. Core wall at the southern façade to minimize heat gain from the path of the sun in summer. Using a curtain wall system that allows natural ventilation.
10. Green 18
Located at the Hong Kong Science Park, Green 18 is an eight-story designed to showcase green technologies and sustainable building practices that seek to reduce carbon footprint. The introduction of the Heliostat system penetrates natural and warm daylight into the building’s interior. Heliostat system uses a plane mirror that reflects sunlight therefore reducing heat.
11. Yuen Chau Kok Sports Centre
Featuring evaporative cooling towers using freshwater and several sustainable attributes, this Sports Centre with Community Hall and District Library offers a venue for the community that serves its purpose.
12. Western Wholesale Food Market
Providing public open space and enhanced promenade, this project offers more than just its primary purpose. The revitalization includes improving and providing green spaces of the 4 idle piers and a waterfront section. It also provides recreational facilities for all ages.
13. One Taikoo Place
Crowned as one of the most advanced green buildings in Hong Kong, this project features a waste-to-energy, tri-generation system. It also uses waste oil collected from the tenants to fuel the tri-generation system that simultaneously pumps electricity, heating, and cooling.
14. Zero Carbon Building
Architect:
The building is connected to the local-grid and produces on-site renewable energy, it also features Hong Kong’s first urban native woodland with 220 native trees of over 40 species. The ZCB aims to achieve carbon neutrality through combining passive design with green active systems including a cross-ventilated layout and high-performance façade.
15. Green Atrium Hong Kong
Architect: Christopher Leung and Associates
Featuring everything from organic and health foods supermarkets to farmers’ market and recreational facilities, this project sets a message of sustainability. Wrapped in a climate-responsive façade, it has a split in the middle to provide a “breathing deck”, with green walls and louvered windows to cool the air into space.
