'We mimic the ecosystem within the concrete walls'

Sayantani Kar thescientist.com 30 Jan 08;

Ecology has been on the agenda of award-winning architect Ken Yeang since he started his career in the 1970s. An IT park with an eco-friendly tower at Manesar, promoted by the Millennium Spire Limited, a Singapore-based investment company, is the latest in Yeang’s efforts at greening the concrete jungle in India. The ecologist, author and professor tells Sayantani Kar how a “green tower” ceases to be a misnomer with his design innovations.

Why make green high-rises rather than any other concrete structure?

Skyscrapers are an inevitable response to the urban sprawl as they cover less land area than horizontal campuses, leaving more space for greenery.

But they are accused of using more energy and materials. We offset that by building them in an ecological manner. It makes them sustainable and green.

Which of your designs are you most proud of?

There are many. The IBM building (Menara Mesiniaga) in Kuala Lumpur and the Singapore National Library are two of them. I also enjoyed drawing up the master-plan for a waterfront site on Vancouver called the West Kowloon Waterfront.

What are the environmental innovations that you have introduced in your designs and how does each help?

Wind-wing walls is one of our innovations. These channel wind into the building, thereby enhancing cooling. They can reduce the load off artificial air-conditioning.

The National Library building in Singapore, for example, uses just 170 kWh per square metre per annum of power against the 230 kWh usually consumed by office buildings that are open 24 by 7.

We have used laser-cut light pipes to bring daylight into the buildings. We also often use optimised day-lighting and solar orientation for harnessing maximum solar energy; sun-shading and window glazing reduce solar heat and pressure on mechanical cooling systems.

How do your innovations reduce the stress on the environment that high-rises are wont to put?

We try to mimic the ecosystem within the concrete walls, thereby seamlessly connecting the inorganic building to the organic natural environment. Our methods also help preserve biodiversity and create healthier lifestyles within. The demand for non-renewable energy can be slashed by almost 40 per cent.

When you start, what are the factors that you base your design on and why?

We always start by looking at the ecology, including the soil, groundwater levels and biodiversity of the location. We look at the local climate like the sun and wind paths and shape the building to take advantage of these. We also keep in mind whether the materials can be reused and integrated back into nature.

What kind of growth do you foresee in demand for such buildings in the next 5 years?

I see exponential growth

Will the signature tower at Millennium Spire’s IT park in Manesar be your first Indian project?

No, I have been associated with projects in India for the last one year. I have designed a master-plan and a tower (both are yet to be built) for Reliance Industries, a large retail project in Chennai and a master-plan in Bangalore.

Do you think India will contribute more to the demand for green buildings?

Certainly. The green tower at Manesar will bring eco-friendly construction into mainstream real estate.