High praise for gardens in the sky
Greenery Awards laud use of plants in building designs
Straits Times 24 Oct 08;
RUNNING up the centre of the posh, 36-storey Newton Suites is a wall covered in Trumpet vine which, at 100m, is the tallest in Singapore.
The Newton Road condominium, where units fetch over $1million, is also bursting with communal gardens and naturally lit common areas.
'We wanted to create a tropical feel with this sheath of sunshade, instead of a glassy one, to respond to the environment,' said Mr Donovan Soon, a senior associate at architecture firm Woha, which was responsible for the building's design.
Yesterday, that commitment paid off when the company was handed a new award designed to recognise the best 'gardens in the sky'.
Created by the National Parks Board (NParks) and the Singapore Institute of Architects, the Greenery Awards are meant to encourage builders to incorporate more plant life into their designs.
The push is a relatively new one, as designers and officials look towards adding a touch of nature to Singapore's monoliths of steel and glass.
Along with Woha, three other companies received awards yesterday.
# DP Architects won for its rooftop garden at VivoCity;
# DCA Architects was honoured for its outdoor terraces at One George Street;
# and Eco-id was recognised for its work at the Naumi Hotel, which features a steel mesh, draped over its exterior, laced with climbing plants.
NParks chief operating officer Leong Chee Chiew said that the award-winning buildings are not just meant to be aesthetically pleasing.
The greenery cools the premises, cutting the reliance on air-conditioning, and has a calming effect on residents and office workers.
Meanwhile, five constituencies, together with the South West Community Development Council, were recognised for their commitment to the environment.
They bagged the Clean & Green Singapore awards for efforts to encourage residents to go green by cutting back on air-conditioning and keeping housing blocks litter-free, among other things.
The awards are the brainchild of the National Environment Agency.
Winners will receive their prizes from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong next week at the official opening of the Marina Barrage, a complex that overlooks Singapore's newest reservoir.
PM Lee will also kick-start the month-long Clean and Green Singapore campaign with a three-day carnival at the barrage.
The carnival aims to show visitors how to adopt an environmentally friendly lifestyle.
More Singaporeans volunteer for Clean & Green programme
Channel NewsAsia 23 Oct 08;
SINGAPORE: More Singaporeans are showing an interest in environmental issues. A survey by the National Environment Agency (NEA) earlier this year found that 84.5 per cent of respondents felt inspired to practise good environmental habits, compared to 48.8 per cent in 2004.
The number of participants for the Clean & Green Singapore programme has also increased from 8,375 in 2007 to 11,414 this year. In particular, the corporate sector has shown significantly stronger support.
There has been an 18 per cent increase in the past year of organisations signing up as corporate environment champions - from 181 organisations in 2007 to 221 in 2008.
The Clean & Green Singapore programme includes activities which promote recycling, energy efficiency and climate change awareness.
This year, the programme will be launched by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Marina Barrage on October 31.
A three-day carnival will be held there to mark the event and visitors can look forward to games, performances and exhibitions on green living.
For the first time, the Clean and Green Singapore Awards will also be given out to six individuals or community groups for their outstanding contributions to creating a green and sustainable environment in Singapore. - CNA/vm
