Recently I was reading up to this book, if most of you have heard of the IdeaHouse , then probably you have heard of Jason Pomeroy, His research at Cambridge considered the socio-spatial functions of sky courts and sky gardens within the vertical city model of the 21st century. He continues to pursue this vein of research in addition to that of carbon zero development. He’s currently leading the Singapore Office of the Firm. So what’s the big deal of it?
Idea House basically pretty much speaks its idea of sustainability. I bought this book for 120 ringgit. If you google up Idea House, you will basically pretty much understand it as a collaboration of many, specifically Sime Darby Properties and Broadway Malyan to create a socially, economically, and environmentally responsive prototype dwelling that would provide an insight into future tropical living.
Well, the idea of Idea House and its information are generally available on the net but not as detailed as what you could find on the book which covered a documentation from the scratch to the building. Various detailed studies are made in every aspect of that building. Besides environmental performances assessment detail, social and economic assessment is made too. The whole book discusses Team, Idea, House and Community
What’s interesting here is the idea of sustainability has been challenged to think it beyond the 3P, Planet, People, and Profits. This diagram which I snap from the book suggested the multiple interpretations of what constitutes sustainability.
Sustainable living environments should foster a sense of togetherness by addressing the needs of the individual, family, and/or community, and be adaptable according to societal need. They should be in proximity to local business and be designed to minimize running cost. They should also seek to preserve natural habitat and its resources. There is also need to preserve space and cultural identity, these are the 2 factors that perhaps needed to be considered in addition to the social, economics, environmental and technological. Looking to the past for local cultural inspiration also safeguards against the imposition of architecture that lacks social, economic, environmental, or cultural relevance.
In the long run, we will soon see how all of these comes to in relevant to each other. The collaboration process through which these developments are to be delivered in order to minimize project time and material waste. The industry fragmentation needs to be highlighted and in turn the opportunities for greater levels of collaboration amongst built environment specialists in order to deliver more sustainable developments that would counteract an industry previously characterized by debilitating and cost-inflating conflict.
Just something extra, the highlighted zones are countries who have their own green building assessment. Doesn’t seem too many right?
