L IF ES T Y L E P L AT F OR MS OF T HE F U T UR E
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NWD BUILDS ARTISANAL, SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES WITH WELLNESS AT THEIR CORE
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WITH SUSTAINABILITY AT ITS CORE, NEW WORLD DEVELOPMENT FOCUSES ON GREEN, WELLNESS, SMART AND CARING FEATURES TO CURATE UNIQUE, ARTISANAL LIFESTYLE PLATFORMS. HEAD OF SUSTAINABILITY ELLIE TANG EXPLAINS THESE ARE MUCH MORE THAN JUST BUILDINGS
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ith a sustainable future
services to create something
at its core, New World
new. This has been an opportu-
Development (NWD) is
nity to suggest a new approach
at the forefront of building communities in Asia. The
to sustainability for the company.” Sustainability is more than an
corporation’s vision to build a
attractive add-on as other com-
better society through sustaina-
panies may view it: it is integral to
ble growth and a wellness focus
all aspects of the business.
is championed by The Artisanal
“With great support and guid-
Movement. As Ellie Tang, Head
ance from our Executive Vice
of Sustainability, explains: “This
Chairman and General Manager
brand personality values herit-
Mr. Adrian Cheng, along with the
age, nature and innovation at the
leadership team, we have the
same time. It is also about
opportunity to get involved in our
empowering each individual to
property projects in Hong Kong
craft something unique and
and China from design all the
make an impact. We also see the
way to customer experience,”
Group’s portfolio business as an
Tang says. “We have referenced
ecosystem with opportunities to
the United Nations Sustainable
connect talents, products and
Development Goals, stakeholder
BIO
Ellie Tang is currently Head of Sustainability at New World Group, where she leads the Group’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting, risk management, environmental management and green financing initiatives. Also serving as General Manager – Sustainability at K11 Group Limited, Ellie supports Hong Kong and Mainland China property projects from planning to customer experience design. Previously, Ellie was the Asia Pacific Coordinator of the ‘HSBC Water Programme’, a $100mn global partnership which invests in freshwater and sanitation projects to improve livelihoods. She also has experience in ESG strategy development and environmental management in the REIT sector. Ellie graduated with a Master of Public Administration degree in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University. She has worked in environmental and health policy research and UNFCCC Clean Development Mechanism carbon credit project advisory in the US.
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land China, NWD not only
“WE SEE BUILDINGS AS A LIFESTYLE PLATFORM: WE’RE CREATING A MODERN LIVING STRUCTURE WITH SUSTAINABILITY ELEMENTS” — Ellie Tang, Head of Sustainability, NWD
produces top-of-the-range green buildings but keeps community in mind. “Urbanisation is integral to what we do – we’re building communities,” says Tang. “This isn’t just a slogan; it’s exactly what governments around Asia are promoting among building developers and what our dense cities need to be sustainable.” “In the past, the focus was on building specification and energy efficiency, but now governments are looking into a wiser, more
views and our business priorities
efficient way of planning and
to set the 2030 vision for the
allocating resources. They want
entire group.”
to see a holistic development
The company’s New World
blueprint with mixed-use facili-
Sustainability Vision 2030
ties outlining how we will boost
focuses on four pillars: Green,
the local economy, improve con-
Smart, Wellness and Caring.
nectivity through low-carbon
“We’re now setting policies and
transport, promote smart cities
targets to drive those down to
through technology adoption and
customer experience across our
include community-level green
groups’ businesses. It’s an excit-
features.” That’s exactly what
ing journey,” Tang adds.
NWD offers, and it’s vital given around 70% of the company’s
BUILDING COMMUNITIES With rapid urbanisation taking over both Hong Kong and main-
business is in mainland China. In Hong Kong, where density and land scarcity is higher, NWD w w w. n w d . c o m . h k
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GZ K11 – Interior
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GZ K11 – Exterior
has innovated new project
FROM VISION TO ACTION
designs and features that bring
NWD houses a diverse portfolio
its building users closer to nature,
ranging across property devel-
whether through a sky garden
opment, investment and
with renewable energy installa-
management; infrastructure and
tion at SKYPARK, a residential
transportation; telecom; hospi-
re-development in Mongkok; or
tality; healthcare; education and
a family-friendly sculpture park
retail. This diverse focus enabled
at Mount Pavilia, a multi-tower
the launch of the first ever Art
residential project in the suburbs
Mall in Hong Kong by the K11
of Clearwater Bay. Both of these
‘museum retail’ brand a decade
projects have been certified to
ago. Since then, the brand has
the US LEED (Leadership in
also added a workspace offer-
Energy and Environmental
ing: K11 Atelier. The K11 brand
Design) Building Standard Gold
integrates art into buildings,
level status.
offering a unique user experience, and was pioneered by Adrian Cheng who is a third-generation member of NWD. Tang explains that the Art Mall
K11 Atelier
was a novel concept when it opened in 2009. “Mr. Cheng is an international art collector and a cultural entrepreneur. His vision has always been ahead of our time. The ‘museum retail’ idea of K11 has been very successful as seen in the increasing focus of our peers on art and culture in their property projects.” The mall was launched at a w w w. n w d . c o m . h k
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K11 Natural 10
time of increased consumer
“HAVING THAT BESPOKE, EXCLUSIVE CULTURAL EXPERIENCE IS A PROMINENT TREND FOR MILLENNIALS” — Ellie Tang, Head of Sustainability, NWD
spending power in the region, as social media promoted unique online personas and shoppers craved a selfie-worthy experience. “Having that bespoke, exclusive cultural experience is a prominent trend for millennials. We keep pushing the K11 museum retail concept for that reason.” “It’s not just about art and digital, but sustainable products at the core,” Tang adds. Often, small luxury or wellness companies have pop-up kiosks at K11
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locations. “We’re seeing a rise in favour of wellness and greenthemed products. In 2016, we launched K11 Natural, an experimental merchandise zone in our Hong Kong Art Mall, to cater to this growing customer demand.” A consumer market study shows a 40% increase in Chinese consumers’ preferences for anything branded with wellness or health between 2016 and 2017.” Three years ago, NWD pioneered The Artisanal Movement, 12
favouring the human side of large-scale development. “We want our employees and external stakeholders to think of themselves as artisans: they can create something memorable, unique
Salisbury Garden - Green Wall
and lasting,” Tang continues. “Every building we create has a unique design and we place ourselves at the cusp of heritage and modern. We aggressively adopt technologies while also preserving heritage and building human relationships in the communities we develop, with sustainability as the underlying spirit of everything we do.”
Mount Pavilia Aerial View
A LIFESTYLE PLATFORM NWD was the world’s first company to achieve the WELL Building Standard Pre-certificate on the King’s Road Commercial Re-development in Hong Kong. The same building has achieved Video: The Pavilia Bay –
a LEED BEAM Plus green build-
Beyond the horizon
ing standards Platinum level at the pre-assessment stage. “This sets the tone for the future,” Tang says. “It’s not just ‘green’: we
GZ K11 Exterior
strive to build healthy buildings with the best air, natural light and water quality. Research shows healthy buildings result in a happier, healthier and more productive workforce. Caring about the individual is integral to The Artisanal Movement. We see buildings as a lifestyle platform: we’re creating a modern living culture with sustainability elements.” The WELL standard, which advances health and wellbeing in buildings globally, ensures buildings are regularly re-certified. “We plan to build more certified green and healthy buildings,” says Tang, adding that while this comes at a cost, the w w w. n w d . c o m . h k
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“IT’S NOT JUST ‘GREEN’: WE STRIVE TO BUILD HEALTHY BUILDINGS WITH THE BEST AIR, NATURAL LIGHT AND WATER QUALITY. RESEARCH SHOWS HEALTHY BUILDINGS RESULT IN A HAPPIER, HEALTHIER AND MORE PRODUCTIVE WORKFORCE. CARING ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL IS INTEGRAL TO THE ARTISANAL MOVEMENT” — Ellie Tang, Head of Sustainability, NWD 14
The Forest Interior (Urban Re-development Project)
rewards are exponential and investors are supportive. The company recently raised Hong Kong’s first ever Green Loan for the King’s Road project. “The wellness proposition gets people more excited than raising awareness on climate change, but the building design and operation requirements are generally similar.” Wellness isn’t just promoted within NWD’s buildings. “We established the first sports and wellness academy: the
Mount Pavilia Application of Renewable Energy in The Project
Hong Kong Golf and Tennis Academy,” says Tang. In addition, the Group’s flagship community programme, New World Springboard, offers seven years of professional sports training, mentoring support, and volunteering opportunities to underprivileged students, with an aim to promote whole person development and improve social mobility. NWD also sponsors the annual Harbour Race, a traditional swim across the iconic Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong.
VIRTUALLY PERFECT
Salisbury Garden – Facilities
With preservation of heritage at the core, NWD uses cutting-edge technology to create green buildings for the smart cities of the future. BIM (building w w w. n w d . c o m . h k
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information modelling) software enables planners and designers to virtually plan buildings by creating 3D models which can be visualized. “On the computer simulation, you can make many adjustments and play around with designs before the actual building process,” says Tang. “This reduces abortive works. It saves time; construction, environmental and health costs; occupational health and safety risks. Issues are flagged 16
promptly and the software identifies what needs to be fixed and how long it will take.” BIM also helps facilitate overall building management post-construction.
D‧PARK – Event
NWD also launched the first virtual reality (VR) apartment viewing app in Hong Kong last
as a community-centric living
year. While customers can still
culture curator? “Quality speaks
look at sales galleries and show
louder than anything else,” Tang
flats, the app allows users to
states. “Everything we introduce
check the layout of an apartment
from now on must live up to our
remotely, and VR helps buyers
vision. We will try to increase and
design their own interior.
strategise our communication both internally and externally.”
A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE How will NWD maintain its status
Adrian Cheng’s leadership of The Artisanal Movement is key to
K11 HK - Movie11 – Community Engagement Event
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Hong Kong Golf & Tennis Academy – ‘Future Stars Programme’
D‧PARK - M.I. Learning Zone
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this internal development. “We offer extensive learning and development programmes for our employees and even their families. Across staff levels, there are opportunities to learn new skills, take ownership and collaborate with different departments and subsidiaries to tap into our internal strengths and create synergy,” says Tang. “We will continue to leverage our strengths as a group and put out quality products and services to achieve 18
our goals as a culture curator.” Externally, the company will continue to build healthy relationships. Suppliers, including BCG Group Ltd and Kohler Asia, have more than just a one-way relationship with NWD. “Kohler, our washroom facilities supplier, is involved in a lot of our green, sustainable and WELL building projects,” Tang explains. “Now we have a clear vision, apart from just buying products and services we do share our future direction with suppliers to see if they have any innovative proposals, like
special features or new products.” Innovation is also encouraged inside NWD, with an annual Incubation Circle competition which not only takes employees’ ideas on board, but offers them a platform and encourages them to take ownership. “Employees are encouraged to pitch projects based on specific categories ranging from profits, innovations, health and safety and environmental protection to new business. We can identify opportunities within our business and suggest how we would do things better.” “As we go along and develop more concrete targets and specific actions,” concludes Tang, “we want people to see that sustainability runs through the veins of New World products and services.”
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30/F New World Tower, 18 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong T (852) 2523 1056 www.nwd.com.hk