Ziwira Real Estate August 2015

August Issue 2, 2015

REAL ESTATE

W W W. Z I W I R A . C O M

BUILDING A GREEN FUTURE

ROOFTOP GARDENS

SUSTAINABLE

Rooftop gardens are taking off as a growing trend in real estate

LIFE AMONGST THE TREES

The best architecture isn’t always about comfort and convenience

ROGER PLATT

Exclusive interview with the President of the US Green Buidling Council

ULTIMATE OFF-GRID LIVING Ecocapsule designed by a qualified team of engineers from Slovakia.

REPURPOSED AIRCRAFT A New Dream Home?

DUBAI’S TRANSFORMATION Green Building Regulations

August issue 2 2015

BUILDING a GreeN FUTUre

Publisher Ziwira CEO and Founder Adam Merza adam@ziwira.com Editorial Saba Khan saba.khan@ziwira.com

AUGUST 2015

EDITORIAL Implementing sustainability adds intrinsic value to our cities, and particularly our homes. The knowledge that our cities are becoming heavily polluted is now incontrovertible. The solution? Sustainable building solutions and advice from dedicated organizations such as the Emirates Green Building Council. The purpose of this magazine is to shine a light upon all of the incredible feats of sustainable building engineering in the UAE, and beyond.

While ZIWIRA is on full throttle for our launch creating a green buzz across the UAE, what better

Nasreen Rasool

venue could we obtain than Sofitel, The Palm, one of the greenest hotels in Dubai. Home to sustain-

nasreen.rasool@ziwira.com

able architecture, vertical gardens, and pristine blue waters - Sofitel, The Palm is docketed as a role

Zane Small zane.small@ziwira.com Imran Khan imran@ziwira.com Marketing Nadir Khan nadir.khan@ziwira.com +971 56 7481747 Design Asif Habib asif.habib@ziwira.com Head Office Techno Hub Building, Office No. 161-162, PO Box No. 341171, Dubai Silicon Oasis, UAE. USA Office Ziwira Inc. 445 Park Avenue 9th Floor New York City New York 10022 United States of America

model for conservation of the environment. Check it out on pg no.58.

What looks like a jetliner that has miraculously landed in the woods is actually one man’s dream retreat! Inspired by his passion for the aircraft as well as the need for shelter, Oregon local Bruce Campbell, converted a Boeing 727-200 into a home. Fasten your seat belts for landing on pg no.32 and check out a range of repurposed aircraft homes.

Apparently bored with cars, bikes and lawnmowers—along with the occasional private jet and humanoid robot—Honda’s engineers built the company’s first Smart Home. Flip to pg no.16 and experience true green living.

Given that we spend upwards of 90 percent of our time indoors, design decisions matter - and can have profound effects on our health and the environment. We caught up with Marcos Bish, Managing Director of Summertown Interiors in Dubai to get his take on green interior design and the significance of LEED certification.

Rapidly developing nations are a wild frontier of sorts for sustainable design and architecture; often building codes are lax or non-existent here, allowing local architects to experiment more freely with unconventional ideas and materials. Vo Trong Nghia, an architect from Vietnam, has dedicated himself to designing green buildings that are distinctly affordable, durable, and environmentally friendly. Check out his story on pg no.20.

As if that isn’t enough, there is more we have to offer. Check out the incredible Treehotel in Sweden on pg no.60 – prepare to awestruck! Also, read about rooftop gardens and sustainable lighting trends on pg no.56. From investing in a property to making a choice for business space, make sure your contribution in affecting the environment is minimal.

Enjoy reading.

Cheers!

Canada Office Ziwira Inc. Toronto, Canada

© Copyright 2015 Ziwira. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication can be reproduced in

parts, stored in retrieval system or transmitted in

any form or by any means without the prior written

Saba Khan E D I T O R

@ZIWIRA

permission of the publisher.

3

CONTENTS

Dream A VISION FOR YOUR LIFE

www.ziwira.com

August Issue 2 2015

Architecture Ultimate Off-Grid Living: Ecocapsule was designed by a qualified team of engineers from Slovakia is a technological marvel.

A Closer Look at Honda’s Smart Home: Honda’s Smart Home is a rare glimpse into the future of sustainable real estate. Learn from project leader Michael Koenig, about how the home operates.

1O

Restoring Vietnam’s Natural Appeal: Pollution is reaching a tipping point in Vietnam. With this in mind, green architect Vo Trong Nghia has dedicated himself to designing buildings that are favorable to the environment, and will restore Vietnam’s natural appeal.

Cover story Dubai’s Transformation: Green Building Regulations: Dubai, with the help of close allies like the UK, has stepped up to the challenge of providing its citizens, real estate with a sustainable future.

Feature Repurposed Aircraft – A New Dream Home? -- Bruce Campbell is just one of many real estate entrepreneurs who have mastered the art of upcycling airplanes into state of the art residences.

Construction IRENA HQ Officially Opens in Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi is now host to the International Renewable Energy Agency headquarters, which is one of the greenest buildings in the UAE.

54 32 38

Why did Nepal crush? -- Poor infrastructure and lack of sustainable urban planning caused much greater damage than what is felt in many other earthquake-prone countries.

Real Estate Country-Side Living: Australia’s Green Real Estate -- A look at some of Australia’s real estate companies that are dedicated to sustainability and eco-consciousness.

Sustainable Lighting Trends: As sustainable design and architecture lead us toward a greener future in real estate, so does sustainable lighting.

Interview Admirable, Ethical & Innovative Interiors -- Marcos Bish, Managing Director of Summertown Interiors in Dubai, recognized a gap in the Dubai market, where people needed assistance with “greening” their home or office interiors. We sat with Mr. Bish to discuss his green interior fit out company, and LEED certification.

42 48

Roger Platt, President of the US Green Building Council -- We caught up with Roger Platt, about the organization’s recent award from the United Nations and the growing need for green building codes.

Landscaping Rooftop Gardens -- Rooftop gardens are really taking off as a growing trend in real estate. Not only do they look beautiful, but they also serve a purpose too.

Hotels Green Award for Sofitel The Palm, Dubai -- Adding to its many accolades, Sofitel The Palm is now the Middle East’s leading green hotel.

Life amongst the Trees -- The best architecture isn’t always about comfort and convenience. Sometimes it’s good to step outside of the norm, and experience the magic that truly remarkable architects can bring to our world.

58 6O

Zero waste hotel comes to Dubai -- New hotel will run on solar power and will recycle all water and material waste.

5

NEWS & EVENTS

ABu dhABi internAtionAl Airport receives cArBon AccreditAtion For A third tiMe For the third time, Abu Dhabi Interna-

tional Airport has earned the accreditation level of “mapping” from ACI Airport

Carbon Accreditation, in recognition of

efforts to manage carbon dioxide emissions. It was first accredited in 2011, and

was the first airport outside of Europe to

be so. Then in 2013 the airport renewed its submission to maintain its mapping

level accreditation within the programme.

This year the airport initiated its third ap-

menting on the accreditation, Ahman

within the direct operational boundaries

Abu Dhabi Airports said, “Environmental

plication by mapping emissions sources of Abu Dhabi International Airport, as de-

fined by the programme, calculating the volume of annual carbon emissions and compiling a carbon footprint report. The

airports carbon footprint was then verified by an independent party, in accordance with Greenhouse Gas Accounting. Com-

Al Haddabi, Chief Operations Officer at impact is directly linked to the operation-

al efficiency of Abu Dhabi International

Airport, and we are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to have

a positive effect on the local and global

environment, whilst operating more effectively.”

duBAi’s 100% solAr power hotel to open in 2017 Inter-Continental Hotels Group (IHG) will open its sec-

ond Hotel Indigo in the UAE in The Sustainable City,

which is currently under construction in Dubai. IHG signed a management agreement with Diamond Developers - the owners of The Sustainable City at the

Arabian Travel Market to operate the 170-room property when it opens in 2017. Pascal Gauvin, chief operating officer, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG, said the property will be Dubai’s first sustainable integrated development. As well as recycling and using solar energy, he said the hotel will source produce from the

organic farm in development. “The hotel will be sus-

tainable in waste management and energy, with solar panels, and water management. All our water will be

treated and recycled. There will be a greenfield within Sustainable City where they will grow their vegetables

and herbs.” The hotel will be a Net Zero energy building, meaning 100 percent of its energy needs will be

met by solar power. The Hotel Indigo will also have

a solar-powered shuttle bus service to bring hotel guests to Downtown Dubai. www.ziwira.com

August issue 2 2015

solAr power hoMes on the increAse in united stAtes Homeowners in the United States installed rooftop systems at a record pace

in the first quarter as more than half of

the electricity capacity added in the country was solar. Residential installations jumped 76 percent from a year earlier to 437 megawatts, according to

a report by GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association. That

helped increase total United States so-

lar capacity by 1.3 gigawatts, the sixth straight quarter more than 1 gigawatt was added. The first quarter, “Provided a

clear glimpse into the future role that the residential sector will play as a primary

driver of not only solar-market growth,

but the overall electricity-generation mix,” said Shayle Kann, senior vice president at Boston-based GTM Research, in

a statement on June 9. Full-year installations are expected to reach 7.9 giga-

watts, a 27 percent increase from last year. By 2016, solar will power about 8

million homes and offset 45 million metric tons of emissions, the equivalent of eliminating 10 million cars, according to the

More properties popping up on englAnd’s greenBelt The number of new homes being approved on the greenbelt land in England

has increased five-fold in the last five

years, according to figures obtained by the BBC. In 2009-2010, planning permission was granted for 2,258 homes,

while in 2014-2015 the figure rose to 11,977. During the last year alone, the number of approvals doubled. The gov-

ernment insists greenbelt development is a matter for local planning author-

ities. Green belts were created to prevent urban sprawl and stop neighboring

towns merging into one another. England has 14 green belts, covering 13%

of total land. Government policy states

that the greenbelt should only be built on in “exceptional circumstances”. But

local authorities, hard pressed to supply land for development, are turning to

green belt sites to try to satisfy housing

demand. Some estimates suggest that 250,000 homes need to be built each year to solve the housing crisis in the

UK. “We are getting continual statements by government ministers, correspondence from government departments to various bodies like us saying

it is their determination to protect the

greenbelt and the wider countryside,” said Kevin Fitzgerald from Hertfordshire CPRE. “But, nevertheless, throughout

our county, our planning authorities are coming out with these proposals for quite major development.”

report.

green Bonds Are AttrActing cApitAl to property sector Green bonds are attracting new types

down global emission levels. He identi-

growth in the market set to be bene-

smart thermostats as one way buildings

of capital to the property sector, with ficial to developers, according to the chief executive of Global Real Estate Sustainability

Benchmark

(GRESB).

Nils Kok noted that many governments

perceived property as, “The source of all evil,” but said the real estate sector

could be part of the solution in bringing

fied the growth of technology such as could reduce their energy consump-

tion. But, speaking at IP Real Estate

Global Conference in Copenhagen in May, he warned that the industry was

being too slow to adapt to the changing world. Kok, also a co-founder of

GRESB said the, “significant over-sub-

7

NEWS & EVENTS

TORONTO’S TELUS TOWER EMPLOYS LEED DYNAMIC PLAQUE In the ever-changing world of commercial building

technology, the Telus Tower at 25 York Street in Toronto’s south financial core has achieved a Canadian first. The 30-storey smart building, owned by Menkes Developments Ltd., will become the first north of

the United States border to employ a LEED Dynamic plaque. It will be installed by US technology firm Hon-

eywell Building Solutions with the support of the United States Green Building Council and Canada Green

Building Council. Prominently displaying the build-

ing’s contemporary performance across five categories – energy, water, waste, occupant transportation and human experience – the plaque will help Telus

Tower occupants and building managers monitor things such as resource usage and carbon footprints.

Pioneered at the USGBC headquarters in Washing-

ton, D.C., the LEED Dynamic plaque is used in 15 to 20 buildings across the United States. “We are com-

mitted to pushing the boundaries of smart buildings,

identifying new methods to leverage connectivity and

improve our facilities,” said Sonya Buikema, Menkes’s vice-president, commercial property management. In

addition to the LEED Dynamic plaque, the building will also use Honeywell’s Attune Services, a cloud-based

system which employs software to connect buildings to advanced analytics, allowing building managers to

develop action plans to improve energy and operational efficiency.

HONG KONG HOUSING SQUEEZE A debate is mounting over whether Hong Kong needs to sacrifice some of its green spaces as the government embarks on an ambitious plan to

provide more affordable housing like in England. Astronomical property prices and cramped living conditions have long been grievances in a

city where more than seven million people live packed into a grid of skyscrapers. Just 7 percent of Hong Kong is zoned for residential use.

One of the most crowded places on earth is ringed by spectacular park land, hiking trails and beaches. But amidst a government plan to build 480,000 new apartments over the next decade, more than half of which will be subsidized housing, some of that may have to go. Repeated gov-

ernment measures to rein in property speculation have failed to tame

prices. “The government is now looking for land supply, because property prices are too high,” said Tang Bo-sin, a professor of urban planning and design at the University of Hong Kong. Environmental groups are concerned that the plan threatens Hong Kong’s country parks, which cover about 40% of the territory’s roughly 1,108 square kilometers of land. For now, the city’s Development Bureau says it won’t build in country parks, but that, as a part of its reviews of land use, it is looking at so-called greenbelt areas,

land that is supposed to act as a buffer against urban sprawl and that the city has kept off limits for development. These sites, “have relatively low conservation value and buffering effect,” said the Development Bureau’s statement. “They are considered suitable for urban expansion and thus have good potential to be rezoned for housing purposes.”

www.ziwira.com

Architecture

ULTIMATE OFF-GRID LIVING

{ Ecocapsule is a portable house offering an unmatched dwelling experience. With its immense off-grid life span,

worldwide portability and flexibility it is suitable for a wide range of applications: From an independent research

{

station or a tourist lodge to an emergency housing or a humanitarian-action unit.

NICE ARCHITECTS www.ziwira.com

August issue 2 2015

Very often, a new design concept will come along that is unique and inspiring. The design concept presented in this article proves that living off grid is more possible, and more comfortable than it has ever been. A small design team of highly qualified and dedicated engineers from Bratislava, Slovakia, designed what they call the “Ecocapsule”, capable of comfortably housing two adults, entirely off the grid. Discover how this technological marvel ticks…

nice Architects

design teAM

T

omas Zacek, Sona Pohlova and Igor Zacek are the master-

minds behind the phenomenal “Ecocapsule” design. Together they established a young architectural studio in Bratisla-

va called Nice Architects. The trio have played a key role in Slovak architecture. Thanks to their projects and publications throughout the world and numerous accomplishments in international and local

tomas Zacek

architectural competitions. They have a wide project range – from

interiors, family houses, public and residential buildings, to urban landscape design.

Nice Architects specializes in housing architecture in all forms: Af-

fordable, experimental, energy efficient, as well as social housing.

Their projects are driven by the “Love and Logic” motto – They create

concept based designs out of love. Together, the team conceptualiz-

sona pohlova

es traditional ways of creation, and integrate it into their work knowledge from new fields as industrial design, technology, art, psycholo-

gy, science, sociology, and life itself. The first public display of Nice Architecture’s “Ecocapsule” was during Pioneers Festival in Vienna (28-29th May 2015). Price of the Ecocapsule will be announced in the last quarter of the 2015.

igor Zacek

11

ArChiTECTurE

ecocApsule According to the design team, Ecocapsule is, “an energy

efficient house packed into a compact form. It has a unique combination of energy efficient shape, compact volume and off-grid capabilities with the luxuries of a warm bed, running water and a hot meal.”

tials necessary for comfortable living without the need to recharge or re-supply. How is this possible? The facility is

powered by a built-in wind turbine complemented with an array of solar cells. A dual power system and high-capacity battery provides enough power during periods of reduced solar or wind activity.

designed with

wheels, because that would make it convenient for travel-

ling, as common off-grid travelers would most likely be the

Ecocapsule, “fits into a standard shipping container with-

out any special preparations and precautions to transport it worldwide. It can be shipped, airlifted, towed or even pulled by a pack animal.”

Although it is undeniably energy efficient and dynamic, and looks great, in order to master an off-grid eco-friendly home

would also require the ability to discard waste. Living in

In addition, the spherical shape is optimized for the collection of rainwater and dew and the built-in water filters allow

you to utilize any water source. The body of the Ecocapsule is covered with 2.6 m2 of high-efficiency solar cells

and a retractable pole holding a 750W wind turbine further attached to the body. This creates an energy system that can support you almost all year in several off-grid locations.

www.ziwira.com

less. Unfortunately the Ecocapsule isn’t

target market. However, the designers have said that the

The designers also claim that it is equipped with all essen-

Solar Cells

The advantages of owning something like this are be end-

the Ecocapsule in a remote region would require the tenant to collect all of their waste until they reached a destina-

tion where they could offload it, or dispose of it on the spot which would completely defeat the purpose of energy efficiency. Perhaps that is an issue which the dedicated team could address in the future. Besides that, it is an incredibly

innovative concept that most certainly deserves positive appraisal.

Wind Turbine

Rainwater Collection

August issue 2 2015

ecocApsule BAsic specs •

Dimensions: (HxLx-

W)2.55×4.45×2.25m/4.5m with extended pole

•

Weight: 1500kg

•

Installed power output:

•

Battery capacity: 9744Wh

wind 750W solar 600W

dwelling with the spirit oF FreedoM

13

COVER STORY

www.ziwira.com

August Issue 2 2015

15

ArChiTECTurE

a CLOSer LOOK aT hONDA’S SMART hOME In 2013, right around the same time as Ford and KB Home teamed up to launch a smart home pilot project, Honda launched one of its own — Honda Smart Home US. Aside from the solar panels and EV, the home includes several energy efficiency components, and as a result requires less than half of the energy of a similarly sized new home in the Davis area for heating, cooling, and lighting. It is a rare glimpse into the future of sustainable real estate.

www.ziwira.com

August Issue 2 2015

Architect: Lim Change Rohling & Associates, Pasadena Builder: Monley Cronin, Woodland Interior Design: MAK Design + Build, Davis Energy Consultant: Davis Energy Group, Davis

OPTIMAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY

T

he Honda Smart Home concept was developed by Honda and the University of California in Davis. Honda is not the only famous brand to adopt the concept of a “smart home”.

All the big boys are into smart homes these days; GE, Bosch, and Google, all make the thermostats, heat pumps, sensors and

equipments needed to run these marvels. Honda makes cars, not

gadgets, so they are free to choose their technologies, and have built a home on the campus of UC Davis that deals with mankind’s

has warm climate (suitable for solar) and; also that California has a goal to build zero energy homes by 2020. The Honda Smart Home is a great concept that inspires people to meet California’s zero net

energy goals. Leading the project was Michael Koenig, a “car guy” with a passion for building sustainable homes.

As a whole, we should be using 75% less energy than a typical home.

{

Davis, California was chosen for two reasons: Firstly, the location

{

biggest problem: CO2 from our buildings and cars.

Michael Koenig

According to Koenig, the project revolved around a concept called

Honda Smart Home US Project Leader

“passive design” – “building your house to work with nature as

much as possible. This will reduce the amount of energy needed for heating and cooling.” It is an old concept, applied with some

modern design techniques. “We’re designing a Honda Smart

gy efficiency while complying with the needs of the electrical

annual basis, we’ll be producing as much or more renewable ener-

electric vehicle charging on the utility grid. According to Bill

Home to achieve net zero energy goals, which means that on an

grid, thereby minimizing the impacts of solar generation and

gy as we consume from the grid.”

Dakin, Director of Energy at Davis Energy Group, the location

The home includes a Honda Energy Management System that

summer things cool down quite a bit at night. We can allow

owner and utility provider, allowing the home to maximize its ener-

ing the next day.”

actively monitors energy usage and communicates with the home

was chosen because, “our summers are quite warm. In the that cool air into the house and avoid the use of air condition-

17

Architecture

The circadian-friendly lighting in #HondaSmartHome respects the body’s natural clock and rhythm. Blue-ish tones are projected during the day and amber tones are projected at night. The result is a comfortable environment that won’t disrupt sleep patterns.

Every light found in the home is a super-efficient, solid-state LED.

FEATURES One of the most amazing features of the Honda Smart Home is

how the car and house work together. The house alone saves approximately 13,100 pounds of CO2 annually, but roll in the

electric car results in CO2 savings more than 23,500 pounds per year compared with a comparable home and vehicle.

This is where the idea of the smart home makes sense for the average homeowner and builder. 9.5 kW of photovoltaics on

the roof are connected to a 10kWh battery array in the garage,

which leverages the battery to balance, shift and buffer loads to minimize the home’s impact to the electric grid.

Honda’s Home Energy Management System (HEMS) is capable

of improving grid reliability by automatically responding to demand response signals and providing other grid services. If the

electricity grid is overloaded, for example, Honda Smart Home will shed its load and even supply power back to the grid. This

type of smart grid connectivity will enable the mass deployment of electric vehicles and renewable energy without sacrificing grid reliability.

www.ziwira.com

Overhangs over the windows were used to shade the high summer sun, but take in the low winter sun, to provide energy

efficiency. Other eco design elements include the use of FSC

certified lumber, and cooling roof material which reduces the

amount of heat gain. Furthermore, double stud wall construction was used. The above-grade exterior walls are made from two

2X4 stud walls on 24-inch centers designed to eliminate thermal bridging except at the fire blocking.

In addition, clever materials like pozzolan infused concrete was used along with post-tensioning, to reduce the carbon footprint

of their concrete slab. Overall, the Honda Smart Home presents a leap forward in human ingenuity, and proves that it is possible

to live sustainably, if only it were more readily available to people and better understood. The Honda Smart Home as a whole, uses 75% less energy than a typical home.

August Issue 2 2015

19

Architecture

RESTORING VIETNAM’S NATURAL APPEAL Vietnam is growing rapidly and somewhat dangerously. Following the economic boom of the 2000’s, the Southeast Asian country is nearing a population of 90 million. Vietnamese have flocked to the major cities for business opportunities. Pollution is reaching a tipping point. With this in mind, green architect Vo Trong Nghia has dedicated himself to designing buildings that are favorable to the environment, and will restore Vietnam’s natural appeal.

www.ziwira.com

August issue 2 2015

sustAinABle And AFFordABle Architecture

A

ccording to Vo Trong Nghia, only 2.5 percent of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) is considered “green space”.

This has made him particularly concerned for the country

that he calls home. Nghia recently featured in a documentary for Al Jazeera’s “Rebel Architecture” series called Greening the City. It was filmed by Nick Ahlmark, who shot the intriguing documentary with a shooting schedule of just two weeks.

was working on a prototype for a low cost house which he called

‘S-House2’, which would provide an affordable solution for low-income families in the Mekong Delta. Ahlmark followed Nghia to the

Mekong Delta to meet local families and look at their housing conditions as part of his research and preparation.

About the film, Ahlmark said, “At first I was a bit disappointed think-

ing that we could not film a larger construction with a bigger “wow”

factor, but looking back on it, the challenge of building a family

Asian countries don’t have the knowledge to create architecture that suits their climate.

{

building that Nghia had personally designed. Nghia mentioned he

{

Ahlmark wanted to capture the construction of an eco-friendly

vO trOnG nGhia Green Architect

home in the most remote reaches of the Mekong, on a budget of just

$3,000 - $4,000, really made this project unique and tested Nghia in ways other buildings would not have.”

Increasing floods are threatening the lives of the Delta’s residents in

Vietnam. Providing housing for low-income people is a challenging

task. By simplifying the design, and using low-cost materials, Nghia was able to reduce the cost of the S-House2 to US$3,000.

“Long term thinking needs to be more encouraged in architecture,” says Nghia, while meeting the charming young family, the bene-

ficiaries of the house designed by him. Because of the unstable

S-House2

weigh more than 150kg. In the end, the family was overwhelmed

S-House2

ground in the area, for construction of the Delta home, no unit could with joy after getting their new home, which was completed with a construction time of two weeks, at the cost of only US$4,000.

The first phase of the project started in 2012 with a steel frame prototype. Since 2013, in pursuit of higher stability and comfort, a new

prototype with precast concrete frame is designed and constructed in Long An Province. The lightweight bamboo structure allows

smaller foundation and transportability by small boats, since water-

S-House2

ways are still the dominant transportation in the Mekong Delta.

By: ZANE SMALL

21

ArChiTECTurE

By: ZANE SMALL

other proJects Vo Trong Nghia is understandably concerned about the

was different to what people were familiar with.” Nghia set out

green spaces in Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnamese cities have lost

stunning and eco-friendly designs is the “House for Trees”.

well-being of his country. “Urbanization is threatening our their beauty.” In Vietnam, 90 percent of children under the age

of five suffer respiratory illnesses. According to Nghia, people in Vietnam have realized the value of having their business on the main road, so they utilize every inch for construction,

leaving no space for plants or trees. “From the beginning I al-

ways wanted to follow green architecture, but the founding of a company on a green concept was very difficult, because it

to change the cityscape in Ho Chi Minh City. One of his most He built it in an effort to plant more greenery in the city. The outside resembles five plant pots of different heights. It is a

concrete structure with eco-friendly bamboo formwork. With thick soil layer, these “pots” also function as storm-water ba-

sins for detention and retention, and therefore contribute to reduce the risk of flooding in the city when the idea is multiplied to a large number of houses in the future.

‘House for Trees’

He also designed ‘Binh Thanh House’ with which he applied

ent spaces positioned alternately. Spaces for modern lifestyle

master’s thesis at Tokyo University. It was built in a typical

pattern blocks. Between volumes are two in-between spaces

his knowledge of natural air ventilation from studying it for his

developing and urbanizing area, facing to a noisy and dusty street. But it is also very close to the river and the Saigon Zoo with plenty of greenery. The house is composed of two differ-

(‘Binh Thanh House’) www.ziwira.com

are allocated in three floating volumes wrapped by concrete covered by glasses and widely open to the exterior, where the

residents enjoy their natural life with wind, sunlight, greenery and water.

August issue 2 2015

In addition, Nghia designed the ‘Wind & Water Bar’, which was made entirely out of bamboo, and no steel. “After building so many bamboo structures, I’ve realized it’s a wonderful material. It is durable and eco-friendly.”

Nghia has also been commissioned to design an entire green neighborhood near Ho Chi Minh City – a vertical farming city,

where every house will have a green roof and green façade.

Construction consent was granted after Nghia successfully convinced the executives at the Phu Khang Corporation’s Headquarters to finance the project. “Green architecture helps people live harmoniously with nature, and elevates human life by embracing the powers of the sun, wind, and water into living space.”

23

COVEr STOrY

Call +974 44 666986

www.damacproperties.com

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August Issue 2 2015

25

COVER STORY

DUBAI'S TRANSFORMATION GREEN BUILDING REGULATIONS

Dubai is a splendid place to live. As a city, it has rocketed up faster than almost any other during the past century. Unfortunately with such rapid growth, the UAE earned a reputation as having the third highest ecological footprint per capita. Dubai, with the help of close allies like the UK, has stepped up to the challenge of providing citizens real estate with a sustainable future. In light of this, the ‘Future of Green Building and Sustainability’ seminar was held in Dubai by UK Trade & Investment on June 9, 2015.

www.ziwira.com

August Issue 2 2015

BRiEFING GREEN BUILDING

I

t was in October 2007, when the application for Green Build-

ing Regulations was implemented by the government of Du-

bai. In line with the commitment of Dubai to become a world

leading ‘green’ city and to make Expo 2020 an environmentally

sustainable event, Dubai Municipality issued a circular making the existing Green Building Regulations and Specifications (“Green Building Regulations”) mandatory for the private sector.

The Green Building Regulations were issued by Dubai Municipality in 2011 and were immediately mandatory for government bod-

ies and optional for private developers. Following the publication of Dubai Municipality Circular No. (198) of 2014, Green Building

Regulations are now also mandatory for all private developments which went into effect from March 1, 2014.

Today, while almost all new buildings in the UAE are built with sustainability principles in mind, the upgrading of older buildings that

are already being leased to meet sustainability targets remains a challenge. Following the essential implementation of Green Build-

ing Regulations in Dubai, developers had to adapt to and understand the new requirements, which aimed to: •

Reduce the consumption of energy, water and materials.

•

Enhance the planning, design, construction and operation

•

Improve public health, safety and general welfare. of buildings.

By: ZANE SMALL

27

COVEr STOrY

green Building speciFicAtions thAt Must Be coMplied with:

Future oF green Buildings And sustAinABility seMinAr Today we are witnessing a trend for cor-

porate occupiers and consumer facing businesses (for example, hotels) towards sustainable behavior.

mentioning His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice

President and Prime Minister of the UAE

The drivers for this are not only cost-reduction from a more energy efficient building, but also businesses viewing

their buildings as playing an important role in brand communication and re-

flecting their business ethos. As a result,

sustainable buildings are becoming increasingly sought after, particularly in

the UK and Europe, and this is a trend that we can expect to spread across all

major cities across the globe. Perhaps •

His Excellency addressed the crowd by

Ecology and landscaping

this is why the UK has had a particular

to include indigenous

Estate in the UAE with whom it has a

and Ruler of Dubai - how he launched

the UAE strategy for green development

in the form of a long-term national initiative aiming to build a green economy in the UAE.

“This initiative,” he explained, “aims to make the UAE one of the world leaders

and a center for the export and re-export

of green products and technologies, while maintaining a sustainable envi-

ronment to support long-term economic growth.”

(including the requirement

interest in the well-being of Green Real

plants in planted areas).

close relationship.

sustainable construction projects, such

•

Light pollution restrictions.

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), the in-

Maktoum Solar Park, the first utility-scale

•

Responsible construction.

of the British Government, organized a

•

•

•

Having an Environmental Impact Assessment.

Building vitality (including

air quality and ventilation).

Energy performance

(including glazing and

lighting, electricity and

air-conditioning metering and particular require-

ternational business development arm

bespoke event on June 9, 2015, at the

Radisson Blu Hotel Deira Creek in Dubai for senior officials and professionals who operate in the sustainability sector.

The keynote speaker at the event was His

Excellency

Saeed

Mohammed

Ahmed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Manag-

ing Director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA).

He also spoke of Dubai, in terms of as the Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al production capacity park of its kind in the region. He mentioned how DEWA ini-

tiated Etihad Energy Services to oversee makeover projects for inefficient establishments. He explained that as part of

Dubai’s efforts to disseminate its leading experience in green buildings, over

30,000 existing buildings in Dubai will be retrofitted by 2030 as per the demand

side management action plan, to make

them more sustainable. Etihad ESCO will facilitate and implement this important programme.

ments for hotel rooms).

•

Water performance (in-

cluding conservation and metering).

•

Materials and waste

(including a requirement that for all new buildings at least 5% of the total

volumes of materials used must be recycled and 5% of all material used must be available regionally).

His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Ahmed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of Dubai Supreme Council of Energy .

www.ziwira.com

August Issue 2 2015

PANEL SESSION The main topics of discussion during the panel ses-

Stefan le Gentil, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Ener-

how to change peoples’ attitude toward Green Building

buildings in Dubai to be more energy efficient, mak-

home to ‘green’ specifications is more expensive than

retrofitting will undoubtedly be a “big challenge”, with

have proven to last longer, and cost less down the line

the government organization that was setup to make

sion revolved around Green Construction in Dubai, and

gy Services, spoke of the advantages of retrofitting

to see it as a long-term profitable expense. Building a

ing a saving of 31 percent of energy costs. However,

using regular regulations, however, green buildings

around 30,000 buildings to complete. Etihad ESCO is

in terms of energy efficiency.

Dubai buildings energy efficient. Prior to his position,

On the panel, Abdulla Mohammed Rafia, Assistant Di-

sociation of Energy Service Companies, recognized as

rector General for Engineering & Planning, Dubai Municipality, addressed the issue of implementing green building regulations for building construction in Dubai.

“This is one of the real successes of Dubai green building,” he said. He also mentioned that he hopes to see

100 percent green building in Dubai by the end of the year – as farfetched as it may seem. Rafia heads the Sustainability Committee in Dubai Municipality.

Paravasthu Jagannathan, Sustainability Manager, EHS Trakhees, another panel member, spoke of the impor-

tance of fulfilling the green building regulations, so that Dubai doesn’t return to the way it was.

“We need to develop regulations,” he said, and mentioned accreditation and certification for building. As the

Sustainability Manager at Trakhees (Environment, Health & Safety EHS), a Regulatory Authority in Dubai, he is

responsible for enforcing green building regulations in

Gentil was Chairman of the European Performance Asone of the important tools for Europe to reach its Energy Efficiency Objectives.

The final speaker was Mr. Adrian Bliss, Technical Di-

rector, Environment & Sustainability Middle East, Mott MacDonald. Bliss was concerned with changing the

perspective of green building in Dubai, by educating people of the long-term profitability of eco-friendly building practices.

“The greatest profit of a building is through the build-

ing process. We shall not think about immediate gains, and rather focus on long-term future of buildings.” From

a long-term green building perspective, he said, “cost savings can be quite spectacular.” In the UK, Mr. Bliss led the environmental inputs into two infrastructure pro-

jects which achieved ‘Excellent’ CEEQUAL awards in recognition of their outstanding environmental performance.

the PCFC and Trakhees jurisdiction. His department has encountered several challenges and has played a key role in encouraging low carbon development.

By: ZANE SMALL

29

COVER STORY

www.ziwira.com

August Issue 2 2015

31

FEATurE

rePUrPOSeD aIrCraFT A NEW DREAM hOME?

Meet Bruce Campbell from Portland, Oregon. Ever the resourceful man, back in 1999, Bruce had a bright idea – bright, yes, but also a little crazy. He decided to purchase an out-of-use 727 Airplane for $100,000. With the plane, he not only had it dragged to the suburban wood area on the outskirts of Portland, but also lives in the plane as a home. With his skills as a former electrical engineer, Bruce has transformed the plane into an intriguing and inviting residence. Surprisingly, he is just one of many‌

By: ZANE SMALL

upcycling AirplAnes

A

irplanes have dramatically changed the world we live in. Because of the invention of modern airplanes, people from all around the world are

able to see things on the other side of the world that they

had only ever dreamed of, and countries can effectively

aid one another when disaster strikes. But like all things, airplanes eventually become out-of-date, and lose their

purpose to new, more effective technological wonders.

Because of the large size of airplanes, there is a considerable amount of waste that accumulates when they are

discarded. Air France upcycles old aircraft life jackets and advertising posters into stylish must-haves. Del-

ta airline upcycles aircraft seat covers into fashionable bags. But what about the actual aircraft? What happens to them?

{

Shredding a beautiful and scintillating jet-

liner is a tragedy in waste, and a profound

{

failure of human imagination.

bruCe CAmpbell FORMER ELECTRICAL ENGINEER

33

FEATurE

By: ZANE SMALL

Like Bruce Campbell, many people around the world have been inspired to renovate abandoned or unused airplanes

to use as effective accommodation. After having his aircraft transported to the land that he wanted to use in Portland, Bruce then spent about $120,000 making it his own.

He spends 6 months out of every year living in the aircraft, and then spends the other 6 months in Japan, where he is

in fact looking to buy a retired Boeing 747 fuselage. Bruce’s aircraft-home in Portland is propped onto concrete pillars.

He has transformed the area into an inviting oasis with a

driveway, and has managed to makeshift a shower. He tried

to use much of what the plane already had to offer, leaving many of the instrumentation and controls, and making the cockpit into a reading room.

He is continuing to work on restoring some of the plane’s interior elements, such as seating and lights. Bruce is passionate

about his decision to transform the aircraft into his home, and feels as though it shouldn’t be regarded as unusual.

“Shredding a beautiful and scintillating jetliner is a tragedy

in waste, and a profound failure of human imagination,” he says. Bruce is clearly baffled by the fact that people tend

to shy away from unique breakthrough ideas such as his, and continue to, “destroy the finest structures available, and then turn around and build homes out of materials which are

fundamentally little better than pressed cardboard, using ancient and inferior design and building methods.”

trending Upcycling aircraft is a revolutionary idea, as it

repurposes otherwise disposable technology.

They are also super trendy and unique, and could make an awesome dream home. Yes, Bruce Campbell’s upcycling idea was great, but it wasn’t his alone. There are many exam-

ples of aircraft repurposed as homes all around

the world. According to Bruce, the wings of an airplane make for a great balcony, and keeping

an aircraft immaculately clean is easy because they are sealed pressure canisters. They are also, “strong, durable, and long lived,” he says.

www.ziwira.com

August issue 2 2015

the ilyushin il-18 hotel in teuge Airport, netherlAnds

In the Netherlands, a former East German Interflug Il-

yushin Il-18 airplane has been repurposed into an authentic luxury hotel located at the Teuge Airport. The jet was originally used by East German chief of state

Erich Honecker. It has now been transformed into a

luxury suite with a small kitchen and a lounge area in a modern style with a glimpse of the cockpit at the back.

The plane has an authentic Cold War-era style cock-

pit. This Ilyushin Il-18 plane served as a restaurant for about 15 years after the unforgettable German reunification in 1989. In the cockpit, there is a seat for a Stasi agent who always had to make sure that they were

keeping to the right course and flight plan (The Stasi was the East German secret police).

Today, the clean, modern white interior and luxury facilities installed by Dutch company ‘Hotel Suites’

mean that the past can easily be forgotten. It is an extraordinary piece of upcycling to behold, and an incredibly beautiful property.

the cooKie tiMe dc-3 cAFÉ, MAngAweKA, new ZeAlAnd Cookie Time is the leading brand of chocolate chip cookies in

New Zealand. As the brand grew strength in the country, making

the most of their high visibility location, Cookie Time transformed

their Christchurch Cookie Time factory into a massive advertising mural. As this turned out to be a success, the company then spread to Mangaweka in the North Island in the form of the Cookie Time DC-3 Café.

Four airbrushes and 200 hours later, the plane was transformed into a cookie lover’s dream. The Douglas DC-3 is a fixed-wing,

propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930’s and 1940’s. Because of its lasting im-

pact on the airline industry and World War II, it is generally regarded as one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made. The upcycled aircraft is now a well-known landmark, and the perfect excuse for a food and refreshment stop.

By: ZANE SMALL

35

FEATurE

By: ZANE SMALL

Boeing 727 costA verde hotel, costA ricA This is an example of when upcycling can leave you speech-

race, a private entrance up a river rock staircase, and 360 de-

plane graveyard in San Jose, to the Costa Rican jungle to be

from hand-carved, teak furniture from Java, Indonesia, while

less. In 1965, a Boeing 727 aircraft was transported from a nestled on a 50-foot pedestal. Cruising over the Costa Rican jungle’s lush landscape, the ‘Phoenix’ suite at the Costa Verde hotel offers guests a private stay within a massive refurbished

airliner. The interior has been fully outfitted and meticulously detailed to include two air conditioned bedrooms, each with its own private bath, a kitchenette, dining area, ocean view ter-

www.ziwira.com

gree views of surrounding gardens. Furnishings are all formed

the plane’s interior is Costa Rican teak paneling, which lines the surfaces from the cockpit to the tail. Guests can enjoy sce-

nic ocean and jungle views from a deck built atop the plane’s

former right wing, where they might get to know their tree top neighbors — sloths, toucans, and monkeys.

August Issue 2 2015

37

IreNa hQ

CONSTruCTiON

By: NASrEEN rASOOL

IreNa hQ

OFFIcIALLY OPENS IN ABU DhABI Abu Dhabi is now host to the International Renewable Energy Agency headquarters, which is one of the greenest buildings in the UAE.

By: NASREEN RASOOL

the

IRENA

(International

Renewable Energy Agen-

cy) headquarters in Masdar, Abu Dhabi. High-level delegates from around the world gathered in Masdar City on

a result, the multi-use building creates a

unique environment that nurtures community and promotes resource efficien-

cy. This project is a positive example of public-private sector collaboration.”

June 3rd, 2015 to celebrate the official

The IRENA Global Headquarters boasts

headquarters, a milestone in the inter-

voltaic panels to generate electricity.

low-carbon building was the first to re-

of solar power annually. In addition,

sustainability certification system in the

percent of the estimated total annual hot

inauguration of the permanent global

1,000 square meters of rooftop photo-

national clean energy movement. The

The system will produce 305, 000 kWh

ceive a four pearl rating by the Estidama

solar-thermal water heaters supply 75

Emirate.

water usage. The building’s sustainable

“We are delighted to finally be home in

all energy consumption by more than 40

our new global headquarters, an extraor-

dinary building that is a paragon of sustainability throughout the region,” said

design is expected to reduce the over-

percent and water by 53 percent, compared to regular buildings.

IRENA Director-General Adnan Z. Amin.

The exterior is fitted with sun-shielding

The new headquarters was phase 3 of a

obstructing the view from inside. It also

atrium that connects office spaces with

dining and shopping spaces. Not only does it create a shared space, but also conserves energy and water.

HE Falah Al Ahbabi, Director General, of the Urban Planning Council said, “From

its conception to construction, the complex strictly adhered to Estidama’s four

pillars of sustainability — social, environmental, economic and cultural. The

UPC’s Estidama Department has put

in a considerable amount of effort with

Masdar and the construction team to ensure their commitment to optimizing sustainability and performance, and as

comprises of high-performance tinted glass and high-efficiency insulation to optimize energy conservation. The

construction materials included locally

sourced, low-carbon cement as well as recycled steel. The 32,000 square me-

ter complex has been described as an important symbol of sustainable design and development.

This is the first international organization to be headquartered in the Middle East.

IRENA’s strategic position in Abu Dhabi

{

three-building complex, with a common

fins, to reduce solar heat gain without

We are delighted to finally be home in our new global headquarters, an extraordi-

nary building that is a paragon of sustainability throughout the region

{

W

ork is finally complete on

Adnan Z. Amin IRENA Director-General

will now allow world leaders to collaborate in the achievement of worldwide renewable energy goals.

39

Construction

Why did Nepal crush?

Poor infrastructure and lack of sustainable urban planning caused much greater damage than what is felt in many other earthquake-prone countries.

T

he 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Ne-

pal on April 25 was no surprise. For years, scientists had been warning that there

would be a big earthquake, given the country’s history and geological standing, but Nepal failed

to respond. Poor economic conditions and years

of unstable governance had affected the country’s growth and development, making it ever more vulnerable to natural disasters such as this one. More than 8,000 people were killed.

It only took a few minutes for Kathmandu’s buildings to crumble, a heart wrenching tragedy for one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and

its humble residents. The Dharahara tower, a

www.ziwira.com

By: NASREEN RASOOL

August Issue 2 2015

nine-storey building built by the royal rulers in the 19th century, which was an age-old symbol of the nation’s rich heritage, was

crushed. So were many other buildings - landmarks, religious sites, offices and homes.

Immediately following the earthquake, apart from the humanitarian crisis, media reports were flooded with criticism of poorly planned construction in the area. There were no building by-laws in place, nor was there a proper disaster management policy until 2005.

And even still, this policy has not been able to achieve anything on the ground.

According to a recent audit, many projects taken up by the government were either left midway or were running beyond dead-

lines. One of the programs for the creation of a national database

for seismic hazard and regional risk appraisal could not materialize despite the approval of funding. An updated seismic hazard and risk micro-zonation map which had been requested of the

Indian Meteorological Department remained incomplete until just two years ago.

The situation remains dismal, as disaster management centers,

which are supposed to store relief material and equipment for

evacuations, are not operational, and some of them do not even have a proper office to operate. The land is allegedly being used for dumping garbage.

The government has always focused on post-disaster manage-

ment rather than disaster risk reduction. Too much emphasis is

placed on temporary relief and rehabilitation and there are rarely plans in place for long-term reconstruction and recovery.

This leaves us with a question that why many other regions in the world including Japan, Chile, and California frequently experience

earthquakes with little impact. The experts say that these countries have developed the capacity and infrastructure to handle such hazards. Despite warnings and disaster preparation, there is no guarantee of safety for Himalayan communities.

The Himalayan region is one of the most geologically and envi-

ronmentally sensitive regions in the world. Buildings must be constructed and carefully designed and for seismic resistance. Even

though the urban population of the Himalayas has gone doubled since 1980s, cities have not been built sustainably to accommodate for this.

Kathmandu is now home to more than a million people. To match

this demand for housing, the government has allowed construction of structurally poor buildings in unstable and hazard-prone

areas. Building regulations are often completely disregarded. According to a USAID report on Nepal, the 1994 building codes are

not well enforced. On average, only two engineers are available in a municipality where 400 building permits are issued every year.

Interestingly, one report suggested that the chances of surviving an earthquake of magnitude 7 are much lower in Islamabad than

in San Francisco or Tokyo. In 2014 Chile experienced an earthquake of magnitude 8.2 but there was only a total loss of six lives.

Similarly in May, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Japan occurred with no loss to life or infrastructure.

The Nepal earthquake has highlighted the country’s vulnerability to natural disasters due its poor economy and problematic urban

structure. The city of Kathmandu is characterized by its flimsy

shacks and hovels lining the dusty slums, and the precarious, multi-tiered family homes, cheaply built apartment blocks and ornate temples. Collectively, they give the city its colorful, distinctive appearance, but practically they are also unsustainable.

Nepal has for a long time been in need of sustained investment

to strengthen its physical infrastructure and provide safer dwell-

ings for its inhabitants. The challenge now will be to invest the international aid received for recovery and reconstruction. Scien-

tists believe that another powerful jolt is very possible by the turn of the century, so it is paramount that future planning for human settlements should strictly adhere to the seismic-resistant building codes throughout Nepal.

“Something to learn from earthquakes” A team of civil engineers from the British Columbia Institute of

According to Pandey, some of the damage that led to the most

build safely following the devastating earthquake. The seven en-

lapsed. The engineers, all agree that there is always something

Technology flew to Nepal early last month to help the country re-

gineers will be travelling through rural and urban areas from Kathmandu to look at which buildings survived earthquake in April, and which ones did not.

casualties, was in rural areas where stone buildings simply colto learn from earthquakes. They plan to work with the Nepalese

government and local engineering authorities to develop a plan for rebuilding and in urban Kathmandu, update the building code.

“We are trying to come up with simple guidelines that the people in

If anything, the Nepal earthquake should be a wakeup call and a

team and teaches civil engineering at BCIT.

ated near seismic faults, to invest in the research and construction

those rural areas can adopt,” said Bishnu Pandey, who leads the

learning lesson not only for Nepal itself, but for other countries situof more sustainable buildings and infrastructure.

By: NASREEN RASOOL

41

rEAL ESTATE

COUNTrySIDe LIVING AUSTRALIA’S GREEN REAL ESTATE

enviro reAl estAte

A look at some of Australia’s real estate companies that are dedicated to sustainability and eco-consciousness.

Enviro Real Estate is Australia’s free online property portal, where users can search a multitude of locations for properties, knowing that each property has at least one enviro-friendly attribute. It’s sassy and user friendly, catering to both buyers

and sellers, and features different types of property from commercial to residential, offering nature-lovers a chance to make more sustainable property choices. Everyone gets the best deal, knowing that their ethical, environmental investments are trading between like-minded people.

This site also features Organic and Enviro Directories for retailers of alternative products to market their items. Users can

also find environmental articles featuring ecology and environment issues, organic farming and organic gardening, alternative technology breakthroughs as well as environment news and our environment forums.

www.ziwira.com

eco reAl estAte

August issue 2 2015

Eco Real Estate provides a range of real estate services to protect, conserve and promote environmental property for sus-

tainable living. The company works with property owners and real estate agents throughout Australia and New Zealand,

bringing specialist knowledge and expertise to each property whether it is urban or rural, fully or partially eco, bush blocks,

eco property

conservation, organic farming, apartments, houses, lifestyle, and project marketing. They even do eco holiday rentals.

Eco Property was founded by a committed environmentalist who started this company due to his personal interest in

environmental design, permaculture and organics. The journey started as a small project but gradually transformed over the years to a wide range of services around property and sustainability. Eco Property’s philosophical commitment is to

lifestyles promoting energy efficient design, embodied energy assessment, restoration of land and materials, preserving

native and natural areas, regenerating and reusing materials, permaculture design, and consolidating the work done on land, housing and property. The company is also a member of the Ethical Enterprise Network, which is a national organi-

zation for enterprises seeking ethical ways of doing profitable business. Far beyond a commercial property agency, they are committed to protecting the environment and achieving social and cultural enhancement.

43

Real Estate

SIMULTAEOUS REDUCTION OF

WASTE AND COSTS

One of the best aspects of owning an energy efficient home, is the added bonus of reduced costs. By implementing certain changes and improvements, property owners can reduce waste and costs at the same time. Ven-American helps people to take advantage of low-cost financing for renewable energy, energy efficiency upgrades, and even, depending on your municipality, hurricane protection measures.

AFFORDABLE ENERGY EFFICIENCY Based in Miami, Florida, Ven-American Real Estate is committed to reducing waste and costs at the same time.

The company offers their clients expert property management services, besides providing energy efficient, and

sustainable building solutions. Ven-American strongly believes that the most efficient way of boosting the return on your property, whether it is an office building, warehouse,

shopping center, or other commercial property – or even a home – is through improved energy performance. According to Ven-American, making a particular property

more energy efficient can be much more affordable than you might think.

For a majority of commercial buildings, energy is the single biggest operating expense, often taking up to one-third of many operating budgets. By reducing energy costs, profits will increase, as less revenue will be spent paying power bills. To give an example, in each 100,000 square-foot building in South Florida that pays $2.00 in energy costs per square-foot per annum, a 20 percent

reduction in the cost of energy can save up to $40,000. Further benefits include greater returns on investment, eligibility for tax incentives, and risk reduction for both building owners and occupants.

Another significant benefit of energy efficiency in commercial properties, is that the overall operational and maintenance costs will reduce, and you will see a boost in operational efficiency, being able to enjoy the benefits of reduced downtime that results from

equipment failure. This is due to the fact that during the construction of commercial buildings, great care is taken to modernize the properties and improve their mechanical systems, resulting in more opportunities for building control and automation. A further

benefit of having an energy efficient property, is that you will see a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. An example

is energy-efficient retrofits which can lower energy bills by up to 30 percent, and reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions

by 4.5 tons a year, in an average commercial property built 20 years ago. Reducing the total quantity of greenhouse gas emissions is a critical step in reducing the effects of climate change locally and globally.

www.ziwira.com

August Issue 2 2015

Sustainable Lighting Trends

As sustainable design and architecture lead us toward a greener future in real estate, so does sustainable lighting.

Skylights

LED

Solar

One of the best lighting solutions is natural

LED lighting is certainly not new, but is be-

The price of solar power keeps dropping,

hours with a skylight or big open windows.

some cases, even mandatory. In addition to

practical energy source. In 1977, the aver-

light. Make the most of it during daylight

They can provide the interior of your build-

ing with warmth, brightness and a classic,

aesthetic appeal. With a natural skylight, you can drastically cut down energy bill as well as emissions.

coming more and more widely used, and in their breakthrough energy-efficiency, LED bulbs are also much longer lasting, as they require much less maintenance than tradi-

tional bulbs. Besides homeowners, many

businesses and restaurants are now also making a complete transition to this sustainable form of lighting.

making it a fast growing and increasingly age cost of solar panels was $77/watt, and

today the cost is around $.60/watt. This is

evident from - utilities, commercial buildings and even home-owners turning to solar installations on a larger scale. What we can

expect in the not so distant future is greater innovation, better design and even lower prices, making solar a more marketable and

sustainable lighting option for the real estate sector.

45

rEAL ESTATE

Following the interview in our previous issue with Saeed Al Abbar, Chairman of the Emirates Green Building Council (EGBC), in this article we highlight specific programs EGBC currently has in progress to protect real estate in the UAE. Rest assured people of the Emirates, the integrity of building standards is protected by this organization that is held in high esteem, with partners such as WWF, Masdar, and Emirates Environmental Group. Current initiatives by the EGBC include the Energy Efficiency program, increasing energy efficiency in buildings, and the Green Key program.

PrOTeCTING The INTeGrITy OF

BUILDING STANDARDS IN ThE EMIRATES

Khaled bUShnaQ Vice Chairman of EGBC, outlining the purpose of the Energy Efficiency Program at the official launch event www.ziwira.com

August Issue 2 2015

{ At EGBC, we understand the challenges for our stakeholders when it comes to identifying the right partners for an energy efficiency project. This database will

provide a common platform for everyone involved in the business, facilitating access to other services and play-

{

ers and providing an enhanced overall experience.

G

rowing trade and tourism catapulted Dubai to become one of the top five fastest growing cities in the world, according to

a survey of 300 cities by a leading American think tank. The

UAE will be the second fastest growing economy in the MENA region

for the second consecutive year in 2015, after Saudi Arabia. With this

skyrocket growth, the UAE (in particular Dubai) has experienced a massive surge in construction of new buildings to house expatriates and new businesses that have flocked to the desert country for its potential and opportunities. However, growth comes at a cost.

The significant growth of a country often entails increased pollution, and lowering standards. Thankfully, building standards in the UAE are protected by the Emirates Green Building Council which was estab-

lished in 2006, with the goal of advancing green building principles for protecting the environment and ensuring sustainability in the region.

Since its inception, there has been a massive change in attitudes and demands related to sustainable building. The EGBC has actively en-

couraged the implementation of green building policies and regulations, by adopting consistent rating systems, and by the increase in

the overall knowledge sharing and information available on green built environments and communities.

In December 2014, EGBC announced the launch of the Emirates

Green Building Council Energy Efficiency Program, which acts as a

bridge that networks industry experts for participation in future energy efficiency property projects. The program consists of a database

that serves as a catalyst for all interested players, including energy efficiency equipment manufacturers and vendors, contractors, facility managers, banks and financiers, insurance companies, and energy service companies to assist in facilitating their industry requirements related to energy efficiency, by directing their needs to other players.

Participating in the program is free for corporate members, and its da-

tabase has been developed to support the improvement of efficiency in privately owned buildings and to further support sustainability in the

UAE. The database provides an array of benefits to various industries

by streamlining the energy efficiency market, unifying stakeholders

and boosting company market reach, as well as bringing financial opportunities.

47

Real Estate

GREEN KEY BASELINE CRITERIA CATEGORIES

GREEN CERTIFICATION As Dubai is becoming a popular tourist hub, EGBC ensures that green standards are upheld during the establishment of

accommodation facilities in the UAE. Since 2013, EGBC has

acted as the national operator for Green Key in the UAE. Green

Key, established in Denmark in 1994, is a voluntary eco-label

for tourism facilities that promotes sustainable tourism and

contributes to the prevention of climate change by promoting facilities with positive environmental initiatives. It is active in

more than 40 countries and continues to grow in influence, with recognition from the World Tourism Organization and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

To receive Green Key certification, an establishment must

•

Environmental Management

•

Staff Involvement

•

Guest Information

•

Water

•

Washing & Cleaning

•

Waste

•

Energy

•

Food & Beverage

•

Indoor Environment

•

Parks & Parking Areas

•

Green Activates

•

Administration

meet a specific sustainability criteria. The application process

requires the establishment (for example, a hotel) to submit an application with supporting documentation, and participate in

Communication with hotels: collection of the application and supporting documnetation, invoicing

an audit to ensure criteria has been met and best practices are being implemented. Upon successful application and au-

dit validation from the Green Key National Jury, the hotel will be issued Green Key certification, to be renewed annually.

Radisson Blu Resort, Sharjah, part of the Rezidor Hotel Group,

received Green Key certification which showed its commitment to responsible business. Undeniably, besides being an

ethical, and commendable program, the Green Key certifica-

tion also leads a great way for hotels to promote their green

Certification process: invoicing collaterals, registration with GK Internationla

Liaison with austore: preaudit meetings sharing of documentations

property image.

Presentation of audit recommnedations to Green Key National Jury for validation

www.ziwira.com

Audit condition + liasosn with audience to finalize reports and collect reommnedations

August Issue 2 2015

49

Interview

ADMIRABLE, ETHICAL &

INNOVATIVE INTERIORS The time that you spend in your home and office is important, because it is where you spend the majority of our life. Therefore, it is important for real estate to evolve and become more livable and sustainable. Marcos Bish, Managing Director of Summertown Interiors in Dubai, recognized a gap in the Dubai market, where people needed assistance with “greening” their home or office interiors. We caught up with Mr. Bish to discuss his green interior fit out company, and LEED certification.

{ People often say that “green” is more expensive, but we

{

say no, it doesn’t necessarily cost more money.

Marcos Bish Managing Director of Summertown Interiors

LEEDING EXAMPLE LEED certification is something

that you can expect to hear

more about in the coming years.

As resources grow thin, and

CO2 emissions ceaselessly increase, sustainable properties will become highly sought after.

LEED certification was imple-

mented by the United States Green Building Council. LEED stands for Leadership in Ener-

gy & Environmental Design. It

is an internationally recognized

territories worldwide. The rat-

ing systems generally have 100

base points plus six ‘Innovation

in Design’ points and four ‘Regional Priority’ points, for a total of 110 points. Each credit is al-

located points based on the environmental impacts and human benefits of the building-related impacts that it addresses. Projects achieve certification if they

earn points according to the following levels:

mark of excellence in sustaina-

• Certified: 40–49 points

tion, operations and mainte-

• Silver: 50–59 points

ble building design, construc-

nance solutions. LEED is issued throughout the United States,

as well as 150 countries and

www.ziwira.com

• Gold: 60–79 points • Platinum: 80+ points

By: ZANE SMALL

SUMMERTOWN INTERIORS In 2009, Summertown Interiors accom-

agers who interpret client requirements

ing use of the natural light streaming in

people of the UAE that implementing

ing the project’s development stage.

a strip of glass around the top of each

plished something that proved to the sustainable practices is not as difficult

and suggest solutions prior to and dur-

and farfetched as it may seem. Sum-

Besides developing amazing projects

in the UAE to occupy LEED Gold certi-

es are a marvel to behold. The entire

mertown was the first fit out contractor

for their clients, the Summertown offic-

fied interiors.

facility has a building management

They achieved this by building their

airflow, but cannot change the temper-

offices entirely eco-friendly in Dubai.

Summertown’s clients range from lead-

ing global organizations, to government authorities and local companies.

The Summertown team is made up of

architects, planners, and project man-

system, where staff are able to reduce

ature, which reduces energy use. All of

the furniture throughout is made from recycled paper, and the windows made

from recycled glass. Artificial lighting in

the building is censored, only turning on when it gets too dark to see, mak-

through the large windows. In addition, office enables more light to stream in,

also making the rooms feel bigger, allowing for lower ceilings to reduce air conditioning.

There are no rubbish bins found in the

offices. Instead, the staff discard their

waste items into provided recycling compartments. In the following interview, Managing Director Marcos Bish spoke to ZIWIRA about his company,

and why sustainability is important to him.

Q: Summertown is the only interior fit out Contractor Company in the UAE to

occupy LEED Gold Certified interiors. How did you manage to become LEED

certified, and what does it mean for your clients?

A: We were in fact the first company to become LEED certified in the UAE, and the only company in Dubai, but there is one more in Abu Dhabi. We were certified in 2009. We are currently sitting in an office that is LEED certified. What was good

for us, was that we did our own project first, and didn’t use our clients as a guinea pig. Normally, an office this size would take 10-12 weeks to do. We took almost double the time to do it. It was a steep learning curve for us being our first time. We had to look at how we were going to do it, and familiarize ourselves with the whole

LEED framework. It was very difficult to buy a supply database, because you need

MARCOS BISH Managing Director of Summertown Interiors

LEED certified products, or products that carry an eco-label. That was actually

a big challenge, especially when I look back in time. Nowadays, there are more products in the market – more readily available. Also, the prices of the products are in line with more conventional products. Building a database was one of the constraints, and something that we continue to develop with time.

By: ZANE SMALL

51

Interview

Q: Did you build this building as a way

their own standards and we have to fol-

ping out of the LEED framework we have

of what is possible?

sort of ‘green’. Projects outside Masdar

ney that we do together, a team effort.

A: Yes, we need to walk the talk. We

we recently delivered in Dubai was the

Q: We would like to know about Sum-

objective was to get LEED silver, and

participates, and what information is

half a year later they started a huge of-

ucation?

was LEED gold. Having over delivered

A: We run what we call free-to-attend

for your customers to see an example

need to be demonstrating that we know what we’re doing and have firsthand ex-

perience executing such a project. For

our clients it means that they’re dealing with a company that is credible and has

delivered tangible results. In the past, we have done many LEED certified pro-

jects in the UAE. For every single project we have delivered as per the required

standards of the LEED requirements.

low them. Their projects are by default all carry an eco-label. A big project that

been given by the consultant. It’s a jour-

headquarters for Schlumberger. Our

mertown’s Green Workshops. Who

on that project we got LEED gold. Then,

shared in relation to sustainability ed-

fice in Abu Dhabi, so this time the goal on our first project, we were chosen for this project.

‘green’ workshops. The workshops are open to everyone. It can be suppliers,

clients, potential clients, architects and

Q: What particular materials/design

designers, project management firms –

your interior designs are eco-friend-

or willing to share their knowledge with

methods do you use to ensure that

anybody who is interested to learn more,

ly?

us. It’s not just telling what we know –

level higher.

A: The interior of a building has separate

ganizations. The topics that we address

Q: Is achieving LEED certification too

environmental label, and then when you

For example, you might brief the client and the client decides that they want to go for silver. All projects we deliver are either at the standard requested, or one

certification. The building can have an

expensive?

go for a fit out, you can also get a label

A: People often say that ‘green’ is more

ings without an environmental label, but

expensive, but we say no, it doesn’t

necessarily cost more money. How-

ever, as you go up a certification level

expectation, there is a premium to be paid. Clients have to be aware of who they invited to execute a green project to ensure they get their eco-label. We

can deliver a sustainable project at the

same price as a conventional project.

For us it is very important that we have a

100% success rate delivering a project,

especially when more and more clients

are interested in having an eco-label on their project.

we also like to learn from likeminded ordepends a bit on the audience that we have.

on that. However, you also have build-

Q: Is it topics related to what you do

still you can go for an environmental la-

ability information?

to do with the building itself, however, if

A: We talk on several topics. We talk

bel for the interior. We don’t have much the building is ‘green’ already, it makes

our job easier. In terms of designing ‘green’ projects, we don’t design - we’re a fit out contractor, so that is the job of the designer. What we can do is work

together with designers to ensure that

the project is ‘green’. We try to make the project easier for the designer, by using our database.

Q: So you are implementing training

as a business, or just general sustain-

in terms of how you can achieve LEED certification, and what the process is for that, and the areas that you need to look at, implement, and buy. That is more for

people who are interested in the technical side of it. Then we also do a green

workshop where we address more cor-

porate social responsibility issues. We talk about why we want sustainability,

and then we talk about things from an environmental, corporate and econom-

for staff?

ic point of view. We explain the benefits

present stand out ‘green’ projects

A: We have a consultant for that who

general approach. We also explain how

dertaken that particularly stand out

LEED we have to measure our carbon

people are convinced, we go on to ex-

and the Change Initiative).

Once we have that bench mark, we will

We have engaging discussions, for peo-

A: We have considerably worked with

footprint. Each of us has goals related to

Q: Can you share some past and that Summertown Interiors has unto you. (E.g. Masdar Business Centre,

Masdar. The Masdar projects don’t al-

ways carry an eco-label, but they have

www.ziwira.com

for an organization if they go ‘green’ – a

helps us. It’s a two year project. Through

going green could save money. Once

footprint, so we are setting a baseline.

plain to them how to get the certification.

use it for each year to reduce our carbon

ple to learn.

sustainability. How do we identify these

goals? These goals are basically drop-

By: ZANE SMALL

August Issue 2 2015

53

Interview

An Interview with

Roger Platt President of the US Green Building Council

The US Green Building Council (USGBC) devised the 100 point LEED (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design) building rating system, which is now recognized worldwide as a global standard for sustainable buildings. However, the man at the helm of it all, is surprisingly down to earth.

Q: You recently won an award from the

try. It was market players who created a

tangible, a global standard for green

projects, and is a powerful mechanism to

has been able to do. How did you man-

this was not a government led program,

United Nations for achieving something

standard that added value to real estate

buildings, which no other UN meeting

scale green buildings. So just to reiterate,

age to achieve this?

and it was not a UN program. It was an

A: It’s unbelievable, really, that the Unit-

there was no difference between the part

ed Nations has given us the Champions

of the Earth Award, which is its flagship environment award that usually goes to

professors or people who’ve made in-

credible discoveries. But it’s also an ex-

treme honor. I think how we managed to get here, is that we’re an entrepreneurial

industry led program by people who felt of them that wanted to make money and

the visionary part that produced the magic. Fifteen years later we have a global

standard in 150 countries that now see how buildings can be part of the solution for climate change.

A: The more I hear about new innovations in sustainable development, I’m struck at

how suspicious people are that this is not going to happen. And many have the be-

lief that it has to be a CSR led initiative. But I think this will slowly change. For example in China, it was initially not the Chinese nationals who were promoting LEED, but now they are. Many of them are now doing it to attract multinational companies.

Q: Do people request LEED voluntarily or do you have to incentivize it?

A: Both. A lot of people request it because

Q: USGBC is a non-profit organization

it’s now an increasing trend that tenants

organization unique?

incentives for having an LEED certificate

sustainably, you can not only reduce that

A: At USGBC we have a vision to always

proved more quickly. Money is definitely

attract more income. We helped people

buildings not only be alive, but regenera-

(it would be great if they did!) but do it for

How do achieve not just net-zero, but give

environmental group that realized there

is a nexus between buildings as income

generating and also having huge environmental impact. So by building more

making huge impact. What makes your

environmental footprint, but you can also

go one step beyond. So we ask: How can

realize that you don’t have to do it for CSR

tive? How do we do something positive?

business.

something back to the grid? In order to

Also, what contributed to the success

buildings, but what about buildings that

sounds like a bad joke, but essentially, it

cess and integrated design.

a marketer, who came up with an idea to

Q: Are more people wanting to get

of USGBC is that it came from within. It was a lawyer, a real estate developer and define what constituted a green building

make water cleaner, we need low carbon also clean the air? It’s an integrated pro-

want green buildings. There are also tax and it also helps to get your buildings apa factor. We are seeing a generation shift

so many companies are realizing that with LEED certification they can seduce young-

er employees to want to work with them

because it shows that they care about the same values. It’s still largely voluntary

though, since it’s not regulation. But I think

it’s a stepping stone to when it eventually does become mandatory.

LEED certified?

and to help stimulate a brand new indus-

www.ziwira.com

By: NASREEN RASOOL

55

LANDSCAPiNG

rOOFTOP GarDeNS

Rooftop gardens are really taking off as a growing trend in real estate. Not only do they look beautiful, but they also serve a purpose too.

Rooftop Gardens is a garden-themed restaurant on the roof of Pyramids WaďŹ Mall in Dubai.

The Roof Gardens in Kensington, London also has an award-winning sustainable restaurant.

Chicago City Hall rooftop garden

T

here are many benefits of having a rooftop

tures and save on energy. They can also retain rain-

your building, for one. The other more impor-

some cities. The best plants to use are those that can

garden. It can add a unique visual appeal to

tant benefit is that it helps the environment. Rooftop

gardens are the perfect way to absorb heat and CO2 in the atmosphere. As the sun hits your roof first,

plants have the ideal growing conditions. Having

water, preventing rain run-off, which is a problem in withstand high temperatures, unless you have artifi-

cial shading to protect them from the harsh sun and wind.

plants on your roof helps to cool the building, thus

Rooftop gardens are best locations for growing

ing purposes.

ground garden space. With this in mind, it goes with-

In urban spaces, the buildings and roads absorb and

and should become an added feature of all new and

saving on the cost and energy consumption for cool-

insulate the heat, causing higher temperatures. Since

plants have the ability to absorb heat, having green

roofs in urban areas can drastically reduce tempera-

herbs, fruit and vegetables for high-rises with no out saying a green roof carries countless benefits

existing buildings. Even if the rest of your building is not eco-friendly, this is one good way of ensuring that you’ve done your bit!

57

HOTELS

Green Award for

Sofitel The Palm, Dubai Adding to its many accolades, Sofitel The Palm is now the Middle East’s leading green hotel.

A

cozy retreat from Dubai’s urban cityscape, Sofitel

The Palm is Dubai’s one of the most prestigious luxury hotels, which recently scooped the

Middle East’s Leading Green Hotel Award at the World Travel Awards held in the skyscraper city. The World Travel Awards, which is not less than the ‘Oscars of the

travel industry’, acknowledges commitment to excellence in the hotel sector, and is judged by a jury of international hospitality experts and peers.

Despite its world-class standards in terms of design and

commercial appeal, Sofitel The Palm has also displayed ongoing endeavors to strive for environmental excellence.

Situated in the tranquil groves of the Palm Jumeirah

Island, the hotel is an early boomer, having won several awards in just two years of operation. They recently won

With its French Polynesian theme, the resort and spa

inhibit striking features. It is home to vertical gardens, Tahitian motifs on the walls, pristine blue waters and the

award-winning So Spa, which features several natural

beauty and relaxation treatments along with therapeutic pools. Sofitel The Palm Dubai has thus, understandably

become a role model for environmental conservation in the region. The hotel manages to cater to both its customers and Mother Nature in an uncompromising manner.

“It is always encouraging to win such awards that truly

recognize our efforts in sustaining and maintaining a five-star luxury resort whilst considering the impact on

our environment,” said Christophe Schnyder, General Manager of Sofitel The Palm Dubai.

the International Hotel Awards for Best Sustainable Hotel

“We decided to inculcate the green culture into the

Environmental Certification and the Blue Flag Award for

Polynesia entirely, its essence will be lingering throughout

for Dubai, a Green Globe Certification, an ISO 14001

architecture, and although we may not be recreating

Best Beach to name a few.

the hotel. It is a grand victory for the entire team to bring

www.ziwira.com

home these awards making Sofitel a sheer top-notch

August Issue 2 2015

luxury themed resort and encourage us to continue our dedication to sustainability and service,� he added.

The hotel fosters a unique experience for its customers with light, water and greenery surrounding the low-rise

resort and spa. With infinity pools that immerse into the Arabian Gulf, and stretches of sandy beaches, Sofitel The

Palm Dubai strike a perfect balance between immaculate hospitality and eco-consciousness.

59

HOTELS

LIFE AMONGST THE TREES

The best architecture isn’t always about comfort and convenience. Sometimes it’s good to step outside of the norm, and experience the magic that remarkable architects can bring to our world. In the Scandinavian region of Sweden, Tham & Videgård Arkitekter have pushed the boundaries of green architecture, creating a sanctuary for people to live amongst the beauty of nature in unique style and class, with the uttermost respect for the environment.

T

THAM & VIDEGÅRD ARKITEKTER

his quirky and patently interesting con-

environmental issues taken into consideration,

holm, Sweden, focuses on architecture

ing with and completing several public, edu-

temporary practice based in Stock-

and design – from large scale urban planning through to buildings, interiors and objects. The practice is directed by co-founders and chief

architects Bolle Tham and Martin Videgård.

The practice’s approach to architecture is inclusive; with practical, theoretical, social and

www.ziwira.com

and integrated within the process. From workcational, exhibition and commercial buildings,

the T&V team has experience in managing pro-

jects that comply with the highest standards

regarding climate change, security and long term sustainability.

tree hotel

S

candinavia boasts some of the most

Luleå airport, guests can take a refuge from

on earth. Places where you will wit-

serenity, and rejuvenate in a sophisticated

beautiful, ecologically intact regions

ness chilly, crisp weather and ethereal beauty. In the northern region of Sweden,

in a place called Harads, Tham & Videgård Arkitekter implemented one of their most awe-inspiring designs that has won the world

over. The Tree Hotel offers a truly unique experience in unspoiled nature. Located near the Lule River, about 100 kilometers from

the constraints of everyday life, enjoy the

ZerO WaSTe hOTeL COmeS TO DUBaI New hotel will run on solar power and will recycle all water and material waste.

yet familiar environment. The village area

has a population of about 600 and features a restaurant, shop and guest house. Guests

check in at Britta’s Pensionat. Then it is just a

short stroll through the beautiful nature to the Tree Hotel. The hotel was officially opened to the public in July 2010.

pAsCAl gAuVin IHG’s Chief Operating Officer for India, Middle East & Africa

{ We’re looking forward to

working closely with Diamond

Developers to bring this hotel to

Dubai and help showcase another great neighborhood in a way

A hotel elevated amongst tree tops was inspired by the film The Tree Lover by Jonas

Selberg Augustsen. It is a tale of three men

from the city who wanted to go back to their roots by building a tree house together. It is

a philosophical story underlining the significance of trees for human beings.

The ‘rooms’ of the Tree Hotel are suspend-

ed 4-6 meters above ground – offering a spectacular view of the Lule River. Sustainability and ecological values were strongly enforced into the design process of the

establishment. Materials and construction

methods were chosen that made as little environmental impact as possible. No trees

were chopped down or damaged during the process. A chemical free eco-outdoor wood floor was chosen. The wood is heated to over 200 degrees, which triggers their intrin-

sic resistance to protect against destruction.

The facility is basically a lightweight aluminum structure hung around a tree trunk, a 4x4x4 meters box clad in mirrored glass.

Each room is modern and totally livable.

{

that only Hotel Indigo can do.

However, the rooms have no sewage sys-

tem and while cleaning, only eco-friendly

products are used. The toilets are completely odorless and powered by electricity.

The ‘Mirrorcube’, on the other hand, has a

freezing-toilet, also electrically powered and

completely odorless. The bathrooms have

water efficient sinks with running water suf-

ficient for washing hands, face and teeth. All

waste water is collected in a container that is emptied daily.

Every room is equipped with a modern, environmentally friendly combustion toilet where

everything is incinerated at 600 °C. The functions included are sufficient for two peo-

ple; a double bed, a small bathroom, a living room and a roof terrace. Access to the cabin

is by a rope bridge connected to the next

tree. To prevent birds colliding with the re-

flective glass, a transparent ultraviolet color is laminated into the glass panes which are visible to birds only.

Achieving zero waste in any situation can be challenging, let alone a hotel, where

there is a high influx of people and the potential to generate thousands of tons of

waste per day. It is for this reason that the

ambition of InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) to bring a 100% zero waste hotel to

Dubai is noteworthy. The Indigo Hotel will be located in Sustainable City, Dubai’s first fully integrated sustainable community.

The hotel is set to be the first of its kind in

Dubai. As a Net Zero energy building, 100

percent of the hotel’s energy will be generated by solar power. All waste water pro-

duced by the hotel will be recycled, and all material waste will be sorted and then re-

cycled. A solar powered shuttle bus will be available to transport guests between the

hotel and Downtown Dubai, ensuring that they are inter-connected while also maintaining zero emissions.

61