Vertically possible

2012 has been a year of bids, take-overs and project launches. We have even seen a few in Singapore this week; MCC Land's Forestville, CDL's Echelon and Tampines EC's Citylife. It seems there is a construction framework being moulded on pretty much every green space in the city state — and the trend isn't exclusive to Singapore, it's happening in urban areas all over South East Asia.

No wonder really, given the rate at which the population is expanding and growing. According to the Population Reference Bureau, the world population was 1.6 billion in 1900 and by October 2012 we'd hit the seven billion mark with no signs of slowing; it is estimated that the world population is going to increase a further three billion by 2100.

But that's not the only reason for extensive urban growth and vertical planning. There is also a significant demographic transition occurring. According to the Global Health Observatory, only two out of every ten people lived in a city 100 years ago and now some estimates suggest as many as one million people are moving to urban areas every week. Admittedly this trend is more pronounced in developing countries, but nonetheless, for the first time ever, the majority of the world's population lives in a city. With everything taken into consideration, it's no wonder there is immense pressure on infrastructure and forward thinking is a necessity rather than a luxury.

Of course, this is all positive for the property market but what about nature? The greenery? With space becoming scarce, a garden may soon become a luxury accessory unless architects and designers can save the day.

Mah Sing Group's M City in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is doing a pretty good job of making the most of its vertical landscaping, especially with its hanging gardens, while Supertree Grove in the Marina Bay development in Singapore isn't looking too bad either thanks to its horticultural tree structures. In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, the tall trees at Supertree Grove act as ventilation towers for the conservatories below, collecting rainwater and generating solar power. SIN is on the ball too, with its vertical greenery at Changi airport. In fact, vertical gardens are all the rage thanks to French scientist, artist and botanist Patrick Blanc, the founding father of le mur vegetal (the vegetable wall). His work has spanned the globe and can also be appreciated at projects like Sea Sentosa, Echo Beach in Bali.

With a bulging population of seven billion and counting, it's no wonder detached homes with white picket fences are no longer accessible to everyone. Vertical growth is therefore inevitable — offices, homes, car parks, even public spaces. Architects and designers are changing the virtually impossible into the vertically possible.

Photo courtesy of Niall Cotton.

Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2012/12/30/vertically-possible/