Comments on: Is Ken Yeang's brilliant landscape architecture sustainable?

By: MAHMUD

MAHMUD — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 06:55:37 +0000

most important thing is whether any ecosystem grows within the achieved green spaces and objects.
There can be different kinds of plants, trees, birds etc. which are dependent on each other in the circle of life things. More over if these greens comprise only some ephemeral plants that may require some extra maintenance rather than sustainability. therefore, there has to be independent ecosystem or the shared ecosystem of its surroundings.

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 09:48:55 +0000

Don’t worry! I am not trying to discourage Ken Yeang. – I know that he likes to work with landscape architects – including Robert Holden.
What I would most like to encourage is the design of beautifully sustainable buildings, cities and greenspace which DERIVE THEIR BEAUTY FROM THEIR SUSTAINABILITY.

By: Tian Yuan

Tian Yuan — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 06:37:40 +0000

Ps: Tom, you may need to encourage his idea. becasue it is very helpful to get a good architect into our landscape area. We need more landscape architects, as the English say: The more the merrier.:-)

By: Tian Yuan

Tian Yuan — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 06:33:45 +0000

Oh, he is a Chinese( half Chinese)! I did not know when I give this comments.
So, my guess is correct to this point. I may go on guess something else: he maybe have an interest in Taoist ideas for combining nature with architecture. At least, as an architect, he has made an effort to combine landscape with arhitecture. Landscape ideas can help architects become much better in thier ideas and practice.

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 18:56:33 +0000

杨经文/楊經文 is ethnic Chinese but born in Malaysia. Juliet balconies (named after Romeo and Juliet) are a good idea, for plants as in the photographs, or to make room occupants feel safe when the window is open. If I had the balcony in http://www.flickr.com/photos/7184863@N03/galleries/72157623901979611#photo_34516315 I would build a long thin plant container and fit it with a self-watering device and grow some herbs.

By: Tian Yuan

Tian Yuan — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 17:16:05 +0000

I like this great idea to combine landscape and architecture as the picture shows, but I agree with you that it may be very hard to be made in the real world. It makes me think of what Chinese always do: put plants in the containers and set them on the balcony.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7184863@N03/galleries/72157623901979611#photo_34516315
I think the designer maybe have been influenced by how Chinese make small greenspace in tiny living space. But he may forget, the containers could be moved and much more easy to be managed.

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 06:57:06 +0000

Not convinced.
I think there are to problems (1) how make buildings more vegetated [Yeang says ‘For me, if we are to look at green buildings or ecological buildings at this most fundamental level of understanding it is necessary to bring more greenery into them, and to balance the abiotic constituents with the biotic as with ecosystems in nature.’ (2) how to make buildings more sustainable (in the sense of fewer inputs and fewer outputs).
They CAN be separate but the AIM should be to bring them together. I see this as the great challenge for FUNCTIONALISM: to make buildings which BOTH look green and are green.

By: Christine

Christine — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 05:23:10 +0000

ps. Now lets hear from Ken Yeang…[ http://arch1design.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Eco_Design_and_planning_Ken_Yeang.pdf ]

By: Christine

Christine — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 05:09:31 +0000

Do you have cause for optimism?

The following is a selection of photographs from built projects.

1. Entrance to apartment building. [ http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9Wz5oUEAKBTF92Jr817N4g ]
2. Apartment with roof terrace. [ http://www.ingakinguk.com/modern-apartment-interior-ideas-in-an-old-building-wih-rooftop-terrace/ ]

Perhaps the distinction needs to be made between outcomes for public and private apartment buildings?

3. Balconies to public apartment building. [ http://www.planetware.com/picture/singapore-sin-sin260.htm ]

4. And then there is the age old problem of what to do about those pesky crows while attempting to enhance the biodiversity?
[ http://www.flickr.com/photos/rinkratz/3519445575/ ]