Building Design & Layout

Swire Properties has always integrated environmental considerations into building designs and layouts from our first to our latest development.  For example, our designs maximise energy efficiency by making best use of natural lighting and employing sensors to turn off lights when not in use, by using energy-efficient lighting and equipment, and by including sunshades and glazing with low thermal transmission to reduce heat gain and lower air-conditioning loads. These measures minimise the impact of power generation on the global and local community. Other examples include:

Taikoo Shing - The first residential development in Hong Kong to integrate landscaping into the design some 30 years ago. With support from the Owners' Committee, the hopper or waste chute rooms were renovated to provide compartments for waste separation, enhancing efficiency in waste recycling.

Piazza Verde & Via Fiori - Adjacent to the Cityplaza retail and office complex in Taikoo Shing, Piazza Verde & Via Fiori are two public areas with seating and shaded areas designed to enhance the leisure time of both residents and office workers in Island East. The nine-hole Putting Green at Via Fiori, adjacent to Taikoo Shing Road, is open for the exclusive use of Island East tenants and Taikoo Shing residents and is managed by Swire Properties.

Pacific Place - In 1986 Swire Properties made a commitment to the Government to take all necessary precautions to protect a Banyan tree located on the site. It was also agreed that expenses incurred in protecting the tree would be borne solely by the Company. In ensuring its protection, Swire Properties spent approximately HK$24 million, not to mention the tremendous time and effort expended by staff and colleagues. These facts probably make this 130-year-old Banyan the world's most expensive tree!

The Albany - Built in 1989, this luxury residential development includes sky gardens on two levels. Sky gardens are actively encouraged by the Buildings Department as a green feature for local developments.

TaiKoo Place - Natural light is used wherever possible to reduce the need for electricity. Lincoln House was the first building in Hong Kong to achieve an 'Excellent' rating under the Hong Kong Building Environmental Assessment Method (HK-BEAM). Some of its features include extensive use of natural light; double glazing to reduce noise and solar heat gain; and a heat recovery wheel, which recovers energy from exhaust air systems to pre-cool fresh air before it enters the air-conditioning system.

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Construction & Demolition

All building materials, methods and systems of construction for the Company's developments are carefully selected to minimise impact on the environment.

For new projects since 2001, the project team has been using Prolog Manager, an on-line project extranet system. Project managers, consultants and building contractors are able to access the system at any time from anywhere for project communication, review and decision-making. The system can increase efficiency in communication, transparency of project data and accountability, while minimising paper use throughout the project.

Only timber from a sustainable source will be used to avoid depletion of natural resources, and construction waste will be minimised by using pre-fabricated elements, minimal wet trades and recycled materials.  We also work closely with our contractors to implement an Environmental Management Plan and Waste Management Plan in order to reduce the impact of noise, dust, water pollution and waste from our construction sites.  Examples include:

Cambridge House - Overhead nozzles for dust depression and wheel wash were installed at the site entrance to minimise air pollution, while water collected from these devices and from the temporary drainage system for the stairs was treated and recycled by the on-site construction water recycling plant, which helped reduce water consumption throughout the construction process.  Proper chemical storage and use of non-lead paint minimised impact on the environment, and waste separation and recycling facilities helped reduce material wastage. The use of jump lifts, M&E prefabrication and semi-precast structure have significantly improved speed, quality, safety and environmental control of the construction work for this 36-storey office building.

The Orchards - The impact of the development on the local environment during construction and operation was carefully considered since the early site-planning phase of this residential project, in areas such as microclimate, air quality, noise impact and transportation and pedestrian access. The Company also conducted a thorough analysis of the lifecycle costing of this project before and during development. Various construction practices, such as the adoption of prefabricated elements for building facade and balconies, were thoroughly explored to locate methods best suited to the nature of the development and the surrounding area while minimising negative impact to the environment. The project was the first urban residential development to receive the HK-BEAM 'Excellent' rating.

Three Pacific Place - A Construction Design Management (CDM) philosophy of environmentally friendly construction methods was adopted for this project. Systemised formwork such as aluminium table forms, self-climbing hydraulic climb forms and steel column moulds were used not only to ensure good construction quality but also to minimise consumption of timber and the production of waste. The reusable metallic fencing system for floor edge/hole protection provided a safe workplace for workers. A first of its kind, waste water recycling system for automatic dust suppressing refuse chamber utilised treated site effluent for debris and rubble handling. Prefabricated wall and pipe risers were adopted to enhance quality and minimise wastage. This is also one of the first projects to adopt electronic-tendering for construction contract procurement.

18 Westlands Road - This redevelopment project adopts a non-percussive demolition method, which is more environmentally friendly and socially acceptable. The concrete crusher will cause less noise, dust and vibration, as well as consume less water in the process. As a result, environmental impact on nearby residential and commercial areas is minimised and the health and safety standard on site is further improved. Reusable demolished materials such as crushed concrete, reinforcement steel bars, electrical wires and metal are collected and sorted for recycling to reduce construction waste.

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