The second of our three articles recapping the recent ‘Dense and Green Building Typologies’ symposium looks at the demand for green environments from real estate investors, tenants, and homebuyers.
September 20th, 2017
How can greenery help to enhance income streams in commercial real estate? And how much thought do Singaporean homebuyers give to ‘green’ features in residential developments? The second segment of the symposium ‘Dense and Green Building Typologies: Architecture as an Urban Ecosystem’, held at The URA Centre on 30 August, offered something that’s not discussed enough: the perspective of clients and the real estate sector.
Dr Megan Waters, International Director and Head of Research at JLL Asia Pacific, began her presentation by suggesting buildings that enhance experience enjoy greater demand. While an enhanced experience may not increase the rent, it does minimise vacancies, which therefore benefits investors. It promotes the ‘stickiness’ effect that encourages tenants to stay for the long haul. The same can be said about workforce talent, she said. Greenery, of course, can play a key role in this.
Since the global financial crisis, there has been significantly more investment in commercial real estate, she said. Large pension funds are now investing more. It’s a good opportunity to enhance the environment of these buildings, she suggested. In the Asia Pacific region, she sees greenery in buildings as harbouring a huge untapped potential. In the coming years, APAC’s share of the global real estate market will increase from its current 30 per cent. International investors allocate by geography, said, Dr Waters, and therefore more money will flow into APAC.
Investors have some areas of concern with regards to greenery, however. Liability concerns surround rooftop gardens for example, and there is fear of the reputational damage should accidents occur.
She also spoke about the relationship between greenery and building refurbishment. Facade greening can provide a substantial upgrade to bleak-looking buildings, enhance the experience of them, and therefore increase rents. She sees Singapore’s Skyrise Greenery Incentive Scheme as something that Singapore can lead the region with, showing how government-led incentives can have excellent results (particularly with refurbishment).
Nicholas Mak, the Executive Director, CIO and Head of Research and Consultancy at SLP Property Consultants, presented the results of an insightful new study into the perceptions of Singaporean homebuyers of green building fabric. Do they believe the claims of developers, and is ‘green’ important in their investment decisions?
Some 15-20 years ago, he said, buyers and developers were chiefly focused on lifestyle and amenities. They still are, but now marketing collaterals for residential developments are much more focused on ‘green’ features.
The most popular ‘eco’ features are to do with saving energy and water within the home, and the green enhancement of areas outside the home. Having said that, buyers are disinclined to pay more for eco-friendly homes, even if savings on utility bills are possible; they consider eco-friendly homes to be the new standard. This expectation comes with serious doubts about the claims of marketing campaigns, however. Perhaps there are too many plastic plants in show flats!
Read about Government Perspectives of ‘dense and green’ here.
Stay tuned for our upcoming article on Architect/Landscape Perspectives from the symposium!
The symposium was organised by the ‘Dense and Green Building Typologies’ research group at the Future Cities Laboratory at the Singapore-ETH Centre. The group is led by Prof Dr Thomas Schroepfer from SUTD and Prof Dr Sacha Menz from ETH Zurich.
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Savage Design’s approach to understanding the relationship between design concepts and user experience, particularly with metalwork, transcends traditional boundaries, blending timeless craftsmanship with digital innovation to create enduring elegance in objects, furnishings, and door furniture.
In the pursuit of an uplifting synergy between the inner world and the surrounding environment, internationally acclaimed Interior Architect and Designer Lorena Gaxiola transform the vibration of the auspicious number ‘8’ into mesmerising artistry alongside the Feltex design team, brought to you by GH Commercial.
Channelling the enchanting ambience of the Caffè Greco in Rome, Budapest’s historic Gerbeaud, and Grossi Florentino in Melbourne, Ross Didier’s new collection evokes the designer’s affinity for café experience, while delivering refined seating for contemporary hospitality interiors.
Third in the series of boutique hotels under the Lloyd’s Inn brand, Lloyd’s Inn Kuala Lumpur bring the immediacy of nature to the new high-rise hospitality experience in the heart of a bustling city.
We spoke with Jeffrey Wilkes of WILKESDESIGN about the John Portman-designed building, which has been infused with touches of local culture and colour.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
From the trailblazer of Spanish industrial design comes a new collection of recycled rugs – a powerful exploration of the concept of waste, a keen celebration of imperfection, and a new underfoot symbol of responsible design.
An entry by MuseLAB, in The Retail Space in the 2024 INDE.Awards, takes shoppers to another planet where diamonds and great interior design make a lasting impression.