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Wyndham Royal Lee Phuket Unveils Grand Opening

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The grand opening of Wyndham Royal Lee Phuket marks the debut of a distinguished airport-adjacent destination within the renowned ‘Wyndham’ brand. The commitment to providing an exceptional guest experience is at the forefront of the newly inaugurated Wyndham Royal Lee Phuket. Situated close to Phuket Airport, this esteemed addition to the world’s largest hotel alliance brand positions itself as the preferred choice for travellers, emphasising its convenience and accessibility.

 

Chairman of the Royal LEE Group emphasising the inheritance of Wyndham’s renowned excellence, Mr. Li Min remarked, “Wyndham Royal Lee Phuket is dedicated to crafting a distinctive and unforgettable stay for guests. Positioned just 3 minutes from the airport, near Sirinat National Park and Naiyang Beach, our international guests will enjoy unparalleled convenience and a unique accommodation experience, setting a new standard for Phuket airport accommodations.”

 

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The pinnacle of excitement at the opening ceremony was the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement between the Royal Lee Phuket Mixed-use development project, ZTE Corporation, and TRUE. This announcement officially confirmed the establishment of the first community implementing FTTR technology in Phuket, signalling a promising future for the development of intelligent health and wellness communities on the island.

 

In partnership with TRUE and ZTE, the Royal Lee Phuket smart community has successfully implemented FTTR technology, ushering in gigabit-level fibre-to-the-home Wi-Fi. This achievement delivers a rapid and stable network connection for residents, representing a major milestone in the community’s digital infrastructure. FTTR technology introduces a new era of gigabit Wi-Fi, addressing high bandwidth demands such as 4K/8K videos and Cloud VR. With comprehensive whole-house coverage and efficient digital operation and maintenance, it eliminates network dead zones, enhances operational efficiency, and supports connectivity for up to 256 terminal devices.

 

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As the pioneering community in Phuket to embrace FTTR technology, this initiative establishes a forefront position in technology, setting a benchmark for digital community construction and presenting a sustainable development model. Beyond being a mere network upgrade, the introduction of FTTR technology signifies a commitment to a new digital life for residents. This collaborative effort holds profound significance, laying a robust foundation for the sustainable growth of smart communities and making a positive contribution to the digital and intelligent community development of Phuket.

 

Moreover, the Royal Lee Phuket Mixed-use development project enjoys robust backing from the prestigious Royal Lee Cancer Hospital in Guangzhou. Committed to establishing the largest smart health and wellness community in Phuket and standing out as a centrepiece of the Andaman Wellness Corridor, the project aligns with a vision of comprehensive well-being. The Royal Lee Cancer Hospital in Guangzhou, recognised with international JCI certification, is a leading cancer speciality hospital in southern China. It is devoted to delivering top-tier medical services encompassing cancer prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.

 

Prioritising holistic health across the lifespan, the hospital employs a resident-centred examination approach, intricately designing health management services featuring “cancer early screening, chronic disease management, and body anti-ageing.” This approach caters to a range of customer health needs. With the steadfast support of the Royal Lee Cancer Hospital in Guangzhou, the Royal Lee Phuket Mixed-use development project is poised to provide residents with an all-encompassing health and wellness experience, ensuring health assurance for the future.

 

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The project appeals not only to retirees in search of a natural and healthy lifestyle but also caters to airport transit tourists, business travellers, digital nomads, and remote workers. This initiative enhances the profit outlook for property investors, who can opt to delegate management responsibilities to Royal Lee Phuket Mix Development. This comes with an enticing profit-sharing arrangement and an additional perk of a 30-day stay annually, presenting an ideal fusion of investment and vacation.

 

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Singapore Signs First Implementation Agreement with Papua New Guinea

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Singapore and Papua New Guinea (PNG) signed an Implementation Agreement on carbon credits cooperation under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement recently. The Agreement was signed by Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu and Papua New Guinea Minister of Environment, Conservation and Climate Change Simo Kilepa on the sidelines of the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28). The Agreement comes after both countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the sidelines of COP27 last year to collaborate on carbon credits.

 

This marks the first Implementation Agreement for Singapore. The agreement sets out a legally binding framework and processes for the generation and international transfer of carbon credits aligned with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, between Singapore and Papua New Guinea.

 

This collaboration will advance both countries’ climate ambitions and help to channel financing towards additional mitigation efforts through carbon credit projects, which would otherwise not be possible. The carbon credit projects authorised under the Implementation Agreement will also promote sustainable development and generate benefits for local communities, such as the creation of jobs, access to clean water, improved energy security, and reduction of environmental pollution.

 

As part of Singapore’s Article 6 cooperation, project developers will be required to cancel 2% of the carbon credits authorised under the Implementation Agreement at first issuance to ensure additional contribution to the overall mitigation of global emissions.  They will also be required to contribute the equivalent of a 5% share of proceeds or authorised carbon credits towards climate adaptation in Papua New Guinea. This will help Papua New Guinea prepare for and adjust to the impacts of climate change.

 

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Singapore is also supporting the development of carbon markets, by enabling the demand and supply of high-quality carbon credits to be matched. Under Singapore’s International Carbon Credit (ICC) framework, Singapore-based carbon tax-liable companies can source for eligible ICCs generated under this Implementation  Agreement to offset up to 5% of their taxable emissions. Trading these credits through Singapore will help unlock new business opportunities in areas such as carbon services and sustainability solutions, strengthening Singapore’s position as a carbon services and trading hub.

 

Minister Fu said, “High-integrity carbon markets can contribute to much-needed climate action globally. As an alternative energy-disadvantaged country, effective international cooperation, such as through carbon markets, will also help us to achieve our climate ambitions. We are delighted to sign our first Implementation Agreement with Papua New Guinea, a fellow Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) member. We look forward to working with Papua New Guinea to advance climate action together.”

 

All photos courtesy of COP28 Singapore Pavilion.

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LIXIL Celebrates Architecture and Design Industry Excellence at World Architecture Festival 2023

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LIXIL, maker of water and housing products, through its GROHE power brand, was pleased to support the World Architecture Festival 2023 (WAF) for its sixteenth edition at the iconic Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. The WAF is the largest global gathering of the industry’s leading architects and designers (A&D), thought leadership and celebration of their prestigious achievements.

 

WAF also represented a global platform for branding, business networking and opportunities. Nearly 2,000 delegates attended the WAF and INSIDE events and over 800 entries vied for coveted awards across different categories. Out of the 55 category and special award winners, 24 were from Asia and Australasia, led by Australia (10), China (6), and equivalently placed Thailand, India and Japan (2 each).

 

This year’s festival theme ‘Catalyst’ marked WAF’s return to Asia, after a hiatus of almost a decade. The theme explored how architecture and design can be catalysts for beneficial change through enabling, accelerating and inspiring interaction across the entire built environment, to benefit both individuals and institutions. The global A&D community gathered to advance this theme through various WAF keynotes, speakers, and conversations to catalyze ideas and opportunities.

 

GROHE, a global brand for complete bathroom solutions and kitchen fittings, has supported WAF since the inception of the festival in 2008. As WAF Founding Partner, GROHE represents the unique role water plays in the design discipline and helps shape innovative architectural visions and solutions around the element of water.

 

GROHE affirmed this commitment with the sponsorship and awarding of the GROHE Water Prize at WAF to UArchitects. The winning proposal calls for the scaling up of ‘micro-colonies’ comprised of floating platforms in Bangladesh. The connected platforms allow for the growing of food, with a community hub created to provide services (such as education and storage) to clusters of family homes.

 

Clean water production is of great importance for these micro-colonies, which are intended to cope with extreme weather events, combat poverty and provide a new model of how communities can address the challenges of climate change. This is the fifth time the GROHE Water Prize has been awarded, with past winners across water filtration, generation and cooling systems in Peru, Brazil and Greece.

 

Satoshi Konagai, Leader, LIXIL Water Technology, Asia Pacific, expressed, “Through our GROHE power brand, we are proud to be the Founding Partner of the World Architecture Festival since its 2008 inception. Over the past sixteen years, we have worked together to grow WAF into a respected global platform that attracts thousands of delegates to celebrate excellence, network and explore business opportunities over the course of the festival. We are delighted to congratulate the WAF award winners, the GROHE Water Prize winner and WAF shortlist candidates. LIXIL will continue to engage the A&D community to uplift industry excellence and address challenges, including macrotrends across health and wellbeing, sustainability and urbanisation.”

 

“This year’s festival is especially meaningful as we are concurrently launching GROHE SPA for the Asia Pacific region. First launched at this year’s Milan Design Week, we are excited to bring GROHE SPA’s specially curated collections that can create versatile combinations for a multi-sensory, personalised showering experience. We look forward to collaborating with discerning homeowners and industry partners on unique GROHE SPA projects across the region.” Mr. Konagai added.

 

Paul Finch, Programme Director, WAF, said, “Congratulations to all the WAF and INSIDE award winners and shortlist candidates. Their ideas and projects are a beacon for how design can be a multi-faceted catalyst for positive change. Our return to Asia is immensely gratifying to ignite fresh ideas and relationships in and around the A&D community. We greatly appreciate the support and encouragement from GROHE, our sponsors, partners, delegates and the global A&D community.”

 

Ahead of the WAF main event in Singapore, the GROHE and WAF teams worked closely to strengthen industry engagement through a series of special pre-WAF events and receptions held in Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines that was enthusiastically received by the A&D community and media in each country.

 

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Building and Construction Sector Show Collective Force at COP28

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The built environment was centre stage during the ‘Multilevel Action, Urbanisation and Built Environment/Transport’ day at the UN Climate Summit COP28. The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC), a global network of 75+ national Green Building Councils (GBCs), and leading businesses in the buildings and construction sector presented a unified call to action to political leaders, stressing the critical role of the built environment to deliver climate solutions.

 

The Open Letter was accompanied by a policy briefing that laid out the regulatory outcomes urgently needed to scale up action and deliver on the sector’s huge potential. It also supported the Buildings Breakthrough (a high-level political announcement that was launched and endorsed by 25+ countries in the context of the Breakthrough Agenda global process), calling for ‘near-zero emission and resilient buildings as the new normal by 2030’.

The statement

The Open Letter went beyond simply mitigating the negative impacts of the sector’s emissions, and made bold claims about its potential for enormous contributions to social equity and financial prosperity. The letter highlighted that beyond the opportunity to reduce 37% of total carbon emissions, the building and construction sector could also create $1.5 trillion in sustainable investment opportunities in emerging markets, and lift 2.8 billion people out of energy poverty.

 

The letter was fronted by signatories of WorldGBC’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment (a leadership initiative in the sustainable built environment arena), WorldGBC corporate partners (including ARUP, Buro Happold, CEMEX, Saint Gobain, Signify, Siemens, Skanska, Stora Enso, Schneider Electric, Knauf Insulation, WSP) and Green Building Councils (representing 46,000 private and public sector members around the world). A total of over 350 organisations and businesses put their support behind the letter and the numbers are growing daily. These leaders operate across every region on the planet, both on a local and global scale.

The challenge

The building and construction sector accounts for nearly 40% of global energy-related carbon emissions. It is a huge industry nexus and demand sector, with cities consuming 70% of all global resources. Whilst awareness of the sector’s impact and its potential as a climate solution is rising, so are its operating emissions, which have grown by an average of 1% year on year from 2015 to 2021.

 

The resilience of the global building stock is insufficient to cope with a growing population alongside the impacts of climate change. Flooding and extreme heat pose an imminent risk not only to human life, but also to social cohesion and economic stability.

 

Last but certainly not least, the financial stakes are high. We saw companies that are not treating decarbonisation as a serious business need and are therefore already paying a carbon premium in the short term; in the long term, they will miss out on emerging opportunities to secure market share, faced with shifting decarbonisation investment and regulatory environments.

The Open Letter ask

The WorldGBC network and its partners are calling for:

  • Strong political leadership to scale the sustainable transformation of the built environment.
  • Climate Mitigation: Parties commit to the integration of building codes, sub-national policy and commitment within their Nationally Determined Contributions, and pledge to double their energy efficiency improvements and triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030.
  • Climate Adaptation: Parties agree on a global goal for adaptation and recognise the role of buildings in anticipating, adapting, and responding to climate impacts and commit to making greater efforts to integrate resilience and adaptation into existing policies and programmes, including within the building sector.
  • Climate Finance: Parties agree to increased funding for energy efficiency improvements and Loss and Damage, and support a global reform of financial institutions for more just, equitable and effective debt lending and borrowing.
  • The Global Stocktake: Parties to commit to the Buildings Breakthrough as a platform for collaboration between national governments and stakeholders to accelerate action and optimise the role of buildings in closing the gaps identified in the Global Stocktake.

 

Cristina Gamboa, CEO, WorldGBC, said, “Climate Action is often misunderstood as human efforts to save the planet. In fact, it is humanity’s effort to save itself and the environment we have created to facilitate prosperity, equity and growth. It’s about every government that wants to maintain stability and cohesion, every business that wants to remain successful and financially viable, and every person who enjoys the comforts of modern life. In the built environment, we are falling short of the goals that will preserve us. And we don’t need to. Solutions already exist to secure a better future. We can still get back on track. To do that, we need an enabling policy environment, industry ambition, and finance to leverage the huge potential of the built environment. The numbers of industry leaders backing our Open Letter make a powerful statement to send to policymakers. The industry is ready for change. The world is calling for change. This COP28 can be the moment where leaders uphold their commitments and set out an energy-efficient, regenerative, and just transition for the building sector. Are you ready?”

 

Find out more here or follow the campaign on social media at #BuildingTheTransition.

 

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Lendlease Previews Podium for Development 

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Lendlease recently gave an exciting preview of its game-changing digital platform solution Podium for Development (P4D) – a transformative digital ecosystem built on common data standards that connect developers, designers, and the supply chain, to deliver higher construction productivity and promote sustainable building methods – together with go-to-market partner Surbana Jurong, developers, partners and stakeholders across the built environment.

 

Instead of the months involved in design using conventional methods, P4D accelerates directly from design to supply by using its automation algorithms to configure optimal designs using a ‘kit of parts’1 defined by manufacturers. This leads to reduced waste in time, cost and materials. At the event held at Google Singapore Campus attended by key players in the industry, many shared the challenges faced by the built environment sector, from persistently low productivity growth to continued supply chain issues. The consensus reached was that we are facing a critical need to transform our conventional building practices and leverage digital innovations like P4D,  along with new ways of thinking including DfMA approaches to build better, faster and more sustainably.

 

With Managing Director of the Global AI Business at Google Cloud Caroline Yap delivering a  keynote on the potential of generative AI in shaping the built environment, it is clear that now is the time for the built environment to reap the benefits of artificial intelligence and machine learning. P4D also signals that digitalisation will enable conventional career opportunities within the built environment to venture into new technology-based career pathways, further cementing  Singapore’s role as a global technology hub for nurturing talents.

 

The recent exclusive look follows the go-to-market partnership announcement with Surbana Jurong in  October to deliver P4D to the global built environment sector. Both parties are in advanced negotiations with other developers in Singapore and internationally, leveraging P4D to design and deliver projects in the future.

 

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Government agencies like the Building and Construction Authority, Singapore Economic  Development Board and JTC Corporation support the vision of a collaborative ecosystem designed to streamline the processes from design to supply, increasing project development certainty and reducing the materials and waste produced with the use of kits-of-parts. JTC collaborated with  Lendlease to jointly develop design digitalisation tools that can automate preliminary industrial building design as Building Information Models (BIM). This function, which is built off P4D, allows for optimisation of the design process and enhanced coordination.

 

In addition, this initiative generates new job opportunities and enhances productivity in the built environment. At an industry level, coordinated and collective action is needed to reduce materials and waste, and consequently embodied carbon, and to deliver more sustainable outcomes for generations to come.

 

According to Richard Kuppusamy, Chief Product Officer and Head of Digital Asia, Lendlease Digital, “The existing approach to creating the built environment is unsustainable. P4D represents the possibilities we can achieve if we can reimagine how we build as an industry. We have a shared  responsibility to adopt a more concerted and collaborative approach enabled by the technology we  have today to build better and more sustainably.”

 

Junie Fo, Vice President and Head, Commercial &  Professional Services, Singapore Economic Development Board said, “P4D is an example of how local businesses and talent in the built environment sector can leverage advanced digital and collaborative tools to enhance productivity and advance sustainable practices. With Singapore as an ideal testbed for innovative digital solutions, we welcome more  like-minded companies to partner with our ecosystem and spearhead new initiatives that will shape  the future of our industries and create new digital roles.”

 

Caroline Yap, Managing Director, Global AI  Business, Google Cloud, adds, “Gen AI has the potential to dramatically transform our modern construction industry. Built entirely  on Google Cloud and Vertex AI, P4D is an AI-powered digital ecosystem and platform which has  the potential to increase the productivity, sustainability and profitability of the digital supply chain,  and in ways we’ve not seen before.”

 

1 Kit-of-parts refer to standardised prefabricated building components in modular dimensions which are applicable to various building typologies.

 

 

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Fighting the Danger of Overprotection on Concrete Repairs

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Is it possible to give concrete too much protection against reinforcement corrosion? Research indicates that this is so, although no consensus exists on the exact mechanisms and how to avoid it. However, following logical reasoning, Cortec® recommends applying Migrating Corrosion Inhibitors to mitigate the problem.

What is overprotection?

Overprotection occurs when metal reinforcement in one part of the concrete is more protected than in another. This can happen when a new concrete patch is laid, replacing contaminated or carbonated concrete with uncontaminated concrete that has a high pH and therefore a naturally protective alkaline environment. The resulting difference in corrosion potential between the patch and the adjacent concrete eventually leads to corrosion in surrounding areas, thus transferring the original problem elsewhere. This is known as the ring anode/halo effect.

Examples of overprotection

Overprotection can also happen in a variety of other ways. One is through the common practice of cathodic protection (CP). The challenge of calculating the appropriate number of anodes for an area and removing concrete to install them is compounded by the fact that it is not possible to gain access to and treat all parts of the rebar equally.

 

This leaves some portions of the metal reinforcement with more protection than others, an imbalance that could show itself over time by corrosion in areas with less protection. A similar effect may happen with the application of an epoxy coating to one part of a rebar and not to another. Using other corrosion protection measures may cause a similar imbalance when over-applied.

 

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Even Out the Corrosion Potential

The use of MCI® Surface Applied Corrosion Inhibitors (SACIs) makes it easier to balance out the corrosion potential. Rather than leaving a well-protected patch surrounded by chloride-contaminated concrete, contractors can apply MCI® SACIs to the undisturbed concrete to reduce the difference in corrosion potential between the two portions.

 

Fortunately, MCI® SACIs are easy to apply by spraying onto the concrete like a standard surface treatment. As time progresses, Migrating Corrosion Inhibitors in the MCI® SACI work their way deeper in through the concrete pores toward the metal reinforcement. Their metal affinity allows them to form a protective molecular layer on the embedded rebar when they encounter it.

 

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MCI® SACI Options

MCI®-2020 contains the highest concentration of surface applied Migrating Corrosion Inhibitors on the market and is therefore the number one recommended SACI for this purpose. Typically, a coating or water repellent should be applied on top of this to keep moisture out and MCI® in.

 

Two-in-one MCI®/ water repellents are also available for greater convenience, albeit with smaller doses of Migrating Corrosion Inhibitors (MCI®-2018 combines MCI® with a 100% silane water repellent, and MCI®-2019 combines MCI® with a 40% silane water repellent).

Take a Balanced Approach to Corrosion Protection

Concrete repairs are too labour-intensive to make the mistake of overprotection. By being sure to protect the concrete around the patch area with Migrating Corrosion Inhibitors, contractors can take one step ahead of the chain reaction of corrosion that is common in less protected areas. Contact Cortec® to learn more about the advantages of mitigating corrosion in reinforced concrete with MCI®.

 

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Accor Opens Five New Hotels Across Asia

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Accor, a leader in hospitality, recently announced the openings of five distinctive properties across Asia, showcasing the Group’s commitment to providing diverse and unforgettable experiences for travellers. The new openings align with Accor’s vision of shaping the future of hospitality, and look forward to welcoming guests to these remarkable destinations for the holiday season.

 

Garth Simmons, Chief Executive Officer, Premium, Midscale and Economy Division for Accor in Asia, expressed excitement about these additions to the portfolio, stating “Accor is strategically expanding its presence across Asia to cater to the evolving needs of today’s travellers. Our vision is to provide elevated hospitality experiences for all segments, ensuring that each stay is marked by unparalleled service and comfort. These openings reflect our commitment to a diversified portfolio, offering a range of options for every type of traveller.”

 

To date, Accor has opened doors of 26 properties across Asia, continually strengthening the Group’s position in the region. The approach involves not only increasing the number of hotels but also upscaling properties across the premium, midscale, and economy portfolio simultaneously. Accor’s new openings include:

ibis PJCC Petaling Jaya (Malaysia)

 

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Accor’s newly opened ibis PJCC Petaling Jaya sets the stage for accessible and quality travel experiences, catering to both business and leisure travellers. Located strategically in Petaling Jaya Commercial City, the hotel offers seamless connectivity to major expressways and renowned shopping destinations such as Sunway Pyramid. The hotel features 161 contemporary rooms with signature Sweet Beds™ by ibis, Smart TVs, and a complimentary minibar, with the lobby boasting a stylish design offering a Lobby Bar Café, creating a welcoming atmosphere. Facilities include a gym, a skyline-view swimming pool, and a children’s playroom. Dining options at ibis PJCC Petaling Jaya include ibis Kitchen, an all-day dining restaurant, and four meeting rooms for corporate events.

Novotel Suites Manila at Acqua (Philippines)

 

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Situated in Metro Manila’s central business district, the Novotel Suites Manila at Acqua offers seamless access to corporate and leisure travellers, surrounded by upscale malls for shopping and dining. The 152 rooms and suites feature contemporary design. All suites come with spacious working, living, and dining areas, as well as a kitchen, suitable for corporate travellers and families on extended stays. Noteworthy amenities include the Tempus all-day dining restaurant, an infinity swimming pool, and a Lobby Lounge with panoramic city views on the 21st floor.

Mercure Tokyo Haneda Airport (Japan)

 

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Embracing the design concept of “Tokyo Eclectic,” the hotel seamlessly blends ancient Tokyo with its futuristic counterpart, featuring décor inspired by Japanese subcultures such as manga and anime. Boasting 363 guestrooms, a uniquely designed restaurant and bar with a modern take on a traditional Japanese teahouse, a fitness centre, meeting rooms, and a dedicated crew lounge, the property caters to both leisure and business travellers. The property is set to be the 9th Mercure hotel to operate in Japan, contributing to Accor’s portfolio of 21 properties in the country.

Grand Mercure Lampung (Indonesia)

 

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Grand Mercure Lampung is located in Sumatra’s tallest building, residing above the upcoming Grand Mall. The 198-meter-high hotel blends modernity with cultural richness, showcasing 344 contemporary rooms, including rare Pool Suites and an exclusive Penthouse with a private indoor swimming pool and a breathtaking 360-degree city view. Dining options include Flamboyant Restaurant and Sora Lounge offering diverse culinary experiences. Other facilities include event spaces, a wellness floor featuring a swimming pool, a fitness centre, and a spa. As the ninth Grand Mercure in Indonesia, this property reflects Accor’s commitment to excellence in the country.

Novotel Jaipur Convention Centre (India)

 

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Accor launched its 24th Novotel property in India, the Novotel Jaipur Convention Centre (NJCC), positioned near the Jaipur Exhibition & Convention Centre (JECC), South Asia’s premier venue for exhibitions and conventions. Novotel Jaipur Convention Centre offers 226 well-appointed rooms, strategic proximity to Jaipur International Airport, and 42 acres of space, featuring pillar-less exhibitions-convention-entertainment facilities. With a Grand Ball Room, breakout meeting rooms, and a 70,000 sq. ft. lawn, the property caters to MICE events, conferences, weddings, and celebrations. Three dining venues, including Food Exchange and Ravanta, provide guests with diverse culinary experiences.

 

As travellers gear up for the festive season and plan their journeys into 2024, Accor envisions these new hotel openings as a catalyst for reshaping the hospitality industry. So far in 2023, Accor has opened 26 hotels with over 6,000 keys across Asia. The group’s dedication to consistently delivering exceptional experiences positions it at the forefront of elevating and contributing significantly to the industry’s revival and growth.

 

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Singapore Pavilion at COP28 Showcases Robust Ecosystem for Accelerating Collective Climate Action

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The Singapore Pavilion at the 28th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) successfully concluded on 12 December 2023. Themed “Accelerating Collective Climate Action”, the programmes at the Pavilion showcased  Singapore’s commitment to global climate goals, emphasised the city-state’s vision to achieve net zero  by 2050, and highlighted innovative and collaborative solutions backed by a strong ecosystem of partners across the private and people sectors, international organisations, and governments.

 

The Pavilion attracted in-person visitorship of more than 6,000, along with nearly 60,000 unique online visitors across its 12 days of programming. The diverse range of programmes – involving around 100  partner entities, including panel discussions, workshops, fireside chats as well as “pitch days” — covered multifaceted climate issues and provided attendees with opportunities for knowledge exchange and partnership development.

 

Numerous noteworthy announcements, launches and memoranda of understanding (MOU) signings took place at the Pavilion, as well as key announcements demonstrating concrete action Singapore is taking to support and accelerate the green transition in the region and beyond. These include the FAST P (Financing Asia’s Transition Partnership), Singapore-Asia Taxonomy and the Transition Credits  Coalition (TRACTION). In addition, Singapore signed its first Implementation Agreement with Papua  New Guinea on carbon credits cooperation under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

 

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During the Pavilion’s closing ceremony, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said: “I am heartened by the ‘bias to action’ that we have witnessed here at the Pavilion. Many new climate initiatives and partnerships have been unveiled on this stage, by the Singapore government as well as our Partners. Like Singapore itself, our Pavilion has been ‘small, but mighty’. It is not about size, but impact. It is not about quantity, but quality. And it is not about making a once-off splash, but a sustained  commitment with follow-through actions.”

 

The Singapore Pavilion was visited by foreign dignitaries, organisational and business leaders and key change-makers in the global climate ecosystem, reflecting Singapore’s position as a trusted regional and international partner that convenes climate collaborators and solutions. The Pavilion has provided a space for the private, public and people sectors from various countries and backgrounds to gather and work towards advancing climate action and building a better and more sustainable future for all.

 

All images courtesy of COP28 Singapore Pavilion.

 

 

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Newer Premium Office Buildings More Well-positioned to Build ESG-compliant Portfolio

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In Asia-Pacific, newer premium office buildings are well-positioned to meet the rising demand for the ‘flight-to-quality’ and ‘flight to green’ trends, as companies seek quality workspaces to attract top talent, as outlined in Knight Frank’s Horizon: Asia-Pacific Tomorrow report.

 

With 79.4% of buildings in Asia-Pacific aged 40 years or younger (vs 33.2% in North America and 55.0% in EMEA), the nascent office market offers an opportunity to build cutting-edge office buildings with the latest amenities without the risk of becoming obsolete. This aligns with the growing emphasis on high-quality office space.

 

The forecast is one of three top predictions from the real estate consultancy’s flagship report, which provides predictions for the commercial property market over the next 12 months, including emerging trends, opportunities, and challenges. Three reasons why the Asia-Pacific office sector is the backbone of the office-first hybrid strategy include:

  • Emphasis on newer and ESG-certified buildings
  • Access to a valuable talent pipeline in APAC
  • Prominent emergence of a two-speed market with a bifurcation in the Asia-Pacific office sector

Trend 1: Emphasis on newer and ESG-certified buildings

The newer premium office buildings in Asia-Pacific are more well-positioned to build an Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG)-compliant portfolio aligned with the growing preference among APAC occupiers for modern, sustainable workspaces that enhance employee satisfaction, wellness, collaboration and productivity. The emphasis on newer and ESG-certified buildings is crucial as firms strive to create environments that seamlessly facilitate work, reflection, and collaboration.

 

Christine Li, head of research, Asia-Pacific and report author, says “The less mature office market in Asia-Pacific proves advantageous, enabling the development of state-of-the-art office buildings with modern facilities without the concurrent risk of obsolescence, a preference gaining traction among occupiers in the region. Most of these CBD (Central Business District) office buildings in Asia-Pacific are newer, which suggests that they are more likely integrated with the latest technologies that enhance user experiences. Obsolescence is also minimised as retrofit works are less complicated and cost-effective.”

 

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Ms Li adds, “As the ‘flight to quality’ and ‘flight to green’ trends gain momentum, Asia-Pacific emerges as the optimal choice for workplace transformation due to its up-to-date building technologies and availability of prime, ESG-compliant spaces tailored to company requirements. It also starkly contrasts to North America and EMEA where over 30% of office buildings, built before 1960, face a high risk of obsolescence, unable to keep pace with evolving tenant preferences in the hybrid work era.”

Trend 2: Access to a valuable talent pipeline

As the global ‘war for talent’ intensifies, Asia-Pacific stands out with its sizeable working population, with a significant portion of them residing in urban areas and a literacy rate averaging around 94%, per Knight Frank research analysis. The region boasts a valuable talent pipeline characterised by youth and skill. Given this advantageous demographic landscape, Asia-Pacific remains an attractive location for multinational corporations to establish their presence, minimising manpower challenges. This, in turn, ensures a consistent demand for office space.

Trend 3: Prominent emergence of a two-speed market

Multiple evidence indicates a bifurcation in the Asia-Pacific office sector. On the one hand, we are observing occupiers with some financial capabilities taking advantage of the softening leasing market to relocate to newer and ESG-compliant buildings to enhance the employee experience and fortify ESG credentials; on the other, occupiers are being financially prudent towards portfolio planning amidst the prevailing headwinds and expansionary sentiments remained subdued.

 

Ms Li adds, “Growth in headcount and capital expenditure (CAPEX) is highly contingent on the macroeconomic situation for the latter, and with economic turmoil brewing, companies continue to be conservative. This is supported by the Q3 2023 Knight Frank Cresa Corporate Real Estate Sentiment Index – a unique index assessing the outlook of the global corporate real estate community in relation to the growth, portfolio, and workplace dynamics – where growth dynamics have seen two consecutive quarters of improving sentiment, although they remain negative.”

 

Tim Armstrong, global head of occupier strategy and solutions, said, “Although office attendance has now stabilised in the Asia-Pacific region, the rebound in demand for office space has yet to keep up with the strong employment rate. For 2024, while the trends of ‘flight-to-quality’ and ‘flight-to-green’ persist, the enthusiasm for expansion will be restrained. Tenants will continue to approach portfolio planning cautiously due to the difficult macroeconomic conditions. However, it also proves to be a good time to review portfolios to capitalise on softer rents.”

 

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MTR Lab Announces Investment in WeMaintain

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MTR Lab Company Limited (“MTR Lab”) has joined as a new investor in WeMaintain alongside existing investors including Eurazeo, Red River West and  Bpifrance, the French Sovereign Wealth Fund. The investment will support WeMaintain’s expansion across Asia-Pacific, including entering the Hong Kong market, as the scaleup company looks to digitally transform the building operations industry, starting with lift and escalator maintenance. This marks MTR Lab’s first foray into investing in an overseas startup and supporting a B Corporation – a company verified to meet high standards of accountability,  transparency, and social and environmental performance.

 

Founded in France in 2017, WeMaintain has disrupted the traditional model of building maintenance with end-to-end solutions, Internet of Things (IoT) integration, and predictive maintenance capabilities. Through its digital platform and on-site engineering expertise,  WeMaintain allows for remote, live monitoring of building operations, including lifts and escalators,  and leverages data analytics to enable predictive and prescriptive maintenance. Today, the company stands as an international PropTech pioneer, actively redefining building operations and facilities maintenance with its transformative technologies.

Powering a smarter and greener future together

WeMaintain’s data-driven solutions not only reduce equipment downtime and safety incidents,  they also enhance the efficiency of lift and escalator maintenance by saving time and energy consumed for a smarter, safer, and more sustainable urban environment. The equipment data collected by WeMaintain’s devices, coupled with input from field engineers, provides valuable insights into component utilisation which, in turn, enables the identification of repair and replacement needs.

 

This facilitates the implementation of prescriptive maintenance solutions that proactively flag necessary repairs, optimise maintenance schedules and priorities, and facilitate capital expenditure planning. With the investment from MTR Lab and other investors, WeMaintain will strengthen its research and development efforts, enhance product development in both software and hardware and expand in Asia-Pacific.

 

As an innovation investor, MTR Lab is committed to introducing technologies across sectors to drive improvements and co-create a smarter, greener future. This investment in WeMaintain aligns with MTR Lab’s focus on smart city technology and sustainability, as well as the Hong Kong  SAR Government’s policy direction of encouraging the introduction of smart technologies in housing estate management, by advancing the digitalisation of lift maintenance and building operations. Beyond financial investment, MTR Lab hopes to support WeMaintain as a strategic investor to help the scaleup company grow in Asia-Pacific including Hong Kong.

 

“WeMaintain’s vision to advance how people and technology come together to manage buildings, and its efforts in fostering more efficient, predictive and sustainable infrastructure solutions, strongly align with MTR Lab’s goal of promoting smart city development,” said Mr Michael Chan, Managing Director of MTR Lab. “By supporting the company’s expansion and enabling it to extend its industry-leading maintenance solutions across borders, we hope to contribute to the development and adoption of smart city solutions in Asia-Pacific and help improve the region’s building operations sector in an efficient and sustainable way.”

 

Mr Benoit Dupont, Co-founder & CEO of WeMaintain, said, “Asia is central to our global strategy, and we’re thrilled to leverage the expertise and support of MTR Lab as we expand operations across the region. What distinguishes WeMaintain is our unique combination of on-the-ground expertise, an in-house team of skilled data scientists, and IoT engineers dedicated to ensuring the highest data quality. Substantial investments have been made in data science and  IoT, with rigorous training of our algorithmic models to proficiently recognise and identify pertinent information. Armed with these capabilities, our goal is to revolutionise the building operations sector, not only in Europe but worldwide.”

Elevating the future of building operations

WeMaintain’s mission is to put the best of people and technology at the heart of the built environment. With an existing presence in France, the United Kingdom, and Singapore, and over  2,500 buildings in its maintenance portfolio, the company’s IoT-based solutions have demonstrated exceptional results, including an average of 30% energy savings per year on frequently used elevators and a 20% reduction in breakdowns on high-density sites.

 

With clients like SNCF (France’s national state-owned railway company) and Keolis, the company has proven its solution delivers higher efficiencies and a superior customer experience. The successful investment from MTR Lab will accelerate WeMaintain’s future advancements and growth in high-potential Asia-Pacific markets such as Hong Kong and Singapore, where it established an operational base in 2021, and elsewhere in Southeast Asia. This expansion aligns with MTR Lab’s mission to support innovative startups driving positive impact in the regions they serve.