Regional News Archives

Posts

AECOM opens the longest bridge in Southeast Asia

7 March, 2014/in News /by Editor

Reading Time: 2 minutes

KUALA LUMPUR (March 4, 2014) AECOM celebrates the official opening of Second Penang Bridge – the longest bridge in Southeast Asia

AECOM has played a key role in partnering with the contractor to deliver an innovative structure designed to withstand the severe seismic stress of a once-every-2,500-year earthquake.

Second Penang Bridge is a 24-kilometer (14.9-mile) bridge linking the Penang Island and the Malaysia Peninsula and is the largest civil engineering project in the past 20 years in the region. It consists of precast segmental concrete marine viaducts in 55-meter (180-feet) span modules and a cast in-situ concrete cable-stayed bridge measuring 475 meters (1,558 feet).

AECOM’s team in Malaysia, together with engineers from the long-span and specialty bridges group, worked in the design, construction supervision, and construction engineering of this record-breaking project. A special aspect of the project involved applying intelligent construction engineering techniques to enable successful erection of the 240-meter (787-feet) main span cable-stayed bridge over the main navigation channel.

“The Second Penang Bridge is subject to the merciless forces of nature, such as earthquakes, potential tsunamis, and wind, to name a few; and is exposed to a hostile marine environment. These challenges were overcome through meticulous planning and design, and the result is one of the world’s largest sea-crossing projects in recent years,” said Dr. Robin Sham, AECOM’s global long-span and specialty bridges director. “We have helped accomplish an immense human endeavor; creating many innovations along the way.”

Pioneering Bridge Technology

In addition to its large size, this RM 4.5 billion project pioneered new construction methods to minimize the risk caused by seismic activity near the Sunda tectonic plate, including the use of 2-meter-diameter (6.5-foot-diameter) bored piles founded to a depth in excess of more than 120 meters (394 feet) for the cable-stayed bridge, and the use of high-damping rubber bearings for seismic isolation of the marine viaducts.

The whole sea-crossing project introduced numerous innovations, including intelligent bridge geometry control, a lightweight form traveler machine for cable-stayed bridge erection, the extensive use of the statnamic pile-loading testing method and the use of high-damping rubber bearings for seismic isolation. The project also saw the most extensive use of precast hollow concrete spun piles in bridgework, and substantial driven tubular steel piles in a marine environment.

This strategic new link can alleviate the overloaded traffic of the existing bridge and improve the overall connectivity between the city and the Penang International Airport, spurring the area’s economic growth.

Delhi Metro to install solar power plant at Dwarka station

26 February, 2014/in News /by Editor

Reading Time: 2 minutes

NEW DELHI – In its attempt to conserve environment, Delhi Metro has become the country’s first mass transit system to begin installing solar power plants on the roofs of its stations.

The first 500 kwp ‘Roof Top Solar Power Plant’ is being installed at Dwarka Sector 21 metro station and is expected to be functional in six months.

A Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for installing the plant was signed between Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and the developer, a multinational firm engaged in the installation and production of solar power worldwide, in the presence of DMRC’s Managing Director, Mangu Singh and other officials.

This is the largest roof top plant with such capacity in Delhi-NCR region under RESCO model.

Under this model, DMRC will pay for the units generated by the plant and the capital investment shall be provided by the developer. The power produced from this plant will be used to cater to the power requirements of DMRC at this station.

“After the installation of this roof top plant, Delhi Metro will also explore the possibility of installing more such plants at its stations, depots, parking lots as well as residential complexes,” Executive Director, Corporate Communications, Anuj Dayal said.

Efforts are also being made to integrate such solar plants with the station structures of Phase II, he added.

Delhi Metro has already taken up a slew of measures oriented towards the conservation of environment and the use of renewable means of energy.

In 2011, DMRC was certified by the United Nations (UN) as the first Metro Rail and Rail based system in the world to get Carbon Credits for reducing Green House Gas Emissions as it has helped to reduce pollution levels in the city by 6.3 lakh tons every year thus helping in reducing global warming.

DMRC’s first Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project on regenerative braking had also achieved many international firsts apart from earning valuable foreign exchange for the country.

New 166 m Office Tower Will Be The Second-Tallest Building In Turin

7 February, 2014/in News /by Editor

Reading Time: 3 minutes

World-famous Italian star architect Renzo Piano is the name behind another new urban landmark in Turin, this time a sophisticated highrise project in the city’s San Paolo district. The client is the banking group Intesa Sanpaolo SpA (BISP), whose around 100,000 staff and over 5000 branches make it one of the largest in the eurozone. The new building will fulfil very exacting structural and environmental standards. Rising to a height of 166 m, it will also take up a visually pre-eminent position in the Turin skyline. Especially with its automatic climbing equipment, Doka is helping this structure to be built economically and to high quality specifications.

A prestige project in the highrise sector: once completed, the Torre Intesa Sanpaolo skyscraper in Turin will house the new headquarters of the Intesa Sanpaolo SpA banking group.

Turin, Italy – On completion, the Torre Intesa Sanpaolo will offer more than 110,000 m² of useable floor-space spread over 44 storeys, with most of it being used to accommodate 2000 office workplaces. Other parts of the building will be put to various interesting uses for the Turinese public, including a conference and event venue, exhibition spaces, a panorama restaurant and a bar with a viewing terrace. Visitors will be whisked upwards by a free-standing panoramic lift.

To achieve high sustainability performance for the structure, the architects are implementing a ‘Green Building Challenge’ energy concept which will give the building an Energy Class A rating under Italian regulations. To this end, the eastern and western facades of the building will be enveloped in a double glass ‘skin’ with movable louvres that can assist with temperature regulation by being opened or closed as needed. Furthermore, ventilated ceilings are to be installed throughout the building. The southern facade carries 1600 m² of photovoltaic panelling for generating electricity. Geothermal heat will also be tapped, to lower the building’s external energy-sourcing needs.

Complex construction operations

Construction works have been entrusted to a consortium formed by Italian general contracting group Rizzani de Eccher SpA, acting as leader, and Implenia AG of Switzerland. On a site as large and complex as this – building the 166 m tower with three CIP concrete cores, composite floor slabs (steel girders plus pre-cast concrete members), shafts for 25 lifts, energy-saving HVAC systems – it is crucially important for the formwork systems used to be efficient, high-performing and reliable. In addition, on this site a substantial volume of structural steel works had to be optimally integrated into the construction workflow: to provide work-decks for pre-assembling the steelwork for the floor slabs, Doka supplied a large platform with a high load capacity (5.0 kN/m²). This platform was suspended on high-load cones anchored in the rising concrete wall, doing away with the need for labour-intensive and time-consuming shoring scaffolds.

Safe, streamlined climbing

To build this 44-storey office tower, it was important to deploy fast, efficient yet highly flexible formwork systems that could be quickly adapted to the changing circumstances encountered in different workflows. Another requirement was that the forming operations should need as little craneage as possible, because this had to be kept available for the extensive structural steel works. For this reason, the contracting consortium decided to construct the rising reinforced-concrete walls using the ‘SKE50 plus’ and ‘SKE100 plus’ self-climbing systems. The concrete placing booms are always raised cranelessly along with the formwork whenever this is automatically ‘climbed’. The fact that the entire unit is firmly anchored to the concrete construction at all times during the climbing operation ensures constant cycle times throughout the entire course of construction – regardless of the weather conditions: With the SKE system, climbing operations can continue unhindered up to a maximum wind speed of 72 km/h and a structure inclination of up to +/- 15 °.

Dokaflex props and formwork beams H20 were used to shore the composite floor slabs during construction. In areas with very high room heights, the slabs were shored with the Load-bearing tower Staxo 100 system. The resulting cycle time for all the operations on one storey was ten days.

Ever since work started on this site, a Doka project manager has been on hand to provide formwork-technology oversight. Ciro Menna of Doka Italia co-ordinates the planning and deliveries, and acts as the interface to all the decision-makers on the site: “Our formwork solution has proved itself with flying colours, in terms of both performance and safety, and has helped to optimise the sequencing of all site operations”, notes Menna, summing up his experience on this build.

Schindler Supplies to Tallest Building In China

7 January, 2014/in News /by Editor

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Schindler China, the Chinese division of the Schindler Group, has been awarded a major contract for a 115-story megatall skyscraper currently under construction in Shenzhen, Guangdong province.

China – When complete, Shenzhen’s Ping An Finance Center will include office and retail space and stand 660 meters high, making it the tallest building in China. The structure will feature 33 Schindler’s 7000 high-rise series elevators – which provide more efficient transportation and is the ideal choice for buildings with heavy traffic volume, and Schindler’s cutting-edge PORT transit management technology – Schindler’s leading technology for efficient transit management. By planning every occupant’s journey around the building and providing them with the means to reach their destinations quickly and easily, transit management optimizes the operation of the entire building with integrated access, guidance, transportation and security.

“This is one of the most exciting projects in Schindler’s history,” said Thomas Oetterli, member of the Group Executive Committee and overall responsible for the Group’s operations in China. “The Ping An Finance Center is the tallest building our company has ever had the chance to work on and we are very proud of being a part of this fascinating project”.

This contract is the latest in a series of significant wins for Schindler in China, where the robust urbanization trend of recent years shows no signs of slowing down.

The installation of the office elevator section started in December 2013, with a completion date of April 2015.

Huge Potential for Lighting Control Systems in India

27 December, 2013/in News /by Editor

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Mumbai, India: Escalating investment in the real estate and construction industry, coupled with the growing need to reduce energy consumption across the commercial, residential and government sectors, is propelling the Indian lighting control systems market.

Green building projects, in particular, are illuminating avenues for lighting control systems since they have to comply with various national standards set by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC), Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA), and Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) along with international standards such as Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED).

New study from Frost & Sullivan, Analysis of the Indian Lighting Control Systems Market, finds that the market earned revenues of INR 2.50 billion in 2012 and estimates this to reach INR 4.06 billion by 2017 at a compound annual growth rate of 10.2 percent. Lighting accounts for more than 17-20 percent of the world’s energy costs.

With the usage of the right combination of advanced lighting solutions such as efficient lamps, high-performance luminaires, electronic drivers and controls etc., consumers can achieve energy savings of up to 60-70 percent, added the study.

According to study, the potential for lighting controls in green building is huge. It is observed that nearly 1,909 green buildings are registered with IGBC, out of which some 300 green building projects are certified and fully functional in India. It is also observed that there are around 300 projects registered under GRIHA.

“Real estate investors are beginning to realize that even though the construction costs of a green building are higher than those of a conventional building, they can recover the incremental costs within three to four years by incorporating energy saving measures,” said Frost & Sullivan’s Environment & Building Technologies Analyst.

“The continuing drop in the cost of traditional lighting control products, mainly due to modest innovation, will help this segment expand. Traditional lighting controls are mainly used by medium and small scale stakeholders (typically less than 5000 square meters), while the more expensive automatic controls are mainly deployed by the large users (more than 5000 square meters),” the analyst added.

Source: CIOL Bureau

Schindler makes history in Istanbul

5 December, 2013/in News /by Editor

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Schindler supplies elevators and escalators for first Europe to Asia rail connection under the Bosporus

One of Schindler’s most exciting projects came a step closer to completion with the opening of the world’s first underwater rail link between two continents, connecting Asia and Europe, in Istanbul, Turkey on 29 October 2013. Schindler’s contribution of 10 elevators and 63 escalators to the Marmaray Project included the challenge of fitting 4 escalators that are among the longest in Europe at 65 meters in length.

Reliable products for a challenging setting

Schindler products transport up to 75,000 commuters per hour to and from the subway line – that can be as deep as 56 meters below ground – safely, reliably and using as little energy as possible. With the support of Schindler’s expertise, the new Marmaray line gets passengers faster to their destinations. In fact, traveling the 76.3 km stretch is now 81 minutes faster than before. This will help Istanbul, one of the world’s most developing cities, to continue to grow and prosper.

From growth to growth in Schindler Turkey

“The Marmaray Project not only represents a strengthening of Schindler’s reputation for realizing landmark Turkish public transportation projects,” said Gaetano Conca, Head of Schindler Turkey, “it also contributes to the strong growth that we are currently experiencing in Turkey.”

Providing reliable mobility in public transportation

This success in Turkey is another example of Schindler providing tailor-made passenger mobility at large transportation facilities. With products that are precision-engineered, state-of-the-art, and use green technology to lower energy use, the Swiss company has long been a supplier of choice for builders and architects of major airports and rail systems around the world. You will find Schindler escalators, elevators and moving walks at some of the world’s busiest airports like London Heathrow, Los Angeles International Airport, Charles de Gaulle in Paris, at Frankfurt and Munich Airports, as well as in metro and rail systems in high-traffic cities like New York, Chicago, Madrid, Hong Kong and Beijing.

Yenikapı Metro Station, Marmary Project, Istanbul, Turkey

Schindler Escalators, Marmaray Project, Istanbul, Turkey

Johnson Controls and Hitachi Announce Global Air Conditioning Joint Venture

5 December, 2013/in News /by Editor

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Johnson Controls together with new joint venture will create world”s largest commercial air conditioning provider

MILWAUKEE and TOKYO, Dec. 3, 2013 — Today Johnson Controls, Inc., Hitachi, Ltd. and Hitachi Appliances, Inc. (collectively referred to as Hitachi) announced that the companies have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding for a transaction in which Johnson Controls will obtain a 60% ownership stake in Hitachi Appliances” global air conditioning business, excluding sales and service operations in Japan and certain other assets. The companies expect the joint venture to begin operations in 2014, subject to final due diligence and board approvals, definitive agreement on terms, required regulatory approvals and other customary conditions.

Building on the leadership of both companies, the partnership will include key products such as variable refrigerant flow (VRF) and inverter technologies supporting both the commercial and residential markets. The joint venture will combine Johnson Controls” global reach with Hitachi”s technology expertise.

“Technology leadership derived from its ongoing investments in research and development have established Hitachi as a key contributor to the global HVAC industry,” said Alex Molinaroli, president and chief executive officer, Johnson Controls. “The addition of these capabilities adds key technologies to our product portfolio. Combined with our existing $15 billion building technologies and services business, this investment positions Johnson Controls as the world”s casino online largest commercial air conditioning provider.”

A global multi-industrial company, Johnson Controls is a leading supplier of heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, building controls, refrigeration and security systems for buildings. Through its Building Efficiency business, the company delivers solutions that increase energy efficiency and lower operating costs for over a million customers who are served through nearly 700 offices in more than 150 countries.

A global home appliances and air conditioning solutions provider, Hitachi Appliances, a wholly owned subsidiary of leading global electronics and infrastructure solutions provider Hitachi, Ltd., supplies high quality, efficient and reliable air conditioning solutions across the globe, from inverter based residential room air conditioners to variable refrigerant flow systems, and other air conditioning equipment for commercial and industrial use.

The proposed joint venture comes at a time when the worldwide air conditioning market is rapidly changing. Customers are increasingly demanding air conditioning options with better energy efficiency in response to an increase in energy-saving and environmentally-protective regulations.

“Both companies have a long and proud history of innovation and growth in the industry with similar values and cultures,” said Hiroaki Nakanishi, President of Hitachi, Ltd. “As the worldwide air conditioning business environment continues to evolve, we believe Johnson Controls and Hitachi”s partnership can supply integrated solutions to fulfill the needs of customers around the world.”

“This is great news for our customers who will benefit from the full range of solutions, equipment and service that Johnson Controls and Hitachi can offer them on a global scale,” said Molinaroli.

Hiroaki Nakanishi also said, “Alongside with this joint venture, we look forward to exploring further opportunities to collaborate with Johnson Controls and Hitachi”s broad building solution business capitalizing on IT-related technologies.”

De Rotterdam in Netherlands is Completed

26 November, 2013/in News /by Editor

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Wilhelmina Pier Rotterdam, 21 November 2013 – The largest multifunctional building in the Netherlands has been completed. Not even 4 years after starting construction, MAB Development and OVG Real Estate have turned over De Rotterdam to its future users. After a period of finishing and furnishing, residents will start to move into this vertical city, designed by OMA, in early 2014.

De Rotterdam, in total 160.000 m²of floor space on an area the size of just one football field, is a building that calls for superlatives. When, probably in the autumn of 2014 the entire building is occupied, around 85% has already been rented out or sold, the total number of people on the Wilhelmina Pier will be doubled. On average around 5,000 people will be in the building on a daily basis. Aside from being the most densely built-up piece of land in the Netherlands, this will make it the most densely populated area too.

‘De Rotterdam’, with its 60,000 m²of office space, hospitality and catering covering around 1,500m², a four-star lifestyle hotel with conference and event facilities and 280 rooms, a car park with space for 670 vehicles, 240 apartments and leisure facilities will be a vertical city on the Wilhelmina Pier. The building at the foot of the Erasmus Bridge is already an unmissable feature of Rotterdam”s skyline.

New icon in the centre of Rotterdam

This next step in the birth of the vertical city was celebrated in the presence of alderperson Karakus, Jos Melchers from MAB, Coen van Oostrom from OVG, OMA architects Ellen van Loon, Reinier de Graaf and Rem Koolhaas and media representatives from all over the world, such as El País, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and The Daily Telegraph. H. Karakus, alderperson for Housing, Urban Economy, Real Estate and Spatial Planning and Project Councillor for the Rotterdam-Zuid district: ‘De Rotterdam is a wonderful building which even more firmly puts us on the map as a city of architecture. This is an icon for our city. Aside from this it also strengthens the connection to the city centre – a development that was commenced with the construction of the Erasmus Bridge casino online and the Kop van Zuid. De Rotterdam literally lures people across the bridge into the city”s southern district.’

Transparent beauty

The signature of OMA/Rem Koolhaas can be found in every detail, for instance in the 8.5 meter high, light central hall that spans the entire width of the building with travertine wallcoverings and natural stone flooring, an impressive atrium, brass wallcoverings in the lift area and the reception. De Rotterdam consists of a 6-storey base approximately 30 meters high. On top of that there are 3 transparent towers with around 7 meters of space between each of them. The glass façade of the building means that there are floor to ceiling windows on all floors, which opens up the building to its environment.

According to plan
This means the largest building under construction in Europe was completed within 4 years, according to plan and within the budget. Mischa Molsbergen, Project Director of De Rotterdam C.V.: ‘This is a really unique achievement, made possible by the professionalism and enormous commitment of all parties involved in the realisation of this project. Aside from the fact that De Rotterdam is a beautiful new icon of the city, superlatives apply to every part of this building. To list but a few numbers: it”s a building with more than 7,500 spaces, based on around 40,000 drawings, with, on a daily basis, up to 800 construction workers on site at the same time. For this reason, as developers, we proudly turn over this building to the city and the new users and we are confident that this vertical city will function successfully.”

Recently a rental contract for office space in the East Tower was signed with Smallegange, a legal firm specialized in maritime and transport law, and the construction company Strabag.

Soneva Kiri & Alila Villas Koh Russey set new benchmark for future of private island branded residences

19 November, 2013/in News /by Editor

Reading Time: 7 minutes

Hong Kong, November 11, 2013 —Imagine a beyond 5-star “barefoot retreat” on an unspoiled Thai island accessible by private plane, or an exotic paradise being developed in Asia’s hottest new tropical destination on the ‘Cambodian Riviera’. Two new discreet luxury retreats are offering just that, and are helping to redefine the philosophy that ‘Privacy is the New Luxury’.

Located less than 200 kilometres apart in the Gulf of Thailand, Soneva Kiri, in Koh Kood, Thailand and Alila Villas Koh Russey in Cambodia represent two of the best examples of private island luxury lifestyle, both within a three-hour flight from Hong Kong, and are being introduced at the CBRE Luxury Resort Property Exhibition in Hong Kong from November 30 – December 1, 2013.

Two different design concepts developed for a luxury property investment opportunity, in two of Southeast Asia”s most stunning destinations; combining discreet, idyllic tropical surroundings with innovative design, a sustainable luxury lifestyle, attractive returns, and long-term value growth.

BAREFOOT LUXURY ON AN UNSPOILED THAI ISLAND PARADISE

Soneva Kiri

Soneva Kiri – Beach Villa Suite

Soneva Kiri – Junior Beach Retreat

Eva and Sonu Shivdasani require little introduction as the founders of Soneva Kiri, where 34 vast private homes remain for sale in this resort – voted “Best Development” in the Thailand Property Awards 2011 – and prices start at US$ 1.33 M for a one-bedroom pool villa and up to US$ 15M for a six-bedroom villa.

Since developing Soneva Fushi, the first ‘castaway’ resort as well as their home in the Maldives in 1995, their intensely personal vision of locally crafted, environmentally responsible lifestyle formed the basis of a successful collection of world-class resorts and spas. They pioneered the trend for back-to-nature luxury resorts.

Koh Kood, an unspoilt island to the east of the Gulf of Thailand, is a destination with few equals; perfect beaches, a lush tropical landscape, dramatic waterfalls and crystal clear waters. Soneva Kiri is the perfect hideaway on this unspoiled island 20 minutes by boat from Koh Chang Marine National Park.

And the Soneva Private Residences represent the ultimate expression of the signature experience and style for which Soneva has become world renowned; understated design and luxuriously spacious accommodation, uncompromising quality and service, and environmental sensitivity.

Built with materials from sustainable sources, they tread lightly on the earth by applying construction techniques that are adapted to preserve the integrity of the environment and local communities that surround them, remaining true to the Soneva values of SLOW LIFE (Sustainable, Local, Organic, Wellness, Learning, Inspiring, Fun, Experiences) and the brand mission of Intelligent Luxury.

Substantial in size, the villas occupy a built-up area of up to 840 sqm, on up to 6,250 sqm of land to ensure privacy. Purchasers can choose between one to six-bedroom Beach, Hill, or Cliff villas, for which each individual site has been selected with great care to combine seclusion and panoramic sea views, all with easy access to the resort’s facilities.

With abundant natural light amid verdant foliage, the villas comprise detached living areas joined by walkways. The sumptuous accommodation includes a master bedroom suite, guest suites, dining, seating and relaxation areas, steam room, spa suite, gym, pool (some with water slides), and spacious bathrooms with indoor and outdoor showers. Bose sound systems are installed throughout and subtly hidden, while plasma screens are discreetly hidden in leather trunks at the bottom of king size beds. State-of-the-art technology provides efficient communication.

Each villa is fully serviced, including a 24/7 Mr./Ms Friday butler service.

Villa owners benefit from the resort’s services and amenities, which include a world-class spa, state-of-the-art gym, a myriad of water sports, and top quality restaurants. Electric buggies and bicycles are the mode of transport within the resort, which is landscaped with pathways lined with palm trees, lemon grass and local fauna right down to the pristine beach.

Discounted transfers to and from Soneva Kiri are by the resort’s private aircraft, just an hour’s flight from Bangkok to an island that feels like the Thailand of a bygone era.

David Simister, Chairman CBRE Thailand and Cambodia comments: “Soneva Kiri is undiscovered Thailand, Ancient Siam as it should be. Amid 150 acres of untouched tropical rainforest fringed with pristine beaches and enchanting オンラインカジノ mangroves, Soneva Kiri is, quite simply, the ultimate Thai escape and barefoot luxury at its best”.

A managed rental scheme means owners can earn income when not in residence, so the villa could prove to be a tax-efficient long term investment with no capital gains or acquisition tax.

With secured property ownership laws and a growing residential market, overseas purchasers can invest with even greater confidence and benefit from the lifestyle associated with it. These benefits begin the moment owners disembark at Bangkok International Airport, greeted by Soneva Kiri’s private airport representative, and escorted to the First Class Lounge to refresh and relax while customs facilities are taken care of. Owners or guests then board the private transfer to Koh Mai Si, Thailand’s only private resort airport, to be greeted with a smile by their Mr./Ms. Friday.

“With attractive returns, in addition to a range of owners’ privileges, Soneva Kiri has already sold over 15 private residential villas”, added CBRE’s Mr Simister.

Villa owners also benefit from a 20% discount on all resort facilities and services, as well as membership of the Soneva Club, its exclusive global private members only club.

CAMBODIA’S FIRST PRIVATE ISLAND BRANDED RESIDENCES

Alila Villas Koh Russey

A view of Koh Russey where Alila Villa Koh Russey will be developed

Alila, voted the coolest hotel brand since 2011 and rated in the top 40 global luxury brands in 2012, will be making its foray into Cambodia with Alila Villas Koh Russey. Having pioneered lifestyle investment projects with its crafted luxury branding for Alila Villas in Bali, its Villa Residences are home to the rich and famous. Both its Alila Villas projects in Bali have sold-out since it was first launched in the market.

Cambodia’s resort market only opened three years ago with the launch of Song Saa Private Island, a 45-minute boat ride from Sihanoukville in Asia’s newest tropical destination. The original villas launched in 2010 were sold out and prices doubled from launch to completion.

Now with the first luxury branded resort residences on Koh Russey under development, less than 25 minutes to Sihanoukville Airport and 15 minutes by speedboat from the Cambodia Coast/Sihanoukville town, this pristine private island on the deserted coastal archipelago is primed to be the next most sought after investment.

Framed by the emerald waters of the Gulf of Thailand, Alila Villas Koh Russey offers a rare and unparalleled location for an exclusive lifestyle experience, uniquely positioned as the only internationally branded resort and villa development along this coastline in the heart of the new Cambodian Riviera.

Managed by Alila Hotels & Resorts, this exclusive island development will feature 48 hotel suites, and a range of one, two- and four-bedroom pool villas for private ownership where owners can enjoy usage of their properties and maximise the rental income potential through a professionally managed rental programme operated by Alila.

Prices start from US$480,000 one-bedroom pool villas of 116 sqm, rising to US$770,000 for two-bedroom pool villas (209 sqm) and four-bedroom pool villas (620 sqm) at US$2 million. Additional two-bedroom duplex units (156 sqm) will be launched at a later stage, from US$480,000.

In a spectacular location amid Cambodia’s Koh Rong archipelago, the island paradise is a haven of tranquillity, embracing powder sand beaches, tropical forests, pristine bays, and dramatic headlands.

The development occupies an expansive 25 hectares, nestled between the Western Cape and a 2-km long bay, south of the island, assuring magnificent vistas and absolute privacy for residents and guests.

The master plan by renowned Singaporean architect Chioh-Hui Goh of Studiogoto is for a low-density villa community incorporating design elements sensitive to the Khmer Culture. With its adherence to Alila’s ‘Environs’ sustainability policy, Chioh-Hui’s architecture will similarly adopt the principles of Earthcheck’s benchmarking and certification criteria to minimise impact on the environment.

Chioh-Hui Goh , Principal Architect of Studiogoto states: “When you design for a destination, it is important to understand its geography, history, and culture – not to mimic, but to interpret with an architecture that enhances the essence and contextual relevance and yet remain timeless”.

Each villa features 75% of open space with terraces, a private pool, and garden. Considerable attention has been given to the location and aspect of each villa, maximising vistas and privacy with landscaped breaks between them.

The villas offer the luxury of private open space, with land plots ranging from 400 sqm to 3,500 sqm for the four-bedroom villas.

The entire hotel and villa project has a low building density of only 15% to total site utility, resulting in an abundance of natural and landscaped green space, which underlines the ecological credentials of the development.

“Alila Villas Koh Russey offers a rare opportunity to own one of the most beautiful residences imaginable, with timeless, ecological design, influenced by the Khmer culture and professionally managed by a well respected hospitality brand”, says David Simister, Chairman CBRE Thailand and Cambodia.

“The partnership with Alila Hotels & Resorts ensures that owners maximise their rental income potential, whilst enjoying the personal use of their villas. Obviously, renting attracts highest returns in peak holiday seasons”.

The two-bedroom pool villas embrace space and tropical resort living with over 200 sqm of built area in a 720 sqm land plot, enjoying stunning ocean and cape vistas, whilst the four-bedroom pool villas afford generous indoor and outdoor living areas set in over 600 sqm. Designed to accommodate families and guests, each of the villas feature a large living area, contemporary kitchen, sumptuous master bedroom, three guest bedrooms and an expansive outdoor terrace and pool area. Surrounding landscaping ranges from 1,800 to 3,500 sqm, with each villa orientated to capture the stunning land and ocean scapes. These Residences at Alila Villas Koh Russey compare to the best of Phuket and Bali, at a fraction of those prices.

Ownership of the two-bedroom and four-bedroom villas offers the flexibility to tailor for personal use and rental of the property, while benefiting from a range of à la carte hospitality services from Alila Villas Koh Russey.

Backed by an award-winning design team of architects, designers and artisans, Alila Villas is designed, built and operated to EarthCheck standards, integrating the natural, physical and cultural elements of the enviroCityStar concept.

“Alila Villas represent a new generation of ultra-luxurious yet sustainable developments in some of the most spectacular locations, set apart by an unprecedented level of private space, design and architecture, personalised hospitality and destination experiences”, concludes Mr Simister of CBRE.

“It is a unique opportunity for those wanting to secure a ‘first in market’ investment opportunity, with access to world-class facilities in a spectacular location, and benefit from the peace of mind of a professionally managed rental programme”.

A view of the 2km beach on Koh Russey. The island where Alila Villa Koh Russey will be completed

Flowcrete Delivers Level Best At Hong Kong’s New Cruise Terminal

13 November, 2013/in News /by Editor

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Flowcrete Group provided specialist flooring solutions for Hong Kong’s new Kai Tak Cruise Terminal

Flowcrete Group has provided solid foundations for a landmark construction project at Hong Kong’s new Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in East Kowloon.

The USD 1 billion new cruise terminal has been built on the site of Hong Kong’s former airport, which was long regarded as one of the most spectacular flight approaches in the world with a runway that jutted straight out into the sea.

Now, passengers approaching the runway will do so at crawl speed from some of the world’s most impressive and largest cruise liners.

Gleaming silver and representing an area roughly a half-mile long, the new terminal building designed by architects Foster + Partners, features a two berth dock capable of handling liners of up to 220,000 gross registered tonnage and processing more than 3,000 passengers an hour.

Inside, the terminal features airy check-in, immigration and waiting halls as well as retail and dining facilities alongside a vast rooftop garden offering panoramic views of the Kowloon peninsula and Hong Kong skyline.

With Asia increasingly being recognised as a hotbed for cruise industry growth, the new Kai Tak Cruise Terminal is expected to act as the gateway to the East for up to 3.7 million passengers by 2017.

Over 40,000 square metres of Flowcrete’s cementitious subfloor screed system, Isocrete Heavy Duty K-Screed, have been applied by Flowcrete Hong Kong, to serve as a surface underlayment within the main terminal facility prior to the application of floor tiles.

Flowcrete’s heavy-duty screed system, in thicknesses ranging from 40-60mm, has been installed in the customs, clearance and departure halls as well in baggage handling areas, back-of-house maintenance facilities and the spectacular overhead rooftop garden.

Isocrete Heavy Duty K-Screed is a robust, semi-dry cementitious screed system incorporating a proprietary K additive to produce an early drying, high-strength screed allowing for the early installation of moisture sensitive floor finishes or floor coverings.

The material is recommended for areas where heavy foot or wheeled traffic is expected on a continual basis. The system can be laid bonded, unbonded or floating – for weight saving and thermal or sound insulation – and can also be installed in conjunction with sound-proofing systems.

10,000 square metres of a second Flowcrete system, Flowcoat SF41 – a seamless epoxy floor coating material – has also been used to provide a hardwearing and slip-resistant floor finish in specialists back of house maintenance and baggage handling areas.

Representing a soft launch, the new terminal opened its doors to the Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas in June 2013 ahead of the facility’s full opening later in the year. A commemorative park, adjacent to the terminal, with an aviation theme is in the pipeline to pay homage to the former Kai Tak Airport.

The airport, which was moved to a new site at Chek Lap Kok some 15 years ago also featured 250,000 square metres of Flowcrete’s fast-cure Isocrete K-Screed system, representing – at the time – the company’s largest screed project undertaken.

For more information please visit www.flowcreteasia.com/singapore