Posts

Hann lux lifestyle resort, banyan tree and angsana 3

WATG Shares its Sustainability Ambitions in Conjunction with Earth Day 2023

Reading Time: 3 minutes
Hann lux lifestyle resort, banyan tree and angsana 3

 

As the world celebrated Earth Day on 22 April 2023, the preeminent, multi-disciplinary design firm, WATG, reinforced its advocacy of designing with sustainability in mind. For more than 70 years, the firm has stood at the forefront of sustainable architecture from reducing carbon emissions via renovations to designing energy-efficient buildings. The firm has set an ambitious goal for all projects to have an accredited team member onboard by 2024, regardless of the client’s plans for a sustainable project.

 

By 2025, WATG hopes to receive accreditation for at least 50 percent of its team members. A pioneer of sustainable design, WATG is responsible for some of the world’s most iconic and eco-conscious architectural projects, including the Fari Islands in the Maldives, and the Hann Lux Resort Banyan Tree and Angsana in the Philippines.

 

Chiara calufetti-lim, aia, leed ap bd+c and principal of architecture at watg

 

“As architects, we serve as agents of change in addressing the global climate crisis. The construction industry is responsible for 40% of global CO2 emissions, and this needs to change. At WATG, we believe that every project we undertake must respect the local environment and have a positive impact on its surrounding communities,” said Chiara Calufetti-Lim, AIA, LEED AP BD+C and Principal of Architecture at WATG. “We are proud to champion sustainable design and will continue  to push the boundaries of what’s possible when it comes to creating a purposeful built environment.”

 

Fari islands,maldives 2

Fari Islands in the Maldives

In supporting a collective ‘Four Islands, One Destination’ vision, Fari Islands offers an elevated  Maldivian resort experience on an island archipelago in North Male Atoll. Its design features innovative technologies such as solar panels and a water treatment system that recycles wastewater. The resort also boasts a coral regeneration programme and biophilic architecture that support cross ventilation and natural wave movements, which help to minimise adverse impacts on the surrounding marine ecosystem.

 

The Fari Islands project has won several awards, including the 2021 Green Good  Design Awards and the 2021 AHEAD Asia Award for Eco-Friendly Hotel of the Year. The master planning project was led by Chiara and Marcel Padmos, Vice President of Planning, and conceptualised with sustainability at its core for a truly unique guest experience across a pristine landscape.

 

Hann lux lifestyle resort, banyan tree and angsana 2

Hann Lux Lifestyle Resort, Banyan Tree and Angsana, in the Philippines

This is an ambitious ‘luxury playground’ and expansive eco-resort that showcases WATG’s integrated design services and commitment to sustainable tourism in the northern Philippines. The resort’s landscape is designed as a biodiverse space that celebrates local agricultural practices. WATG’s interior design firm, Wimberly Interiors was also involved in designing the wellness-orientated 56-key Banyan Tree and family favourite 200-key Angsana. Other green design features include a water management strategy and a rainwater harvesting system.

 

“Identifying existing real estate to be renovated, converted for new use, and fitted with new tech and systems is now mandatory. Sustainability can no longer be an afterthought and must remain at the forefront of our approach to architecture. Our work can have immense influence on the environment,  so we dutifully develop sustainable solutions, integrate them into our design process and always stay sensitive to the site and its connection to the Earth,” concludes Chiara.

WATG Appoints John Achari as Vice President and Director of Planning and Urban Design

Reading Time: 2 minutes

WATG, one of the world’s leading multidisciplinary design firms, has announced that John Achari has joined the firm as Vice President and Director of Planning and Urban Design, based in Singapore. In this role, Achari will work globally with the firm’s Master Planning teams in California, London, Singapore and Shanghai, with a focus on urban design, particularly across Asia Pacific.

Achari brings to WATG more than 28 years’ experience in integrated master planning, urban design, urban renewal and regeneration, infrastructure master planning, mixed use developments, industrial developments, new city development, strategic planning, architecture, real estate development, neighborhood planning and landscape architecture projects. Achari has delivered urban design, master planning and development projects across Australia, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Pakistan, Germany, Finland, the Pacific Islands and South-East Asia.

David Moore, Regional Director Asia Pacific and China commented: “John brings formidable urban design experience to our team and has the knowledge, expertise and talent for taking master plans from inception and vision through to implementation, which is critical for our clients in Asia Pacific and China. John will play an integral role in our continued growth across the region and working with our expanded design team in Shanghai.”

John Achari commented: “I have always admired WATG’s expertise and ability to deliver innovative placemaking and destination design, and I look forward to applying that same ethos to our urban design and planning practice. I believe that emphasizing a stronger bridge between the conceptual vision and the infrastructure will deliver sustainable and timeless results and ROI for our clients.”

Most recently, Achari was Executive Director of Urban Planning and Infrastructure for the Municipality Department of the Government of Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE. Prior to this role, John led the Master Planning and Urban Design practice as Vice President for Parsons International Limited in Dubai. John’s recent notable projects include The Red Sea Project in Saudi Arabia; various housing projects for the Ministry of Housing in Saudi Arabia; Dahyat Al Fursan Mixed-Use Development in Northern Riyadh; South Al Batina Logistics Hub and Industrial City in Oman and more.

John officially joined WATG on 13 August 2019 and is based in the firm’s Singapore office.