Vanke Future Sky City-A sustainable community of the future?

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a sustainable community certification system promoted by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). The first community to be officially certified by LEED in China is the precinct project named Vanke Future Sky City.

The design of this precinct focuses on a TOD complex with office, commercial, residential, cultural and sports functions, and its sustainability performance consists of three main aspects:

l  High-density land use.  Several high-rise residential towers are erected next to the metro station to achieve more effective usage of land resources and reduce travel distances.

l  Greening. Providing large areas of grassland to enhance life quality and satisfy the requirements of green, low-carbon development.

l  Change in transport options. Achieving environmental sustainability by encouraging low-emission forms of transport such as metro, cycling and walking.

Compared to most communities in China, Vanke Future Sky City is a step forward in sustainability. However, I think it is a very small step and not as path-breaking as advertised. Firstly, the project itself was not designed with sustainability as its main objective. The focus is more on the economic side: either the TOD pattern or the high-quality public space, their main purpose seems to be achieving an increase in land value for gaining profit. Secondly, the sustainability measures applied in the neighbourhood are simple and superficial. More green open spaces and low-carbon transportation methods do enhance sustainability, but as a community positioned for high investment and quality, there could be more forefront technology applications, such as water-saving systems and energy management systems. Therefore, I think Vanke Future Sky City is still a real estate development with a major focus on profit, but it is also a minor foray into sustainable communities in Hangzhou.



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