Green design solutions for residential area

Creation of new green areas

The building design as a whole was adapted to Lotus Home Standard for Green Building (certified by the Vietnam Green Building Council), which seeks to maximise harmonisation with nature, bioclimatic enhancement for both comfort and health and respect for the environment more broadly (Ref. 2). Regarding the NBS specific goals, the design stage saw prioritisation of green space, water surfaces, rainwater-absorbing surfaces and green roof space, with the intention of reducing the urban heat island effect (Ref. 2). The landscaping around the building focused on planting "a variety of trees native to the local area" (Ref. 3) and installing a soft-banked ecological fish pond to be planted with aquatic plants for natural water filtration (Ref. 5).

The following activities have been implemented to realise the above-outlined objectives and targets: - "34.8% of the site area is covered with vegetation (with 27 different species, mostly native and climate-adapted) and pot plants installed on all the balconies and roofs" (Ref. 1). Vegetation planted comprised "fruit trees, local green trees (milk apple, mango, rambutan, embankment, brooch, bougainvillea [and] porcelain flower (Ref. 5). The "soft-bank ecological aquarium" was further planted with "aquatic plants [for] natural water filtration, [including lotus, water lily, gotu kola [and] water bamboo" (Ref. 5). - "56.3% of average site perviousness thanks to using of open-grid pavement, green roof and unbound pavers" (Ref. 1). Priority was given to "green areas, water surface[s], rainwater-absorbent grass surface[s and] trees on the roof" (Ref. 5). - The roof garden "has the function of preventing heat from downstairs and retaining some part of the water [in] heavy rains and minimi[sing] the concrete effect" (Ref. 4). - A green wall "is designed...to create freshness", with the intention of residents being able to "experience the natural sounds, floral scents and cool breeze" (Ref. 4). In addition to improving the bioclimate for the residents of the villa, the reduced heat island effect which has been afforded through building design and use of NBS can be accessed by others in the wider community as the creation of a "landscape[d] path of 6m [was] opened (meaning that the living area of ​​the owner is reduced) forming a bridge for people around to access the green park area" (Ref. 5). Neighbouring residents are able to use the path "to travel, exercise, take pictures, cool off, etc. [and] to create community activities around the project" (Ref. 5). Whilst not as a direct result of NBS implementation, it is also worth noting that "during construction, measures were implemented to recycle construction waste, minimize construction noise, limit air, land and water pollution impacting the neighborhood", thus the project sought to minimise localised environmental impacts through other means, too (Ref. 1).

• Citizens or community groups
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