{"data":{"news":{"items":[{"title":"BiodiverCity to transform Penang Islands into sustainable destination","date":"2020-08-21 09:49:11","id":2393,"author":"","blurb":"","blurb_image_uid":"https://dxfpracgmlczp.cloudfront.net/2020/08/1597983277657_17_BIG_PSI_PENANG_ISLAND-B_IMAGE-BY-BIG-BJARKE-INGELS-GROUP.jpg","blurb_expanded_image_uid":null,"article":"\n\t\n\n\n

BIG, Hijjas and Ramboll have won the Penang state government’s competition to design Penang South Islands (PSI) masterplan in Malaysia. The three partners propose a vision for a new sustainable destination called BiodiverCity, which supports the Penang 2030 vision with a clear focus on liveability, on stimulating a socially and economically inclusive development, and on environmentally sustainability for future generations.

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The Penang state government initiated an international design competition in January 2020 to transform Penang South Islands into a sustainable, global destination, providing residents with approximately 4.6 km of public beaches, 600 acres of parks and a 25 km waterfront. Watch the video of the masterplan here.

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“The state government hereby announces and congratulates BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group for PSI. BIG’s team together with Hijjas and Ramboll, brings together the best global and local expertise, and background in projects which are designed at the intersection of society, ecology and economy. The team’s sustainably focused philosophy is rooted in the belief that projects can be good for people, and for the environment,” said Chow Kon Yeow, chief minister of Penang.

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“The BiodiverCity Penang masterplan envisions three biodiverse and sustainable islands designed to secure economic, cultural and ecological growth using local and global technologies, and collective knowledge. By preserving and developing an ecologically diverse landscape, the islands promote coexistence with nature.”

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Mr Chow mentioned that BIG, Ramboll and Hijjas will now be working closely with the Penang state government, collaborators and stakeholders to finalise the masterplan and develop a set of urban design guidelines for PSI. “The team will also be in close collaboration with the state to ensure that all facets of the project celebrate both the heritage and innovation that characterise Penang, while creating a home for its growing communities, economies and ecologies.”

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“Penang’s vast biodiversity spans various topographies and protected environments which, in recent years, have seen its coastal zones and natural habitats disrupted by urban developments,” said BIG in its statement. “In contrast, BiodiverCity is conceived as an Urban Mosaic of three diverse islands, and a set of urban design guidelines for mixing programmes, addressing pedestrian and mobility networks, building sustainably and harvesting resources.

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“The three islands bring together mixed-use districts of 15,000 to 18,000 residents across 50 to 500 acres, and a continuous 50 to 100 m buffer around each district, establishing habitat connectivity and supporting edge ecologies in reserves, parks, corridors and urban plazas.”

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Bjarke Ingels, founder and creative director of BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group, explained, “BiodiverCity will have an integrated system of localised water resources, renewable energy and waste management, tied altogether in a human-made ecosystem. Rather than design a city for cars, we designed BiodiverCity for waterways, rail and different kinds of personal mobility, forming a multi-modal environment of movement. The resultant urban landscape will be a celebration of Penang’s position as a truly global crossroads of the world - economically, ecologically and socially.”

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Three diverse islands of BiodiverCity

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The Channels, BiodiverCity’s first island, is constructed in three phases: in Phase 1, Active Destinations include a wave pool and technology park; in Phase 2, a Civic Heart establishes governance and research institutions in the area; and in Phase 3, a Cultural Coast builds upon the heritage and vibrant creative energy of Penang’s George Town to create a regional and international draw.

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As the heart of the district, the Channels’ 500-acre digital park includes spaces for research, development and local business opportunities. Malaysia’s newest public destination will be the future home for conferences, education centres and a family-oriented park where locals and guests can explore the world of technology, robotics and virtual reality.

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The Mangroves, BiodiverCity’s second and central island dedicated to businesses, is organised around a network of sheltered urban wetlands, creating suitable environments for its namesake Mangrove forests - an important natural infrastructure that doubles as effective powerhouses for sequestering more than four times as much carbon as a typical forest.

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\"Penang’s vibrant multicultural society and biodiverse ecosystem plays a vital role in the social, economic and physical well-being of its inhabitants. As the local architect and planner, we worked together with BIG and Ramboll to secure inclusivity across all levels, including people, culture, nature and land for Penangites,” said Serina Hijjas, principal architect at HIJJAS.

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“BiodiverCity is designed on this premise of ensuring a sound future and a new normal based on a social contract that puts us in harmony with nature and ensures inclusivity for all, both Penangites and the environment.”

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At the centre of the Mangroves, the Bamboo Beacon hosts meetings, conferences and major events. In addition, civic amenities are distributed throughout the city to promote inclusive growth and participation in urban life.

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BIG further revealed that the buildings in BiodiverCity will be designed to perform efficiently and to a large extent, they will be constructed by low-carbon materials such as bamboo and Malaysian timber in combination with green concrete, a sustainable alternative comprised of industrial waste and recycled materials.

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Shonn Mills, global director of Ramboll said, “The Penang South Island vision includes an adaptive infrastructure management platform to harness the site’s renewable resources provided by the sun, wind, rain and ocean. The platform will be ‘plug-and-play’ and include governance to incentivise the use of emerging green technologies as part of an evolving resource management solution.”

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The Laguna, BiodiverCity’s westernmost island, is organised around a central marina. Eight smaller islands form a miniature archipelago, where floating, stilted and terraced housing takes advantage of the natural setting of Tanjung Gertak Sanggul, and where fisherman landing points can easily access the open waters by navigating each of the island’s waterways. Meanwhile, newly established marine habitats support biodiversity underwater by providing spawning grounds for native species, and recreational points and hatcheries support the local communities along Penang’s southern coast.

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A web of ecological corridors connects forest reserves to coastal beaches while supporting habitats and communities across the islands. Within human-populated areas, animals are given safe passage through the continuous canopy and waterways, and within natural habitats, people can safely access elevated boardwalks.

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BiodiverCity supports a water, air and land-based autonomous public transportation network, aiming for a car-free environment where streets serve as a safe and welcoming thoroughfare for bikers and pedestrians. Districts are efficiently connected below platforms to increase the efficiency of goods, services and regional mobility, while maximising pedestrian safety throughout the public realm.

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BiodiverCity is BIG’s latest masterplan unveiling following Toyota Woven City at the CES conference earlier this year. Last year, BIG presented Oceanix City at the United Nations high-level roundtable on Sustainable Floating Cities, bringing together innovators, explorers, marine engineers and scientists at the UN Headquarters to share ideas and solutions to the threat faced by coastal cities and countries due to rising sea levels.

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Images: BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group

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Toyota has just revealed its plans to build a prototype ‘city’ of the future on a 175-acre site at the base of Mt. Fuji in Japan. Called the Woven City, the development will be a fully connected ecosystem powered by hydrogen fuel cells.

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Envisioned as a ‘living laboratory,’ the Woven City will serve as a home to full-time residents and researchers who will be able to test and develop technologies such as autonomy, robotics, personal mobility, smart homes and artificial intelligence (AI) in a real-world environment.

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“Building a complete city from the ground up, even on a small scale like this, is a unique opportunity to develop future technologies, including a digital operating system for the city’s infrastructure. With people, buildings and vehicles all connected and communicating with each other through data and sensors, we will be able to test connected AI technology... in both the virtual and the physical realms... maximising its potential,” said Akio Toyoda, president of Toyota Motor Corporation.

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According to Toyota, the company will extend an open invitation to collaborate with other commercial and academic partners and invite interested scientists and researchers from around the world to come work on their own projects in this one-of-a-kind, real-world incubator.

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“We welcome all those inspired to improve the way we live in the future, to take advantage of this unique research ecosystem and join us in our quest to create an ever-better way of life and mobility for all,” said Mr Toyoda.

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For the design of Woven City, Toyota has commissioned Danish architect, Bjarke Ingels, CEO of Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). “A swarm of different technologies are beginning to radically change how we inhabit and navigate our cities. Connected, autonomous, emission-free and shared mobility solutions are bound to unleash a world of opportunities for new forms of urban life. With the breadth of technologies and industries that we have been able to access and collaborate with from the Toyota ecosystem of companies, we believe we have a unique opportunity to explore new forms of urbanity with the Woven City that could pave new paths for other cities to explore,” said Mr Ingels.

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Design of the city

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The masterplan of the city includes the designations for street usage into three types: for faster vehicles only; for a mix of lower speed, personal mobility and pedestrians; and for a park-like promenade for pedestrians only. These three street types weave together to form an organic grid pattern to help accelerate the testing of autonomy.

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The city is planned to be fully sustainable, with buildings made mostly of wood to minimise the carbon footprint, using traditional Japanese wood joinery, combined with robotic production methods. The rooftops will be covered in photo-voltaic panels to generate solar power in addition to power generated by hydrogen fuel cells. Toyota plans to weave in the outdoors throughout the city, with native vegetation and hydroponics.

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Residences will be equipped with the latest in human support technologies, such as in-home robotics to assist with daily living. The homes will use sensor-based AI to check occupants’ health, take care of basic needs and enhance daily life, creating an opportunity to deploy connected technology with integrity and trust, securely and positively.

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To move residents through the city, only fully-autonomous, zero-emission vehicles will be allowed on the main thoroughfares. In and throughout Woven City, autonomous Toyota e-palettes will be used for transportation and deliveries, as well as for changeable mobile retail.

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Both neighbourhood parks and a large central park for recreation, as well as a central plaza for social gatherings, are designed to bring the community together. Toyota believes that encouraging human connection will be an equally important aspect of this experience.

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Toyota plans to populate Woven City with Toyota Motor Corporation employees and their families, retired couples, retailers, visiting scientists, and industry partners. The plan is for 2,000 people to start, adding more as the project evolves.

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The groundbreaking for the site is scheduled to take place in early 2021.

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Any parties interested in partnering with Toyota on the development of Woven City, please check: woven-city.global

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All images: Bjarke Ingels Group

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