Asia's only hybrid greenery and landscape design event back for 3rd edition, reaches out to expanded community groups and consumer hobbyists

GreenUrbanScape Asia (GUSA), the region’s only platform unifying both greenery and landscape design communities, returns for its third edition today at the Singapore EXPO and MAX Atria. Themed “Symbiosis: INTENSE Nature Within Cities”, this year’s event was officiated by Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for National Development, Mr Desmond Lee.

The show features both trade exhibition and consumer components, as well as the fourth edition of the International Skyrise Greenery Conference (ISGC) in a single setting to facilitate the exchange of ideas and innovation at both trade and consumer level.

Jointly organised by the Landscape Industry Association (Singapore) (LIAS), the National Parks Board (NParks), Singapore Institute of Landscape Architects (SILA) and SingEx Exhibitions, the 3-day event will attract trade professionals and buyers from over 30 countries.

Highlights of Minister’s Opening Address

During Mr Lee’s opening address, he highlighted the importance of GUSA as a platform for industry leaders to share the latest greenery projects, urban design methods, as well as cutting edge solutions and technology. He highlighted the importance of the collective effort between the government and industry partners to enhance our City in a Garden. This effort has resulted in Singapore reaching a milestone of 100 hectares of rooftop greenery.

In addition, Mr Lee announced the expansion of the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA) LUSH programme, or the Landscaping for Urban Spaces and High-rises programme. The programme will be expanded to focus on more than just the quantity of greenery, but also consider the quality of the greenery provided, and how it can contribute to sustainability and Singapore’s urban ecology.

Mr Lee also highlighted a first of its kind study by researchers from the National Parks Board and National University of Singapore that has found a substantial amount of biodiversity in Singapore’s roof gardens. The team recorded 53 bird species and 57 butterfly species across 30 sites, and these numbers represent 13 percent of the bird population and 18 percent of the butterfly population respectively. The study shows how rooftop gardens, with suitable planning, design and management, can host a diverse range of wildlife. Alongside with this study, NParks’ Centre for Greenery and Ecology (CUGE) has released a set of guidelines that will help developers enhance biodiversity on roof gardens. 

Highlights of GUSA and ISGC 2017

Special and keynote speakers

Over the next two days, the following thought leaders and subject matter experts will deliver special and keynote addresses for the conference, speaking about the future of greening and landscape architect for cities, vertical and roof vegetation, and landscape intensity (listed in order of appearance):

• Mr Rasmus Astrup, Partner, SLA Architects, Copenhagen
• Professor Dr Manfred Koehler, President, World Green Infrastructure Network, Toronto
• Ms Pénelopé Komitès, Deputy Mayor in charge of Green Spaces, Nature & Biodiversity, The City of Paris
• Mr. Gavin McMillan, Senior Principal, Hargreaves Associates, New York
  
  

Technical tour at award-winning buildings

Conference participants will have the opportunity to explore the following landmarks which boast award winning designs as part of a technical tour on day three of the ISGC:

• One Farrer Hotel & Spa
• Enabling Village
• Kampung Admiralty
• Tyersall Learning Forest
• Siloso Beach Eco Resort
• Oasia Hotel Downtown
• Skyville at Dawson
  
  

Exhibition component

This year, more than 100 companies and brands will be a part of the exhibition at GUSA. Visitors will be able meet with leading players in the landscape and urban design, equipment, materials and components, urban solutions and technology, as well as complementing services like Parks & Play, Greenology, Makita Singapore, Multico Equipment & Parts, Swan-Li (Singapore). Agencies including the National Parks Board and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) will also showcase projects at the Government Pavilion. Additionally, this year, Garden Zones will be introduced and placed strategically around the trade show floor, creating unique, impactful areas that redefine the overall visitor experience. Each “Themed Area” facilitates activities which are familiar to all of us in a creative manner:

• Meeting Garden – Outdoor garden themed meeting zones
• Resting Garden – Zen-inspired rest and relax zones
• Edible Garden – Mobile kitchen which promises the ‘Farm-to-Fork’ organic experience
• Garden of Innovation – Workshops on technological disruption in landscaping

Skyrise Greenery Awards and LEAF Certification Ceremonies

At the opening ceremony, 14 developments were recognised for their efforts to creatively integrate sky gardens and vertical greenery in their projects through the Skyrise Greenery Awards (SGA). The National Parks Board received a record number of 177 submissions for the SGA this year – 40% more than the 123 submissions received in 2015. This underscores the increasing importance that developers, landscape architects and building owners are placing on incorporating skyrise greenery into their developments.

Minister Lee also recognised 14 developments under the Landscape Excellence Assessment Framework (LEAF) scheme, which acknowledges developments for their contributions and commitment to the nation’s greening efforts in urban developments.